The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe

6.9
202247m

The extraordinary and compelling story of how John Darwin faked his own death to claim life insurance and avoid bankruptcy will be told in The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe. The drama relates how Anne Darwin's husband, a prison officer, came up with the hare-brained scheme to defraud insurance companies, unbeknownst to their two sons.

Production

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Trailers & Videos

Thumbnail for video: The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe | Trailer | BritBox

The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe | Trailer | BritBox

Thumbnail for video: The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe | Trailer | Serial Killer 2022

The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe | Trailer | Serial Killer 2022

Thumbnail for video: The Thief, His Wife, And The Canoe | Creating The World | BritBox

The Thief, His Wife, And The Canoe | Creating The World | BritBox

Seasons

4 Episodes • Premiered 2022

The extraordinary and compelling story of how John Darwin faked his own death to claim life insurance and avoid bankruptcy.

Still image for The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe season 1 episode 1: Episode 1

1. Episode 1

7.5

We meet John and Anne Darwin, a couple plagued by debt. Facing bankruptcy John decides to fake his own death using his canoe, much to the horror of his wife. They successfully pull it off and John goes into hiding while Anne consoles her sons.

Still image for The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe season 1 episode 2: Episode 2

2. Episode 2

7.5

John successfully applies for a passport to create a new identity, while forcing Anne to demand an inquest into his death so they can get the insurance pay out.

Still image for The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe season 1 episode 3: Episode 3

3. Episode 3

7.5

John has had enough of being dead and returns to England to declare he is suffering from amnesia. Journalists hunt down Anne in Panama and their story starts to unravel.

Still image for The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe season 1 episode 4: Episode 4

4. Episode 4

7.5

The truth emerges when Anne and John are interviewed by the police. The case goes to trial where Anne pleads not guilty on the grounds of marital coercion.

Cast

Photo of Eddie Marsan

Eddie Marsan

John Darwin

Photo of Monica Dolan

Monica Dolan

Anne Darwin

Photo of Mark Stanley

Mark Stanley

Mark Darwin

Photo of Dominic Applewhite

Dominic Applewhite

Anthony Darwin

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Reviews

N

Peter McGinn

8/10

I have seen Eddie Marian a few times in supporting roles, so I was glad to see him as a lead character. The mini-series is based on an actual case and judging from a general perusal of that case, they seem to have stuck pretty close to actual events.

It is not mesmerizing viewing but it held my interest well enough. Marsan’s character is portrayed as being rather irrersistably charming, or close to it. I guess there is no accounting for people’s tastes. Obviously his wife could have done better, but her self-esteem is low.

The main character is clearly located somewhere on along the mentally ill arc or narcissist or sociopath. He only thinks of himself and feels no guilt or much sense of right and wrong. His mental state really isn’t dealt with in this program, though, except in simple terms of how his family is affected by his behavior. Needless to say, we don’t ever see any character growth in his like we do with his wife and sons.

I enjoyed thje show enough to be getting on with,but I can’t see myself watching it again. There are too many other things out there I need to watch.

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