![itv studios presentmrs biggssheridan smith stars in the title role of charmian biggs in the five part itv drama mrs biggs produced by itv studios. she is joined by danny mays who assumes the iconic role of charmian’s infamous ex husband ronnie biggs. pictured: sheridan smith as mrs biggs .this photograph is (c) itv and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or itv plc. once made available by itv plc picture desk, this photograph can be reproduced once only up until the transmission [tx] date and no reproduction fee will be charged. any subsequent usage may incur a fee. this photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by itv plc picture desk. this photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of itv plc picture desk.](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/mrs-biggs-ep1-06-689a10b93f742.jpg?crop=0.862xw:0.581xh;0.113xw,0.137xh&resize=1200:* "itv studios presentmrs biggssheridan smith stars in the title role of charmian biggs in the five part itv drama mrs biggs produced by itv studios. she is joined by danny mays who assumes the iconic role of charmian’s infamous ex husband ronnie biggs. pictured: sheridan smith as mrs biggs .this photograph is (c) itv and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or itv plc. once made available by itv plc picture desk, this photograph can be reproduced once only up until the transmission [tx] date and no reproduction fee will be charged. any subsequent usage may incur a fee. this photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by itv plc picture desk. this photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of itv plc picture desk.")
True story dramas and Sheridan Smith go hand in hand, which is why Mrs Biggs, the hit series that tells the story of the woman behind Britain’s most famous villain, Great Train Robber Ronald Biggs, should go straight to the top of your watch list. Described by viewers as "truly incredible" when it first aired on ITV in 2012, the emotional story of Ronnie (Daniel Mays) and his wife Charmian (Sheridan Smith), for which Sheridan drew on “personal things” for, is now available to stream on Netflix - and we have a feeling you’ll enjoy every single moment of it.
The drama chronicles Charmian's life, from moment she first met Ronnie as a teenager to the opposition she faced from her family when it came to their relationship and, of course, the Great Train Robbery in 1963. The consequences of the robbery would go on to devastate Charmian’s life, and meant that she and her family were on the run with one of the world's most wanted men.
Keen to watch the series? Before you tune in, here’s everything you need to know about Mrs Biggs, including the plot, cast and how to watch it.
What is Mrs Biggs about?
The five-part drama stars Sheridan Smith as Charmian Biggs, the former wife of the Great Train robber, Ronnie Biggs (Daniel Mays). The series tells the story of the fateful moment that, as a teenager on a train, Charmian first met and fell in love with the worldly Biggs. What ensues is a passionate love affair, before Charmian’s life is turned upside down.
![itv studios presentmrs biggssheridan smith stars in the title role of charmian biggs in the five part itv drama mrs biggs produced by itv studios. she is joined by danny mays who assumes the iconic role of charmian’s infamous ex husband ronnie biggs. pictured: sheridan smith as mrs biggs and daniel mays as ronnie biggs.this photograph is (c) itv and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or itv plc. once made available by itv plc picture desk, this photograph can be reproduced once only up until the transmission [tx] date and no reproduction fee will be charged. any subsequent usage may incur a fee. this photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by itv plc picture desk. this photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of itv plc picture desk.](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/mrs-biggs-ep2-02-d-6899dcf95a631.jpg?crop=0.749xw:1.00xh;0.232xw,0&resize=980:* "itv studios presentmrs biggssheridan smith stars in the title role of charmian biggs in the five part itv drama mrs biggs produced by itv studios. she is joined by danny mays who assumes the iconic role of charmian’s infamous ex husband ronnie biggs. pictured: sheridan smith as mrs biggs and daniel mays as ronnie biggs.this photograph is (c) itv and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or itv plc. once made available by itv plc picture desk, this photograph can be reproduced once only up until the transmission [tx] date and no reproduction fee will be charged. any subsequent usage may incur a fee. this photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by itv plc picture desk. this photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of itv plc picture desk.")
The series recounts the pair’s struggle to stay together in the face of fierce opposition from Charmian’s family - aghast at Biggs’ criminal record - and their life as the parents of young children before money worries forced Biggs to ask for a loan from an old friend to pay the deposit on a house they wanted to buy for their family. It was that very friend, Bruce Reynolds, who would become the mastermind behind of the most famous crimes in British history - the Great Train Robbery of August 1963.
The consequences of the robbery were far-reaching and we see Charmian on the run with her family after he skips over the wall of Wandsworth prison. Shunned by her parents and desperate to keep her own family together, she secretly emigrated with her sons to Australia on false passports. Biggs had already snuck out there and she helped her husband avoid capture for more than four years.
![itv studios presentmrs biggssheridan smith stars in the title role of charmian biggs in the five part itv drama mrs biggs produced by itv studios. she is joined by danny mays who assumes the iconic role of charmian’s infamous ex husband ronnie biggs. pictured: sheridan smith as mrs biggs and daniel mays as ronnie biggs.this photograph is (c) itv and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or itv plc. once made available by itv plc picture desk, this photograph can be reproduced once only up until the transmission [tx] date and no reproduction fee will be charged. any subsequent usage may incur a fee. this photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by itv plc picture desk. this photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of itv plc picture desk.](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/mrs-biggs-ep1-16-6899dd4878cf6.jpg?crop=1.00xw:0.815xh;0,0.137xh&resize=980:* "itv studios presentmrs biggssheridan smith stars in the title role of charmian biggs in the five part itv drama mrs biggs produced by itv studios. she is joined by danny mays who assumes the iconic role of charmian’s infamous ex husband ronnie biggs. pictured: sheridan smith as mrs biggs and daniel mays as ronnie biggs.this photograph is (c) itv and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or itv plc. once made available by itv plc picture desk, this photograph can be reproduced once only up until the transmission [tx] date and no reproduction fee will be charged. any subsequent usage may incur a fee. this photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by itv plc picture desk. this photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of itv plc picture desk.")
Tragedy followed, too, when their eldest son Nicky was killed in a car accident. Charmian threw herself into building a life for her other two sons, studying for a degree and taking on a job as she pleaded to be allowed to stay in Australia. When Biggs was discovered by Scotland Yard to be living under an assumed name in Rio, she flew out for an emotional reunion. And so the story continues…
It’s an emotional rollercoaster of a series that Sheridan told The Mirror she had to draw on personal experiences for. “You have to draw on personal things to get that kind of emotion. I lost my eldest brother, so my mum went through that,” she said.
“It was really traumatic because I felt for Charmian so much. No mother should lose a child.”
What actually happened in the Great Train Robbery of 1963?
Known as the “heist of the century”, the 1963 armed robbery saw Ronnie Biggs and 14 other men hijack a Royal Mail Train and steal £2.6 million (over £50 million in today’s money). The gang halted the train, which was travelling from Glasgow to London, near Bridego Bridge, north of London. They tampered with signals on the train line before successfully intercepting it and stealing 120 sacks of used banknotes – the bulk of which has never been recovered.
![itv studios presentmrs biggssheridan smith stars in the title role of charmian biggs in the five part itv drama mrs biggs produced by itv studios. she is joined by danny mays who assumes the iconic role of charmian’s infamous ex husband ronnie biggs. pictured: sheridan smith as mrs biggs and daniel mays as ronnie biggs.this photograph is (c) itv and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or itv plc. once made available by itv plc picture desk, this photograph can be reproduced once only up until the transmission [tx] date and no reproduction fee will be charged. any subsequent usage may incur a fee. this photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by itv plc picture desk. this photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of itv plc picture desk.](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/mrs-biggs-generics-02-6899db34ba644.jpg?crop=0.975xw:0.650xh;0,0.0752xh&resize=980:* "itv studios presentmrs biggssheridan smith stars in the title role of charmian biggs in the five part itv drama mrs biggs produced by itv studios. she is joined by danny mays who assumes the iconic role of charmian’s infamous ex husband ronnie biggs. pictured: sheridan smith as mrs biggs and daniel mays as ronnie biggs.this photograph is (c) itv and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or itv plc. once made available by itv plc picture desk, this photograph can be reproduced once only up until the transmission [tx] date and no reproduction fee will be charged. any subsequent usage may incur a fee. this photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by itv plc picture desk. this photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of itv plc picture desk.")
Britain was gripped by the crime - partly because there had never been a high-profile train robbery before, but also because the gang’s highly-organised style sounded like something from a Hollywood script. In the aftermath of the robbery, a reward of £260,000 was offered to anyone who could track down the thieves.
Ronnie was jailed in 1964, but one year later, he escaped from Wandsworth prison using a rope ladder. He fled to Paris, where he had plastic surgery, before moving to Melbourne with Charmian and their children. After living as a fugitive for 36 years, Ronnie eventually returned to Britain to finish the rest of his 30-year sentence.
Who’s in the cast of Mrs Biggs?
The cast of Mrs Biggs includes:
- Sheridan Smith as Charmian Biggs
- Daniel Mays as Ronnie Biggs
- Adrian Scarborough as Bernard Powell, Charmian's father
- Caroline Goodall as Muriel Powell, Charmian's mother
- Florence Bell as Gillian Powell, Charmian's sister
- Jay Simpson as Bruce Reynolds
- Claire Rushbrook as Ruby Wright
- Jack Lowden as Alan Wright
- Tom Brooke as Mike Haynes
- Leo Gregory as Eric Flower
- Freya Stafford as Julie Flower
- Denise Roberts as Annie
- Phil Cornwell as Detective Sergeant Jack Slipper
- Robin Hooper as Mr Kerslake
- Luke Newberry as Gordon
- Iain McKee as Charlie Wilson
- Matthew Cullum as Buster Edwards
- Jon Foster as Goody
- Ron Cook as Peter
- George Oliver as Polish Henry
- Sam Healy as Sheree
- Libby Tanner as Norma
Is there a trailer for Mrs Biggs?
Yes there is a trailer for Mrs Biggs, which you can watch below:
Is Mrs Biggs any good?
Yes – it's brilliant. When the show first aired in 2012, it received rave reviews, with audiences calling it “compelling”, “impeccable” and “truly incredible”. Sheridan received widespread acclaim for her role as Charmian Biggs, winning the 2013 BAFTA for Best Actress for her performance in the series, while Daniel Mays was nominated for Most Popular Male Drama Performance at the National Television Awards. The series was written by Jeff Pope, responsible for Philomena and See No Evil: The Moors Murders – who’s also written forthcoming ITV drama about black cab rapist John Worboys, Believe Me.
How can I watch Mrs Biggs?
Good news - all five episodes of Mrs Biggs are available to stream now on Netflix.
![itv studios presentmrs biggssheridan smith stars in the title role of charmian biggs in the five part itv drama mrs biggs produced by itv studios. she is joined by danny mays who assumes the iconic role of charmian’s infamous ex husband ronnie biggs. pictured: sheridan smith as mrs biggs .this photograph is (c) itv and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or itv plc. once made available by itv plc picture desk, this photograph can be reproduced once only up until the transmission [tx] date and no reproduction fee will be charged. any subsequent usage may incur a fee. this photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by itv plc picture desk. this photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of itv plc picture desk.](https://hips.hearstapps.com/vidthumb/7022fa7a-7384-45c1-945b-3f327f58ec37/thumb_2160x3840.0000001.jpg?crop=1.00xw:1.00xh;0,0&resize=1200:* "Sheridan Smith's Mrs Biggs is now on Netflix")
