Viewers binge-watch ITV drama The Lady after ‘brilliant’ 1st episode

Viewers who tuned into ITV’s new drama, The Lady, on Sunday night have hailed the premiere episode as “brilliant”, with some binge-watching all four episodes on ITVX. 

The series, which stars Mia McKenna-Bruce, fictionalises the true story of Jane Andrews, Sarah Ferguson’s royal dresser who ended up in prison for murdering her boyfriend.

The series boasts an impressive production team. Left Bank Pictures, which has produced TV hits such as The Crown and Dept. Q, produces, while acclaimed writer Debbie O’Malley (Payback, Humans, Harlots) pens the script. Meanwhile, Lee Haven Jones, known for his work on the true story-inspired drama, Cruel Love: The Ruth Ellis Story, directs.

Find out what viewers and critics have said about the series below.

What is The Lady about?

Inspired by a true story, the series follows the life of Jane Andrews, a working-class girl from Grimsby who answered an anonymous job advert in the women’s magazine, The Lady, seeking a dresser for an unnamed individual. That individual turned out to be Sarah Ferguson, and Jane secured the role in the summer of 1988. 

© Jonathan Ford/Left Bank/Sony Pictures Television

After nine years of moving in palace circles, Jane lost her job. She went on to meet charismatic businessman Thomas Cressman and fell deeply in love. 

The synopsis concludes: “But soon cracks began to develop in the romance Jane had pinned all her hopes on, with disastrous consequences.”

What have viewers said about the show?

Viewers have been binge-watching the series following the premiere episode. One person wrote: “I binge watched it yesterday on ITVX. It’s very good, ” while another added: “This is brilliant.”

A third viewer penned: “Binge watched the series this afternoon. Fantastic performance by Mia,” while another hailed the series as a “must-watch for any true crime fan”. 

© James Pardon/Left Bank/Sony Pictures Television

Viewers also commented on Mia’s brilliant performance in the drama, with one person writing: “Mia McKenna-Bruce superstar of tomorrow. Going to be watching this show right to the end of the last episode,” while another added: “I love this actress. I watched her in The Seven Dials on NETFLIX and she was brilliant.”

The show’s costume designer, Emma Fryer, hailed Mia as “amazing” in an exclusive interview with HELLO!. “She’s a star that’s in the making to become an even bigger star,” Emma said of the 28-year-old actress. “She’s got such a lovely energy about her and was just great to be with. She was on set every minute of the day.”

What have TV critics said about the show? 

The series has been met with mixed reviews, with The Guardian describing the series as a “gaudy mess” that “fails to read the room” in its two-star review, while The Telegraph handed out four stars, hailing the drama as “propulsive, bingeable, entertaining, not too deep”.  

© Jonathan Ford/Left Bank/Sony Pictures Television

Who stars in the series? 

Mia McKenna-Bruce leads the cast as Jane. Viewers will recognise the actress for her starring roles in Netflix’s Agatha Christie drama, The Seven Dials Mystery, and the coming-of-age drama film, How to Have Sex, for which she won the BAFTA Rising Star Award in 2024. 

Meanwhile Natalie Dormer (Game of Thrones) stars as Sarah Ferguson, the former Duchess of York, alongside Ed Speleers (Outlander) as Thomas Cressman, Claire Skinner (Outnumbered) as Jane’s mother, Philip Glenister (Bergerac) as a police detective and Mark Stanley (Happy Valley) as Charles. 

© Jonathan Ford/Left Bank/Sony Pictures Television

Rounding out the cast are Laura Aikman (This City Is Ours), Ophelia Lovibond (Minx), Daniel Ryan (Innocent) and Sean Teale (Doctor Odyssey).

The Lady is available to stream on ITVX now.