Monica Dolan releases a wreath as she plays ‘canoe widow’ Anne Darwin in a new ITV drama

Monica Dolan continued to film scenes as John Darwin’s wife Anne on Tuesday as she feigned grief as she threw a wreath into the sea on the set of the ITV drama. 

The four-part TV show is set to depict Anne’s involvement in her husband’s deception by faking his death in a canoeing incident in a bid to cash in on their life insurance. 

Monica could be seen being comforted by her onITV adaption, The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe which was filmed in Hartlepool, County Durham. 

Faking it: Monica Dolan continued to film scenes as conman John Darwin’s wife Anne as she feigned grief and threw a wreath into the sea on set of ITV drama, The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe in Hartlepool on Tuesday

Getting into character: The actress, 52, put her thespian skills to good use as she cried tears of sorrow while being comforted as the family looked out to sea 

Monica braved the cold weather on set in a navy jacket and mid-length skirt, teamed with black pumps. 

She sported a silver bob wig and delicate specs, bearing a striking resemblance to Anne.

The actress leant against actor Dominic Applewhite and Sulphur And White’s Mark Stanley, who portray her on-screen sons Mark and Anthony.

The trio appeared overcome with emotion as they looked down on the water before releasing the decorative floral wreaths in honour of the ‘late’ John.

Shocking: The four-part TV show is set to depict real life Anne’s involvement in her husband’s deception by faking his death in a canoeing incident in a bid to cash in on their life insurance (pictured)

In between takes, Monica unveiled her natural and jovial expression as she chatted with her colleagues. 

She was seen wearing a waterproof head wrap and longline winter coat as Dominic and Mark, 33, also wrapped up warm in padded jackets. 

The crew adhered to coronavirus safety measures by sporting face masks and they held umbrellas to protect the stars from the downpour. 

The expensive lighting and camera equipment on set was covered with plastic sheets to shield from the onslaught of rain. 

Costume: Monica braved the cold weather on set in a navy jacket and mid-length skirt, teamed with black pumps 

Portrayal: She sported a silver bob wig and delicate specs, bearing a striking resemblance to the real Anne, (right)

The latest insight into filming comes as photographs from set earlier in the day showed Eddie Marsan – who plays John – appearing to get into the Christmas spirit as he donned a Santa hat and enjoyed a glass of champagne.

The Sherlock Holmes star appeared to be recreating the moment John ordered his wife Anne to take photos with his new Range Rover, with neighbours clueless of the fact that the landlords were facing mounting debts. 

The ITV drama will focus on how John’s wife Anne became complicit in her husband’s deception to convince the world he’d gone missing in an attempt to claim life insurance and avoid bankruptcy. 

However, the crime was to take its toll on Anne who lied to their sons for five years whilst her husband, in the early days of the fraud, secretly lived in a bedsit next door to the home he shared with Anne.

Lean on one another: The actress leant against actor Dominic Applewhite and Sulphur And White’s Mark Stanley, who portray her on-screen sons Mark and Anthony

Devastated by the loss of their father, neither son had an inkling their parents were capable of such treachery and being involved in a £679,000 insurance scam.

Anne and John, now 70, eventually decided to leave Seaton Carew and move to Panama City to start a new life together before their secret was exposed by the discovery of a photo of them posing in a Panama real estate office in July 2006.

John had been travelling back and forth between Panama and the UK and turned up at a London police station in 2007 claiming he’d been suffering from amnesia.

At her trial Anne pleaded not guilty, arguing that she had been coerced into the plot by her husband, but the jury didn’t believe her.

John was ordered to serve six years and three months in prison while his wife, who police described as a compulsive liar, got six years and six months. She was released from prison in 2011.

Memorial: The trio appeared overcome with emotion as they looked down on the water before releasing the decorative floral wreaths in honour of the ‘late’ John

Out of character: In between takes, Monica unveiled her natural and jovial expression as she chatted with her colleagues

Since the astonishing case, the couple have divorced, with John remarrying. In January 2021 it was reported that the former teacher has settled into a new life in the Philippines with new wife Mercy May, who at 47 is 23 years his junior.

The couple married in 2015 after striking up a romance online.

John receives a state pension of around £134 a week, while his wife, a mother-of-three, sub-lets a clothing stall and owns another shop.  

In 2016 Anne wrote a book about the scandal, revealing she been disowned by their two sons. 

Adjustments: She was seen wearing a waterproof head wrap and longline winter coat as Dominic and Mark also wrapped up warm in padded jackets

Preened to perfection: The crew adhered to coronavirus safety measures by sporting face masks as they tended to the stars and topped up their make-up 

Writing in Out Of My Depth, the so-called ‘Canoe Wife,’ she penned: ‘Why did I do it? That is the question I still ask myself today. Why, when I got home, did I make that phone call to the police?

‘I was never motivated by money. That wasn’t the reason. Incredible though it may sound, the only reason I had was my loyalty to John.’

She has since reconciled with her sons, and was last known to be working for the RSPCA in York after gaining qualifications in IT and business while in prison. 

ITV’s drama The Thief, His Wife And The Canoe is based upon the unpublished manuscript written by journalist David Leigh who was the first journalist to track down Anne as she was on the verge of setting up a new life in Panama.

Chilly! A wetsuit clad crew member dipped into the freezing British water on a surfboard as he retrieved the wreath props 

Stars Monica and Eddie will be joined in the cast by Karl Pilkington (Sick of It, Derek), whose role has not yet been revealed.

Speaking about the TV project, Eddie said recently: ‘I’m so thrilled to be working with Chris Lang, one of our greatest writers and to get the chance to work with Monica Dolan.

‘The story of how and why John Darwin faked his own death to defraud insurance companies is fascinating, and if it weren’t fact, you’d think it unbelievable.

‘I can’t pretend to understand what was going on in his head when he made those choices, but I’m going to do my absolute best to portray him, and I can’t wait to get started.’

Prepared: The expensive lighting and camera equipment on set was covered with plastic sheets to shield from the onslaught of rain

And Monica added: ‘The Thief, His Wife and The Canoe tells the story of surely the most outrageous fraud of modern times – and my favourite kind of drama is when the outrageous comes from the prosaic.

‘As breath-taking as their managing to pull this deception off in the first place, is how spectacularly the couple wrecked it for themselves as soon as they had got away with it.’

The real life story is written by acclaimed screenwriter Chris Lang, who said: ‘I am beyond delighted to be working with two of the finest actors of their generation.

‘I have admired them both from afar for many years (not in a creepy way though) and cannot wait to see them bring Anne and John Darwin to life.’

Spitting image: Eddie Marsan (left) is playing conman John (right in 2008) in the drama depicting his attempt to fake his death for a life insurance payment

Shoot: Later in the day, Eddie was seen filming solo scenes in the location

Downcast: Eddie appeared to be in sombre spirits as he walked with his head down and his hands in his pockets

Different look: The actor was seen sporting a beard and long hair for his character

The four-part drama is produced by Story Films, the company founded by three times BAFTA-winner David Nath and fellow award-winning director Peter Beard.

Susie Liggat (Giri/Haji) and Alison Sterling (The Windermere Children) serve as producers.

BAFTA winning director, Richard Laxton, (Honour, Mrs Wilson, Mum) directs each of the four episodes.

The drama has been commissioned for ITV by Head of Drama Polly Hill and will be produced in association with All3Media International.

Chilly: Eddie was seen rubbing his hands together while filming during the rainy day

Premise: The ITV drama will focus on how John’s wife Anne became complicit in her husband’s deception to convince the world he’d gone missing in an attempt to claim life insurance and avoid bankruptcy 

Acclaim: The four-part drama is produced by Story Films, the company founded by three times BAFTA-winner David Nath and fellow award-winning director Peter Beard