Sheridan Smith has left fans speechless with his “harrowing” new ITV true crime drama.
The 44-year-old actress plays Ann Ming in the four-part series I Fought the Law, which follows one woman’s fight to bring her daughter’s killer to justice, who was controversially acquitted after two false cases.
The show is available to stream now on ITVX and viewers are already praising the show, with one fan describing the scenes as “sadistic.”
“Bloody hell Emotional watch with #Sheridansmith tonight on @ITV I fought the law,” added @GummyBear1981 X, while @iamfordmusic simply wrote: “Bloody hell I fought the law.”
‘Blimey. I Fought the Law on @ITV. Julia Hogg’s Poor Family,’ said @missdedemor07 as @Rusigrificant gushed: ‘ITV’s I Fought the Law… engaging… brilliant performances… 10/10… and amazing and gripping, it’s a true story! Shocking!!’
And @chelle26f wrote: ‘I fought the law – first episode, so much emotion, my heart goes out to Julie and her family, Bravo @itv for bringing this story to the public’s attention, brilliant casting but heartbreaking that this is a true story. #Ifpoughtthelaw’
I fought that the law was based on Anne’s book about Julie’s love, and Jamie Crichton adapted it for the screen.
It sees Sheridan star as a mother of three in a 15-year fight against the 800-year-old double jeopardy law that stopped a person from being tried twice for the same offense after being acquitted or convicted.
In Metro ‘s spoiler-heavy four-star review, our writer Milo Pope wrote, “I don’t remember ever feeling as terrified and excited as I did when I first watched this episode.”
![From Hera Pictures I Fought the Law SR1: on ITV1 and ITVX Pictured: Sheridan Smith This photograph is (c) Hera Pictures and may only be reproduced for editorial purposes in direct connection with the above programme or event or ITV plc. This photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in any way that alters the visual appearance of the person photographed, is considered harmful or inappropriate by the ITV PLC Picture Desk. This photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website or permanently archived without the express written permission of the ITV Picture Desk. Full terms and conditions are available at www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/terms For further information please contact: michael.taiwo1@itv.com](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/SEI_262229759-e795.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
In an early viewing of the first episode, the real Ann Ming admitted that while she is proud and grateful that the story is being told, she would give anything not to be here.
“There’s nothing pleasant about the whole scenario, to be honest, because Julia never comes back,” she told Metro Area. “I’m glad I changed the law, but there’s always that real downside.”
Sheridan embodied Anna by watching all of her interviews and was physically transformed with a wig, costume, and clever makeup.
‘Sheridan became me, it’s really weird. She got quite emotional filming it,’ Ann recalled. ‘I said to her, ‘You’ve been through this for nine weeks, but I’ve been through it for 35 years.’ ‘
I fought for the law to be available on ITVX.
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