Unforgotten - ITV - starts Thursday October 8th at 9pm

[sadwidow28]

ITV’s six episode thriller series Unforgotten from former ITV drama executives Laura Mackie and Sally Haynes’ fledgling indie Mainstreet Pictures will premiere on Thursday October 8th at 9pm, it has been announced.

Penned by Undeniable scribe Chris Lang, Unforgotten tells the story of an 39 year old cold investigation into the murder of a boy who was killed in 1976. The modern day investigation is run by DCI Cassie Stuart and DI Sunil ‘Sunny’ Khan, who must re-examine the evidence and investigate the key suspects – Robert Greaves, Frank Philip Cross, Lizzie Wilton and Eric Slater – in order to close the case. The series utilises a multi-stranded narrative, set in different parts of the country, which explores and connects each of the principle characters.

The six-parter is produced by Mainstreet Pictures and features a large cast that includes Sanjeev Bhaskar (The Kumars), Nicola Walker (Last Tango In Halifax), Trevor Eve (Waking The Dead), Bernard Hill (The Grid), Ruth Sheen (Our Girl), Tom Courtenay (The Dresser), Gemma Jones (Marvellous), Brian Bovell (Death in Paradise), Cherie Lunghi (Casualty), Hannah Gordon (Hustle), Claire Goose (Mount Pleasant) Tamzin Malleson (Midsomer Murders), Peter Egan (Downton Abbey), and Frances Tomelty (Catastrophe). Ripper Street helmer Andy Wilson was the director.

sadwidow I thought the pier was registered to the Fenwicks, but I think I was getting confused with the phone number for Frankie C. The spider was ocviously being used illegally, and no one traced such a notable car?

So far, we have racism/skinheads, organised crime and a dodgy-sounding hostel. Why did the building stop becoming a hostel, do we know?

I agree the Fenwicks sound like they are based on the Krays. Who else worked for them? Frankie C? The skinhead couple? Jimmy? Anyone else?

I also agree about the Unforgotten. Jimmy was forgotten and now the police are trying to make him Unforgotten.

All the main characters seem to be distancing themselves from their pasts. Lizzie, also trying to atone for past sins, maybe the Father, though it will be very interesting to see what is unearthed about him, the money, the calls to Jo-jo? Sir Philip involving lawyers, violence and new identity to hide from the past. The man in the wheelchair with his poor wife. Is she having flashes of longterm memory?

*spider not pier - gotta love autocorrect!

Christina, in the first episode the bookkeeper ( Eric played by Tom Courtney) said to his two sons and wife about how much the house had cost them years before. His wife said that a Ronnie Miller ( I know it was something Miller) came round with £50 pounds in his pocket as part of the deposit for the house. He is reluctant to move, his wife mentioned moving once the sons had left and he said 'we cant'. Makes me wonder why. She had lucid moments and actually left him, keeps on about ' I know what you did'. He looks dodgy and worried too, his wife knows lots I think.

And of course in episode 1 we had the discussion between Eric and his two sons regarding long-term memory being the last to go (regarding her dementia). I think we'll have a few more gems in her more lucid moments,

50 was a lot of money in those days,,strange that someone would hand that over in cash

I am very impressed by your detective skills 80's and sadwidow - you have both noticed things that went over my head

Kwym about lack of sleep - sadly my husband died 4.5yrs - tho I have met a lovely man who is very supportive

Do we really think beth /LIZZIE is rasict? Would her views change that much over 20yrs and marry a black man?

All 4 obv knew him

Obvious priest stole the money then tried to blame it on the woman

Who do we think killed Jimmy?

I watched ep 1 again last sunday! Not sure if someone that racist could change so much over the years - her own son died aged 15 too. People do alter i guess, maybe something happens that makes her revalue things? Could be her guilt at Jimmy dying and not reporting it? She had a Violent boyfriend ( he used to beat up people was racist himself?)
Not sure who will confess first, sir Phillip was the only one who mentioned a lawyer. He has a nasty side too, hitting the PR man was a bad move!

Ah yes, they were short of £50 when they bought the house, and their friend Terry Miller lent it to them in the end. He brought the cash round in pound notes. (I think it was an introduction to Mrs Slater's dementia showing how her long-term memory is still there - so not sure that Terry Miller himself is significant.)

quirkychick The link between Frankie C and the Fenwicks comes via the telephone number next to his name in the diary. They checked who had the landline at the time of Jimmy's disappearance and found it was registered to Gordon Fenwick from 1973 to 1987.

Right, I have gone through the opening credits for any further clues:

• pier
• lock-up garage (padlocked)
• pedestrian walkway over a road
• striking a match
• partial number plate (75) - that's the Morton Spider 775 UCC
• washing something in a wash-basin
• a bedroom (I think it is the Slater's)
• a nail
• S K I N on fingers (that's Lizzie Wilton)
• bolt cutters
• a crucifix
• sign - Daily Press and a tin - Fencing Adhesive
• newspaper picture of residents of Arlingham House sitting on steps
• pram outside gold pawn shop premises (sign saying "Workshop on premises")
• prayer book
• Liverpool football pictures (Jimmy Sullivan's bedroom)
• a church
• a car emblem
• accounts sheets
• steps to cellar
• peas boiling in a pan (Sir Phillip's chosen veg)
• dead flowers on a pavement
• entrance hall of a house

I am beginning to think Lizzie, Rev, Eric and Jo-Jo lived in the hostel. Sir Phillip probably didnt, but doing jobs for the Fenwicks brought him into contact with the others at the hostel. I still go with an accident gone wrong, sir had contacts with the underworld to help them cover it up, for a price. Eric was a book keeper, he could cook the books to pay off the Fenwicks.
Why Sir would be there in a stolen car, not sure, but racist related i imagine.
Just a guess. All probably wrong.

We know Lizzie stayed in the hostel 8 times (5 of them at the same time as Jimmy)

Eric Slater was the book-keeper at Arlington House

Father Rob was a chaplain at Arlingham House.

I haven't a clue how Frankie C (Sir Phillip) is connected to it though. Maybe he's not. Maybe he's just connected to Jimmy rather than the hostel. We know Jimmy had got a job (with the Fenwick's?) and it was Jimmy who died with the key to the stolen car in his pocket so he was driving it on the day of his death.

Hmmm, I am not sure that a blunt force trauma to the skull could be an accident but I do like your idea of Sir Phillip helping to cover up the death. I also like the suggestion that Jo-Jo was Jimmy's girlfriend having met at the hostel.

I got my 3 picture slots re-instated earlier, but I was all geared up to watching Downton Abbey so I couldn't be distracted.

So, here we go with Father Rob's flashbacks

Trigger warning - it is supposed to depict sexual abuse

I am going to separate this post from the screen captures so that you can choose to skip over the pictures.

I personally don't see it in the 3 screen-captures I managed to get but skip my next post and don't dwell on the pictures if you think you might be triggered.

If you are affected by the thumbnails I post next, then PM me and I will support you 100% and suggest some great #csa support groups. Alternatively, report my screen-capture post and ask MNHQ to remove it and I won't be offended.

Ready?

Father Robert Greaves - flashbacks.

Another early warning for triggers

The pictures in the next post appear to show 'underage sex' (Jimmy was 17 years old when he died)

Please skip my next post and DO NOT DWELL ON THE SCREENSHOTS if you think you might be triggered

Again, PM if you are affected by anything you see - or report my screenshots to MNHQ and I will NOT be offended.

Ready again?

Eric Slater reads the local newspaper and sees the report of Jimmy Sullivan's body having been found.

I have TWO flashbacks saved - clearly a sexual liaison.

I think Tom Courtney may have something buried in the garden/under the floorboards of his property which is why he can't move.

I agree LillianGish I'm sure the Fenwicks were involved in more than one disappearance, we already knew they were suspected of 3? murders but not brought to conviction. Another body or something related. They were given cash to buy, was there a shady deal; take the cash and hide...

Yy, sadwidow I realised my mistake, confusing the registering of the phone number with the car... It was a very prestigious car to have stolen and not been returned - very suspect. Was it Jimmy's or was he borrowing it, for a dubious "favour". I thought the interview cipher earlier said it was categorically not about sexual abuse...

*clip not cipher

Someone up thread said they have watched 3 episodes. I'm sure there has only been 2 so far.

The 3rd episode is on thursday.
The spider car was stolen from a police pound!

quirkychick

I thought the interview cipher earlier said it was categorically not about sexual abuse...

Yes, the interview with Chris Lang DID say it was not about child abuse - and I posted that interview for a couple of posters on the thread who said they would stop watching if it was about that.

But then I did the screen shots of the flashbacks and read the reviews of episode 2 just to check that I was seeing what I thought I was seeing - and thought 'Oh no! There IS reference to abuse'. But I am hoping it is just a very minor part of Jimmy's past story.

I still hope that Sir Phillip is totally implicated and gets his comeuppance. I have quite warmed to Lizzie who seems to be looking out for Curtis as a replacement for the son she has lost.

Father Rob and Eric Slater are not the nicest of men - but they are not setting my teeth on edge like Sir Phillip.

The spider car was stolen from a police pound

No, it was stolen from outside the White's house (only ever been registered to Stephen J White who bought it off the production line). The car was sold as a direct-sale from the factory - 12th January 1966 but was stolen 'at Christmas 1975'.

We don't know what happened to it for the following 6 months - but presume nobody drove it after July 1976 because the deceased Jimmy had the key in his pocket.

It was an 'unclaimed vehicle towed off the streets'. So that is when it was taken to Islington Car Pound (and should have been returned to Stephen White but things weren't cross-referenced then).

The car was bought as scrap from Islington Car Police Pound in 1977.

Elendon

Jimmy said in a letter to his mum he'd bought a new car (with a picture that looks just like the spider)

Oh - good spot! I'll have a look at the Mum's photos and see if I can screengrab that photo.

But I see what you are saying:

• Is Jimmy being economical with the truth about his 'new life in London'? Did he buy a stolen car - or was he 'given' one?
• Did he have a girlfriend or was she actually a sex-worker who was given to him as 'payment' from the 'Family/Firm'?

Sadwidow28

Perhaps his new car was to drive his 'girlfriend' around to 'clients', with Frankie C as the pimp. And perhaps Jimmy and his girlfriend (who I think is Jo Jo) did get involved with each other. Though why this would lead to his death is beyond me.

Not caught up on thread yet but I watched episode 2 just now. Fab stuff, I'm really loving the acting.

I agree that they all must be involved in something dodgy somehow, they all had brief flashbacks and were evasive etc so they are all hiding SOMETHING.

Ooh, still catching up but is that Chris Ewan you're in contact with sadwidow - I read Safe House recently. Although it seems there are a few different books by that name!