Boisie and Joan on the beach in the ITV drama (Image: ITV)
Game of Thrones star. The drama, set in the colourful era of 1980s London, tells the riveting tale of a council house mum turned Britain’s most notorious diamond thief.
The series draws inspiration from the real-life story of Joan Hannington and features an impressive cast including Frank Dillaine, Kirsty J Curtis, Gershwyn Eustache Jnr and Laura Aikman. Joan’s life took a dramatic turn when she fled home at 13 and married convicted armed robber Ray Pavey four years later.
Despite having a daughter, her life spiralled into chaos following her split from Pavey. She later crossed paths with Ronald Thomas Hannington, also known as Benny Boisie (played by Dillaine), an antiques dealer leading a double life as a thief.
Their paths first crossed in a London pub where Joan was involved in a brawl with a police informant. Boisie intervened, and within weeks, he had moved in with Joan, teaching her the tricks of his trade, from attending auctions to distinguishing between genuine and counterfeit antiques.
Boisie also attempted to help Joan regain custody of her daughter from social services, but their efforts were in vain as her daughter was content with her foster parents, reports .
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Joan Hannington attends the launch of new ITV series Joan (Image: James Manning/PA Wire)
In 1980, Joan and Benny tied the knot at Acton Register Office and after several years together, they welcomed a son named Ben.
Tragically, as their romance began to fade, Boisie vanished while on a job. Joan only discovered he had tragically died in a mishap four days later.
Attempting to burn down a house for an insurance payout, he caused a deadly blast that claimed his life.
Giving an exclusive interview to the Scottish Daily Record in 2003, the real-life Joan recounted her time with Boisie: “He wasn’t handsome, but he was smart and treated me with respect.”
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SOPHIE TURNER as Joan and FRANK DILLANE as Boisie (Image: ITV)
“Officially, Benny was an antiques dealer, but he made his money as a high-class thief. We fell in love and within weeks he’d moved in.”
She recalled how her modest council flat was suddenly crammed with lavish treasures, revealing: “Overnight, my bare council flat was overflowing with priceless antiques, oil paintings and Chippendale chaise longues.”
Joan divulged further on their underhand practices, saying: “Benny and I accumulated thousands of pounds a week in stolen gems, which we stashed at a bank in private deed boxes.”
Unaware of the full extent of their joint wealth, she mused: “I had no idea of the total value of our cash and assets, but it must have run into millions.”
Benny’s unexpected demise marked a new chapter for Joan, as she confessed: “I decided to go straight”.
She detailed her transformation: “I had more than enough money to last for life. I sold Benny’s antique shops, cleared out my home and started afresh in Islington, North London,” she declared.
Joan airs on ITV on September 29 at 9pm