The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe

Synopsis

The extraordinary and compelling story of how John Darwin faked his own death to claim life insurance and avoid bankruptcy will be told in The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe. The drama relates how Anne Darwin's husband, a prison officer, came up with the hare-brained scheme to defraud insurance companies, unbeknownst to their two sons.

First Air Date: 2022-04-17

Last Air Date: 2022-04-20

Number of Seasons: 1

Number of Episodes: 4

Created By: Chris Lang

Networks: ITV1

View Technical Specifications on IMDb

Top Cast

Eddie Marsan as John Darwin
Monica Dolan as Anne Darwin
Mark Stanley as Mark Darwin
Dominic Applewhite as Anthony Darwin
Carrie Cohen as Anne's Mother
Ellis Jones as Anne's Father
Alice Harding as Louise
Lois Chimimba as DC June Ayoade
Karl Pilkington as DC Phil Bayley
David Fynn as David Leigh

Seasons

The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe (2022)

The extraordinary and compelling story of how John Darwin faked his own death to claim life insurance and avoid bankruptcy.

Episodes:

Ep. 1: Episode 1 (2022-04-17)

We meet John and Anne Darwin, a couple plagued by debt. Facing bankruptcy John decides to fake his own death using his canoe, much to the horror of his wife. They successfully pull it off and John goes into hiding while Anne consoles her sons.
Ep. 2: Episode 2 (2022-04-18)

John successfully applies for a passport to create a new identity, while forcing Anne to demand an inquest into his death so they can get the insurance pay out.
Ep. 3: Episode 3 (2022-04-19)

John has had enough of being dead and returns to England to declare he is suffering from amnesia. Journalists hunt down Anne in Panama and their story starts to unravel.
Ep. 4: Episode 4 (2022-04-20)

The truth emerges when Anne and John are interviewed by the police. The case goes to trial where Anne pleads not guilty on the grounds of marital coercion.