Here are all of the North East locations that have been used in the filming of a real-life ITV crime thriller after the cast and crew were seen in the region.
TV and film star Sheridan Smith has been seen filming in Teesside, County Durham, and parts of North Tyneside in preparation for the release of an ITV show.
The actress, who is known for her roles in 'Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps', 'Gavin and Stacey', and 'Cilla' among other projects, was seen in RSPB Saltholme nature reserve, near Billingham, earlier this week.
It's understood that the actress was in the North East as part of filming for ITV's 'I Fought The Law' series, which was announced by the TV channel back in May.
What is the TV show about?
In the TV show, Smith will be playing real-life double jeopardy campaigner Ann Ming.
The forthcoming four-part series tells the story of Ms Ming’s determination to change the law and bring her daughter’s murderer to justice.
Ms Ming, who campaigned for years to get the 800-year-old law changed, is acting as a consultant throughout the production process.
Her daughter, 22-year-old Julie Hogg, died in Billingham, in 1989 after William Dunlop strangled her and hid her mutilated body behind a bath panel where it lay undiscovered for months.
When later serving time behind bars for another crime, Dunlop confessed and admitted lying in court, boasting there was nothing anyone could do about it because of the double jeopardy rule in place at the time.
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According to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), the Criminal Justice Act 2003, which widely came into effect in 2005, “reforms the law relating to double jeopardy, by permitting retrials in respect of several very serious offences, where new and compelling evidence has come to light”.
Previously, the law did not permit a person who has been acquitted or convicted of an offence to be retried for that same offence.
Ms Ming was made an MBE in 2007 in recognition of her services to the criminal justice system.
Where has filming taken place so far?
- Billingham
- Shiremoor, North Tyneside
This sighting of Sheridan Smith comes after she was spotted in Shiremoor, North Tyneside, where the TV and stage star, 43, was seen with short blonde hair wearing a quilted dark magenta jacket standing outside a row of houses back in August this year.
Has Sheridan Smith said anything about the role?
Yes - Speaking previously about playing the character on TV, Sheridan said: “I am so honoured to have been asked to play the role of Ann Ming, a mother so determined to fight for justice for her murdered daughter that she spent 15 years campaigning for the double jeopardy law to be changed.
“She is a truly courageous and remarkable woman to whom we all owe a debt of gratitude.”
When will the TV show air?
I Fought The Law, written by Jamie Crichton, is based on Ms Ming’s book For The Love Of Julie and will air on ITV1 and ITVX.
No official air date has been revealed yet.
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