The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe

The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe is an ITV television drama series that was first broadcast on 17 April 2022. Written by Chris Lang and directed by Richard Laxton, the programme dramatises the John Darwin disappearance case (2002-2007), where prison officer and teacher John Darwin faked his own death in a canoeing accident, and reappeared five and a half years after he was believed to have died.

Cast

 * Eddie Marsan as John Darwin
 * Monica Dolan as Anne Darwin
 * Mark Stanley as Mark Darwin
 * Dominic Applewhite as Anthony Darwin
 * Karl Pilkington as DC Phil Bayley

Production
Hartlepool, Walthamstow, Seaton Carew and Middlesbrough were used as filming locations.

Reception
Stuart Jeffries for The Guardian gave the series four out of five stars.