Joan

The shocking true story of one of Britain’s most successful diamond thieves, Joan Hannington, and a fascinating insight into the criminal underworld in the 1980s. Set to be a six-part ITV drama, starring Sophie Turner.

Diamonds are a girl’s best friend

Joan Hannington was the most notorious female figure in London’s criminal underworld during the 80s, earning her the nickname ‘The Godmother’. With her stunning looks and glamorous wardrobe, Joan was constantly underestimated, but she used this to her advantage and became an undetected mastermind in high-stakes jewellery theft. Often transforming herself into different characters, Joan seamlessly got away with millions of pounds in diamonds.

Coming from a violent, loveless childhood, Joan learnt to trust no one but herself. At seventeen, she becomes a mother, but is trapped in a disastrous marriage with a brutal thug. When he goes on the run, Joan seizes the moment to leave her old life. Motivated by her desire to care for her daughter, Joan gets swept up in the exhilarating world of a life of crime and makes some heartbreaking decisions as she sets her sights on a better life.

Joan is the true story of her meteoric rise from petty offender to one of Britain’s most accomplished diamond thieves, making a success of life by not playing by the rules when the odds seemed stacked against her.

Author Biography

Joan Hannington was born in 1957 in London. She was known as one of Britain’s most notorious diamond thieves and she was married to Boisie Hannington, an expert in antiques and a member of the criminal elite, for eleven years. Joan has two children and currently lives by the seaside with her two dogs.