Jane Andrews drama reopens wounds for victim’s family as new four-part series debuts

The family of Tom Cressman are the first to feel the immediate human cost of a revived media spotlight: Rick Cressman, a business owner from Warwickshire, says the new drama about jane andrews brought him to tears and has renewed his determination to protect his brother’s memory. That response arrives more than 25 years after the killing and as multiple dramatizations and documentaries continue to revisit the case.

Immediate impact: a family relives the killing and vows to guard a legacy

Rick Cressman watched the new four-part series and said: “By the time we got into the final episode, I was feeling very, very tearful. ” He described cooperating with media over the years out of a sense of duty to his brother, and said protecting Tom’s memory and legacy has become increasingly important. He added he could not have his brother’s memory “besmirched by people just creating stuff. ”

Rick said he had been concerned about the commissioning of the drama and was given a private screening. He described a changing scenario over 25 years and flagged a recent announcement in December of 2024 that another US news organisation and a major streaming platform were developing content related to the case — material he expects would become the twelfth TV production about the events. Here’s the part that matters: the family’s sense of intrusion and the long tail of media attention are central to how they live with the loss now.

It’s easy to overlook, but the emotional toll on surviving family members is an active part of how these programmes land with audiences.

Event details embedded: the killing, conviction and sentences

Tom Cressman, a businessman, was murdered by Jane Andrews in London in 2000. The context in the record is stark: Tom was attacked with a cricket bat and fatally stabbed by his partner while he slept at their London home. Jane Andrews, then 34 years old, denied the allegation that she killed him because he would not marry her. After conviction for the businessman's murder, she was ordered to serve at least 15 years in prison in 2001.

A brief rewind with key dates: the killing took place in 2000; a conviction and a minimum 15-year sentence followed in 2001; legal advocacy involvement is recorded in 2003; and the public announcement of a new four-part fictionalised drama was noted in December 2024. The new series premiered on a recent Sunday night.

Centre for Women’s Justice comment and legal context

Harriet Wistrich, CEO of the Centre for Women’s Justice, who represented Jane Andrews at an appeal in 2003, has criticised the new drama’s framing. She noted that Jane Andrews was convicted more than 25 years ago, long served her sentence and has attempted to move on, yet continues to attract media interest because of her past employment with a now discredited section of the Royal family. Wistrich said Jane did not contribute to this new programme and has not participated in previous TV documentaries, and warned that the public is offered a one-sided view that does not probe why a vulnerable woman in such circumstances may have been driven to kill.

The commentary points to shifts in legal understanding: the Centre referenced a precedent in the case of Sally Challen and said a greater appreciation of coercive control and mental health vulnerabilities could be material if Andrews sought a fresh appeal. The organisation has prepared a more detailed briefing on the case.

Jane Andrews on screen: casting, portrayal and tone

The four-part drama, billed as a gripping true-crime series, follows the life of Jane Andrews and her rise and fall. It stars Natalie Dormer as Sarah Ferguson and Mia McKenna-Bruce as the dresser Jane Andrews. Early episodes present a working-class young woman trying to fit into a royal world while managing worsening mental health; one preview noted Dormer’s performance as Sarah Ferguson was assured.

• Format: four-part drama, premiered on a recent Sunday night.
• Casting: Natalie Dormer as Sarah Ferguson; Mia McKenna-Bruce as Jane Andrews.
• Location/background details in coverage: Andrews from Cleethorpes, north-east Lincolnshire; employed by Sarah Ferguson for nine years; Ferguson later became involved in police efforts to track Andrews down.
• Legal status: Jane Andrews was convicted and ordered to serve at least 15 years in prison in 2001.
• Family reaction: Rick Cressman (Tom’s brother), a Warwickshire business owner, found the series deeply upsetting and stressed protecting Tom’s legacy.

Micro Q&A

• Q: Has Jane Andrews taken part in the drama? A: No — commentary from advocacy groups states she did not contribute to this series and did not contribute to earlier documentaries.
• Q: What is being raised now beyond the drama? A: Advocates point to coerced-control precedents and mental health issues as context that the drama does not explore in depth.

The real question now is how broadcasters and creators balance storytelling with the family’s ongoing pain and the broader legal and social questions raised by critics. Recent updates indicate reactions are still unfolding and that further briefing and responses have been prepared by advocacy groups.