The real-life story of The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe has shocked viewers over the past week.
ITV has released a dramatised version of how John Darwin, played by Eddie Marsan, faked his own death to claim life insurance and avoid bankruptcy.
In the series, they also focus on Anne Darwin, played by Monica Dola, and how she became complicit in her husband’s deception as she started to convince the world, their family and friends, the police and insurance companies, that he had gone missing in 2002.
READ MORE: Where are John Darwin and his wife Anne now? ITV The Thief, His Wife and The Canoe
The couple also lied to their sons Anthony and Mark, with the children believing their father John was dead.
What happened to John and Anne Darwin's sons?
Anthony was in Canada with his wife when dad John disappeared and, explained how he felt when he saw the infamous photo of his parents in a Panama property office, which led to lies being exposed., reports ChronicleLive.
Anthony said: "My initial reaction was that someone had stuck it together on Photoshop. The following day I read about it in the paper. I felt upset and betrayed, I don’t know. I had no inkling that he was still alive."
Both sons were at court in Teesside to give evidence in their mum's trial in 2008, seeing her sent down for six and a half years. Speaking in 2016 about whether he could forgive his mum, Mark said: "What I have gone through to get to a stage where I can forgive has been tough. It’s taken deep thought and a difficult process of accepting her faults."
It was reported earlier this year that one of the sons had 'sneaked' onto the set of The Thief, His Wife and The Canoe set in disguise. His appearance was discussed by Eddie Marsan, who plays John in the drama, who said: "We had no idea until a few weeks later. He had come in with a baseball cap and a covid mask on to watch. We didn’t get any feedback."
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