‘Joan’ leads ITV’s 2024 Autumn highlights

ITV has published it’s 2024 Autumn TV highlights, to include brand new drama, ‘Joan’.

Inspired by the real-life Joan Hannington and certain events from her life, this exhilarating and emotional new six-part series is penned by acclaimed screenwriter Anna Symon (The Essex Serpent, Mrs Wilson) and directed by BAFTA award-winner Richard Laxton (Rain Dogs, The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe, Mrs Wilson).

The series begins with Joan, a fiery and uncompromising woman in her twenties who is deeply scarred and vulnerable. She is a devoted mother to her six-year-old daughter, Kelly, but finds herself trapped in a disastrous marriage with a violent criminal named Gary. When Gary goes on the run, Joan seizes the chance to create a new life for herself and her daughter.

Taking on new identities and forming new relationships along the way, Joan becomes a masterful jewel thief. She embarks on a thrilling and high-stakes journey that pushes her to her limits, all while driven by her desire to care for her daughter and build a secure home for them both.

Sophie Turner stars as Joan, alongside Frank Dillane (Renegade Nell, Fear the Walking Dead, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince) as Boisie, a London antique dealer. Kirsty J. Curtis (Rise of the Footsoldier, Match Not Found, Harlots) plays Nancy, Joan’s older sister and a salon worker, while Gershwyn Eustache Junior (A Spy Among Friends, I May Destroy You, Top Boy) portrays Albie, an old acquaintance of Boisie who has started a new life in Spain with his wife, Val, played by Laura Aikman (Archie, Gavin & Stacey, Breeders).

The series also features Nick Blood (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, Safe), Jack Greenlees (Strike, Harlots), Alex Blake (The Crown, Chernobyl), Caroline Faber (Grantchester, Berlin Station), and Dorothy Atkinson (The Gold, Stonehouse).

ITV Autumn 2024 TV Highlights

Other highlights include a third series of The Tower and other returning dramas Grace, McDonald and Dodds and season two of US import The Twelve.

New ITV1 dramas include Tom Jones, Platform 7 and Love & Death.

New comedies include police sitcom Piglets and Edinburgh Fringe Live.

Davina McCall is back with a second series of My Mum, Your Dad, Stephen Mangan hosts new comedy gameshow Password, and entertainment series including The Masked Singer, Cooking with the Stars and The Voice all return. AJ Odudu and Vernon Kay team up for fashion’s answer to Bake Off, called ‘Dress the Nation’ and Joel Dommett is back as host of the National TV Awards.