THE THIEF, HIS WIFE AND THE CANOE - ITV 9pm - EASTER SUNDAY TO WEDNESDAY. TV PACE. NO SPOILERS

[Blondeshavemorefun]

Real life story

John a former teacher and prison officer fakes his own death in 2002 via a canoe - with the help of Ann his wife to claim Life insurance and avoid bankruptcy

It is based on an unpublished manuscript by reporter David , he was the first one to find and interview ann after a boot of the couple was seen 5yrs later in 2007

Ann knew but not the sons who believes their dad was dead

What area were they

Hartlepool. It was a national story - I'm not in that area.

@Blondeshavemorefun

So 20yrs ago. I was 28yr old

I def don’t R.E.M. this at all

I don’t think the story was when he disappeared it was more when he came back which was about 15 years ago not 20

At least that’s when it was a National story and all over the news. The disappearance was likely only a local story

I remember it really well. I was shocked at how they could put their sons through it all just so they could steal the insurance money and move to Panama. So glad they were caught.

Place marking. Can't wait.

I certainly remember the story. How long was John “dead “ for? Was it five years?

ITV have been doing lots of real life dramatisations over the last few years.

Did the sons really have no idea? I’m not casting aspersions,I just wondered if John and his wife protected them, to keep them out of it.

I just read up again on the case, the basics anyway, to refresh my memory.
Can’t believe he was so close to home the entire time! Next door.. I always thought John went straight to Panama and stayed there , with his wife occasionally visiting.

I remember this , will give it a watch

DD did the casting for this!

Looks like she did a grand job !

@Catlady2021

I just read up again on the case, the basics anyway, to refresh my memory. Can’t believe he was so close to home the entire time! Next door.. I always thought John went straight to Panama and stayed there , with his wife occasionally visiting.

What?!!! He was next door? I remember the story being on the news, but thought he had stayed in Panama..

I took my sons toSeaton Carew this week, I love a drive there for the old arcade and a chip buttie. I don’t know which house was their’s though.

As a PPsaid, the British Scandal podcast about this is excellent.

The same story is on BBC4 just now. It's very strangely filmed so far!

@Catlady2021

I just read up again on the case, the basics anyway, to refresh my memory. Can’t believe he was so close to home the entire time! Next door.. I always thought John went straight to Panama and stayed there , with his wife occasionally visiting.

Me too.

He went next door ? For how long

Why didn’t kids see him there

I'm looking forward to this tonight

I love dramas like this.

Monica Dolan played Rosemary west in appropriate adult, she is a great actress
I remember when they found out what he did . It was a huge story.

Ads after just 10 minutes. 🙄I'm going to pause it, make a cuppa and come back to it so I can FF the ads.

I'm dreading bbc getting ads. I'm sure they will one day and I'll have to tape everything first to try and avoid the ads!

@Maddiemoosmum0203

I remember this he lived in the attic extension for a bit then went to Panama and kids didn’t know they were quite young too early 20s

Hope this is good watching with 12 year old DD she’s realy into things like this

Please report back as my dd1 who is 13 also wants to watch this, but I'm not sure if it will be suitable for her age. I will watch on catch up instead.

DD did the casting for this!

The hartlepool accent is tricky- 3 sentences in and I could tell the wife is not native.

The bloke is doing a slightly better job, but checking through none of the cast are from the local area.

I really like this. It seems nice and fairly easy to watch. I was fascinated at the time!

I wish they'd turn a light on.

It was a fascinating tale and for five years they got away with it! Incredible really