ITV have announced that Sheridan Smith (Two Pints of Lager...) has been cast in the title role in new five-part drama Mrs Biggs.

Smith will play Charmian Biggs, alongside Danny Mays (Ashes to Ashes) as Charmian’s infamous ex-husband Ronnie Biggs.

Smith revealed: "When I received the call to say that I'd got this job I burst into tears. Charmian is an incredible woman, and I'm so lucky that she'll be on hand to support me and give me advice during the shoot. I hope that I can do her story justice."

Written by Jeff Pope (See No Evil: The Moors Murders), Mrs Biggs will tell the story of Charmian’s life from the fateful moment that, as a teenager, she first met and fell in love with Biggs.

Pope commented: “Charmian’s is one of the great untold stories of the 20th Century, set against the backdrop of one of the greatest crimes of all times. But at the heart of it is a simple love story between Charmian and Ron.”

The cast also includes Adrian Scarborough (Upstairs Downstairs) and Caroline Goodall (The Good Wife) as Charmian’s parents, Bernard and Muriel Powell.

Mrs Biggs, a co-production with Australia’s Seven Network, will be filmed in Manchester and Australia.

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