Joan ending explained: What happened to thief's real life daughter?

The ITV drama recreates the events leading to Hannington losing her child to foster care, her first theft involving impulsively swallowing jewels, and her subsequent life of crime.

An emotional storyline within ITV drama Joan has been the relationship between Joan and her daughter.

Joan Hannington, also known as The Godmother, was a notorious figure in London's criminal underworld during the 1980s, stealing diamonds for the thrill and to raise funds to rescue her daughter from foster care.

The series recreates the events leading to Hannington losing her child to foster care, her first theft involving impulsively swallowing jewels, and her subsequent life of crime.

Its final two episodes will air on ITV1 on Sunday and Monday, with the entire series currently available to watch in full on ITVX. Viewers will have seen Joan trying to get her daughter Kelly back, but what actually happened to Joan Hannington's daughter in real life?

What happened to Joan and her daughter Kelly?

In the final episode of the ITV drama, the raid on Bernard's jewellery shop went horribly wrong with Boisie dying in Joan's arms. A disguised Joan travels to Kelly's school to take her away for a new life together.

Kelly is overjoyed to see her mother, but Joan tells her to keep their secret and meet her at the gate. They drive off together, and Joan learns from Albie's distraught partner Val how he has fled the country.

Joan and Kelly make their way to the prearranged hideout caravan, but Joan is still shaken by Boisie's death and struggles to maintain her composure. Kelly is unable to cheer up her mother and later discovers a gun in her mother's suitcase.

Joan prevents Kelly from discharging the gun, but realises she is unable to care for her and leaves Kelly at her foster home.

Joan instead confesses and offers herself to the police and she is later jailed for her role in the jewel heist. She is released after four years and later meets Albie for one final time.

What happened to Joan Hannington's daughter in real life and what is her actual name?

The ITV drama changed many real-life elements and names. For instance, Joan's daughter Debbie was renamed Kelly, with ex-husband and criminal Ray Pavey being her father.

Joan Hannington wrote about Debbie in her memoir I Am What I Am and she left her daughter in care to ensure she could have a better life.

She struggled to get back in contact with Debbie after she was placed in care. It is unclear what the status of their relationship is like as Debbie did not attend the ITV series premiere with Joan.

Joan Hannington did appear at the ITV series premiere with her son Benny Banks, who she had with her husband Boisie. Benny made a cameo in the first episode as a bartender in the pub where Joan and Boisie first met.

Benny also has a daughter, with Joan Hannington describing herself as a proud grandmother. Joan Hannington currently lives on the South Coast with her two dogs.