The Moorside (BBC)

Not watched it yet but definitely plan to. It was such a strange story at the time

Very much a case of "Truth is stranger than fiction", this one! I saw an interview with the Family Liaison Officer involved, who co-operated on the series and and she described some of the small details which unsettled officers right from the beginning. Sheridan is a strong lead in this, but it's also yet another metamorphosis for Sian Brooke.

Do you remember where you saw that? I'd like to read/watch it.

I spent most of the episode trying to work out what I'd seen some of them in before.  Tom Hanson as Craig Meehan and Gemma Whelan as Karen Matthews were the two who surprised me the most

I saw it too. It was on The One Show. Monday night if I recall correctly.

Was visiting my mum today and we had a chat about this. I was saying I couldn't see where part two was going because they effectively covered everything in the first episode. She says, sharp as a knife "I don't know what it's going to be but they should flashback to that terrible family plotting it all".

So there. 85 next week, recovering from a fall and an ensuing hip replacement op and Mamma Burly is ON IT.

I don't know what the second instalment us going to be but if it's not this, it should be.

I also asked her what she thought of Sheridan, and that I'm seeing her next week in FG.

"Over exposed".

I bloody   My mum. 

Flashbacks would be interesting.  Though I guess that since Sheridan's character Julie is more or less the central figure here, it will be dealing more with the fallout. After all the community did to find the girl and support her mother, how do they feel now when they realize they have been conned, especially Julie herself? Who I personally think did it as much to help as to enjoy her own moment in the spotlight. As a foreigner I knew very little about the real case and mainly tuned it for Sheridan Smith and Gemma Whelan but I found the whole psychology fascinating and did some reading after the first episode.

Also thought the boyfriend playing computer games in the middle of mayhem was really the worst.

I thought it was really well done. The actress playing Karen was excellent, ditto, the actor who played Craig. I watched a documentary on yt about the case the following day and they really did get those two absolutely bang-on! Sheridan did a good job, but it would have been interesting to have the drama done from the POV of Natalie (Karen's friend who quickly started to doubt her). Julie (played by Sheridan) seemed to spend most of her time barking orders and organising events, whereas Natalie spent a lot more time with Karen - hence she saw more dodgy behaviour. It felt like Julie missed a lot, so we had her being told about it, instead of seeing it.

A special mention should go to the lad who played Julie's son - he was brilliant! I loved his comment when they were going to the vigil - "We won't have to pray or anything, will we?"

The doc I watched was Tears, Lies & Videotape - about people who tearfully appeal for information about crimes, when they actually committed them!

There were some great one liners.  Craig taking a Calpol overdose "...because it was the only thing I could find" made me laugh as well!

I am watching the first episode now, wow, it really is some powerful stuff! The performances are fantastic, particularly the actress playing Karen, who is scarily accurate in her portrayal. And Sheridan, I think, is doing a brilliant job. Especially as it was filmed around the time Sheridan was having her personal issues, she really is giving a fantastic performance. (for those wondering, was filmed around March 2016).

An outstanding piece of TV drama that will be picking up a few awards, I reckon. Superbly acted by all, and perfectly written, with some of the most striking one-liners, echoing the thoughts of the viewers, given to the most minor of characters- Julie's kids, the old boy on the mobility scooter, the bloke in the crowd outside the courtroom as the whole piece drew towards its sorry conclusion. Loved the angle taken to view the events, so we were spared the details of what really happened to the poor little girl, who has now found her escape in more ways than one. Reminded me a lot of ITV's Appropriate Adult from 2011, where we looked at the case of the Wests from the point of view of Fred's "appropriate adult", Janet Leach, who was allowed to sit in on his interviews with the police. Anyway, bravo to all concerned in the making of this one!

It was filmed in the break between the Funny Girl run at the Menier and the Savoy. In the light of what subsequently happened with Sheridan at the Savoy she may have been better taking a few weeks off to rest rather than filming this harrowing piece. Glad she didn't though as she gave another wonderful performance, as did the rest of the cast.

Usually with TV drama I find them spun out to too many episodes, but with this it could easily have been in 3 parts rather than 2. I just wanted more.....