ITV viewers tuned in to the second instalment of The Thief, His Wife and The Canoe on Monday evening, as the new drama continues to tell the real-life story of John and Anne Darwin that once shocked the country.
The drama focuses on how Anne, played by Monica Dolan, 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 whilst canoeing off the coast of Seaton Carew in Cleveland, where the couple owned two large houses with panoramic views of the sea.
The deception takes its toll on Anne who lied to their sons, Mark and Anthony, for five years whilst her husband, in the early days of the fraud, secretly lived in a bedsit next door to the home he shared with Anne. Devastated by the loss of their father, neither son had an inkling their parents were capable of such treachery.
READ MORE: ITV's The Thief, His Wife and The Canoe viewers reeling at 'obvious' mistake
Monday's episode saw Anne try to claim on her husband's life insurance. Her hopes - and his - were soon dashed, when she was told it would take seven years before John would be officially declared deceased.
She was also told she'd have to keep paying the premiums for the seven years, or they'd get no money. As soon as the man from the insurance company left the house, John's screams rang out across the street.
Taking to Twitter, many watching the show couldn't believe John hadn't "done his homework". Victoria Towers said: "Hasn't thought this through at all, has he?". Jennie Wilks said: "Hahaha! Serves them right! Don't you just love a good old clause in an insurance policy".
Michelle W said: "Is that not obvious? I thought everyone knew you had to be missing for seven years before [you are] considered dead". Dave Jones said: "If this wasn't a true story, I'd have given up on #TheThiefHisWifeAndTheCanoe for being too far fetched. What an incredible story." Mace Windu said: "That's put a bit of a dent in their plans."
The Thief, His Wife And The Canoe is on ITV at 9pm until Wednesday, April 20
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