BBC1 ::::::::::::::::The A WORD:::::::::::::::::::::::

[RTKangaMummy]

I think this is going to be good

www.radiotimes.com/episode/d2ycmd/the-a-word--series-1-episode-1

Five-year-old Joe is a smart, musical kid. He spends his time with headphones on listening to alt-rock classics and knowing every line of the lyrics. He can be a bit quiet and uncooperative but nothing that overly troubles his parents – or at least, nothing they’ll admit to…

As we meet Joe and his clan in Peter Bowker’s well-worked drama (adapted from an Israeli series) it is the day of Joe’s birthday. Around him a wider family battle simmers nicely as Joe’s interfering grandfather (Christopher Eccleston) and humiliated uncle strike sparks off each other.

That domestic cut-and-thrust might be enough in itself, but we know the real driver of the story will be Joe’s condition. It’s only the slightest of spoilers to reveal that, as the title hints heavily, Joe has autism. His grandfather’s attitude is old school: “If there’s a problem with my grandson, we need to get it fixed.” It won’t be that simple.

ABOUT THIS PROGRAMME
1/6. New series. The various generations of the Hughes family, who all love, work and fight like any other clan, find they must learn to communicate all over again when the youngest member is diagnosed with autism. The opening episode of the drama sees the extended family reunite in the Lake District for Joe's fifth birthday party, but tensions soon rise among Alison, Paul and patriarch Maurice. Starring Morven Christie, Lee Ingleby and Christopher Eccleston.

CAST AND CREW

CAST
Alison Hughes Morven Christie
Paul Hughes Lee Ingleby
Eddie Scott Greg McHugh
Nicola Daniels Vinette Robinson
Joe Hughes Max Vento
Rebecca Hughes Molly Wright
Maurice Scott Christopher Eccleston
David Nowak Adam Wittek
Pavel Kaminski Tommie Grabiec
Linda Michelle Tate
Jane Joanna Bond
Sea Lily Verity Henry
Ralph Wilson Leon Harrop
Louise Wilson Pooky Quesnel
Martha Catherine Kinsella
Terry George Bukhari
Dr Eshell Siri Ellis
Dr Waite Mina Anwar
Receptionist Denice Hope
Dr Graves Daniel CerqueiraCREW
Director Peter Cattaneo
Executive Producer Patrick Spence
Producer Marcus Wilson
Writer Peter Bowker

I think if I'd been the driver I'd have been concerned about a foreign sounding group in a minibus trying to bundle a young kid in to it and getting inappropriately aggressive with me.
I would have noted their registration number and phoned the police.
Just because they called him Joe doesn't mean that was his name and kidnappers/ abusers are often inappropriately aggressive when challenged.

Why can the mother not find time to sit down for 5 minutes to talk to the daughter? She can find the time to sit with the children in school and read with them and then offer to stay all day as well. Mind you she didn't do that very well either, practically ignoring the child so she could spy on Joe.

Joe wandering the roads on his own is really starting to get on my nerves now. I would have reported his parents to the police for neglect not gone round collecting him in a van!

I have no experience of autism, but to me the boy's behaviour doesn't seem that unusual. The lack of talking at home is noticeable, but other than that he seems quite an easy-going child just quiet and keeps to himself. I'm seeing a lot of my DS when he was young in him and other young boys I've known.

It is frustrating that they are making the mother so poor at communicating with him - she doesn't seem to have taken any notice of what the therapist told her or picked up on what other people (eg daughter and babysitter) are doing that works). I suppose it reiterates the idea that she is a bully, trying to bully the boy into behaving how she wants him to.

Christopher Eccleston is the stand out actor for me. The look he gave his son in the supermarket was priceless.

As a Speech and Language Therapist who spent 12 years working with children on the spectrum and their families I am still reeling aboyt the portrayal of the SLT's intervention and advice. I was aghast at her meeting with the family and the methods she was using with Joe. In all my years I would never had spoken to people in that manner ie judgemental. My role was to support them to communicate with their child not criticise their family dynamics! Was also dismayed that the SLT made no mention of using visual communication which is really a fundamental strategy. We also work closely with school staff and do not rely on the parents to communicate our recommendations. So much of her practice differs to what I recognise that I am quite sad at how it represents my profession (although not surprised as usually we are sold as elocution teachers)! Am now still watching but for drama rather than realism (and Christopher Eccleston).

As a Speech and Language Therapist who spent 12 years working with children with ASD and their families I am still in shock about the portrayal of the SLT intervention. I would never ever have spoken like that to parents - my role was support not judgement of family dynamics. Also her therapeutic methods seemed v outdated and she has obviously made no use of visual communication which would be a fundamental strategy. I could go on, particularly in terms of collaborative working with the school etc. Suffice it to say that as a drama it's quite watchable but as a representation of the way in which we work with children with ASD it is, in my experience, very dodgy!

Sorry if have posted twice -ipad being silly.

I watch in hope that it'll improve and that hope is dashed each episode.

It's very poor.

The teen daughter, mr eccelston and Howard from fresh meat are in a different show to the rest of the cast. The writers are terrible at writing adult women.

Realised who the Dad reminds me of - Rory from Dr Who/vicar from Broadchurch

Agree re Rory. I didn't like him either. Devoted but useless and wet.

Agree there isn't a sane adult woman in it, or a woman with hobbies and interests outside her family and job.

Jesus, wasn't sure I could think of the mum as more of a bully and bitch

And then this week happened.

She's not very likeable is she!

I HATE the mother in this!! I have absolutely no sympathy for her- she's selfish and manipulative!

I can't stand the uncle and aunt are their 'advice'. My dd would run a fucking mile.

I like Christopher E and his female friend

I'm the first in line to fight like a bloody lion for my son.

But not like that.

I thought tonight before the episode started that I really hope the boy isn't alone on the road again...............and the Mother is driving me mad. Only one more week to go.

This is sooooo lame

Sorry but the mum is not likeable at all

I think the GP is the only one who doesn't get in my nerves after more than 1 min of tedious Plot As Dialogue waffle.

The female GP? Dispensing shite right on advice?

It's not been my experience of autism at all but it has made me wonder why my daughter was called for a pip assessment :o

It gets worse with every episode.

Oh well, In the Club starts again in two weeks time.