A TV series about a bizarre real-life case of “canoe man” John Darwin is set to air next month.

The four-part ITV drama about the conman and his wife is being shown in April.

The Thief, His Wife And The Canoe will tell the story of how Mr Darwin faked his own death as part of an insurance scam.

It stars Eddie Marsan and Monica Dolan and John and Anne Darwin.

The Northern Echo: The photo of John and Anne Darwin, pictured with an estate agent, which led to the their ruse being discoveredThe photo of John and Anne Darwin, pictured with an estate agent, which led to the their ruse being discovered

Filming for the series took place around Hartlepool last spring.

Mr Darwin went missing in 2002 while canoeing off the coast of Seaton Carew, near Hartlepool, where the couple lived.

The TV show will tell the tale of how Mrs Darwin, played by Dolan, became complicit in her husband’s deception, allowing them to collect his life insurance.

She lied to their sons, Mark and Anthony, for five years while her husband secretly lived in a bedsit.

The Northern Echo: John Darwin outside Teesside Crown CourtJohn Darwin outside Teesside Crown Court

Eventually they moved to Panama City, before their secret was exposed by the discovery of a photo showing them in an estate agents’ office in July 2006.

They were jailed for fraud in 2008.

The drama was written by Unforgotten’s Chris Lang, and was produced by Story Films.

It is based on an unpublished manuscript written by journalist David Leigh, who was the first reporter to find Ms Darwin as she was starting her new life in Panama.

They are joined in the cast by White House Farm actor Mark Stanley and Derek’s Karl Pilkington.

The Northern Echo: Anne Darwin Anne Darwin

ITV are yet to release its advert for the programme.

It is not the first time the bizarre tale  has been dramatised, with the BBC making Canoe Man in 2010.

The Northern Echo: Eddie Marsan will play 'canoe man' John Darwin Eddie Marsan will play 'canoe man' John Darwin

Speaking before the show was made, Mr Marsan said: “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.”

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