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The Moorside

531 replies

NancyDonahue · 06/02/2017 09:23

BBC dramatisation based on the kidnapping of Shannon Matthews. Starts Tuesday 7th February 9pm, starring Sheridan Smith.

Obviously a horrendous crime against a young child so I wasn't sure I'd want to watch, but it looks like it focuses on friends of the mother who headed up the search and barely features the child herself.

I love Sheridan Smith too so will give it a go.

OP posts:
AnyFucker · 14/02/2017 21:40

The actress playing Karen Matthews is very, very good

choccyfiend78 · 14/02/2017 21:41

This part is better than the first. Everything that we said on this thread last week about Julie has been brought up, her liking the attention etc

footballmum · 14/02/2017 21:41

Is that true? Was she really just trying to escape an abusive relationship or did she just say that?

Alfieisnoisy · 14/02/2017 21:43

She wanted to get away from Craig I gather and she did give the abduction as a result of that as an excuse to her friends. Whether it was true or not only KM knows.

MipMipMip · 14/02/2017 21:52

I wonder of what happened to Julie and Natalie was true? Hell of a thing to make up for a drama but I can't imagine them both wanting their pasts announced to the world like that.

OneWithTheForce · 14/02/2017 21:53

I've watched all the footage I can find of the real KM and I have to say I think the learning difficulties are being over played in this show. IRL she comes across as a fair bit more tuned in and a lot less emotional than is presented in the show.

MipMipMip · 14/02/2017 22:03

I still can't find a copy of the original appeal, the spontaneous in the street. Has anyone got a link?

Cheers

BumWad · 14/02/2017 22:04

The police woman mentioned that they thought that Karen and the uncle weren't 'clever' enough to plan this and that another person may be involved (scene in the kitchen) but then nothing came of it?

BitOfFun · 14/02/2017 22:05

This was an excellent episode. I thought that Sheridan Smith's performance seemed far more nuanced this week.

Muddlewitch · 14/02/2017 22:08

That left me wondering too Bum, I don't think anyone other than KM will ever know the whole story.

BitOfFun · 14/02/2017 22:09

Bumwad, I think (but do google to check) that I read last week that Craig's mother was under suspicion. I'm not sure what came of it though.

FATEdestiny · 14/02/2017 22:13

I remember at the time there being speculation that both are too "thick" to have planned this, so maybe someone else was involved. I think this was just speculation though.

I doubt it was planned in any sophisticated way though.

1happyhippie · 14/02/2017 22:13

I thought tonight's was better than the first part.
I wondered who else the police suspected as being involved too. Wish that had been explained.
I think Natalie moving away was a good thing. Did Julie stay on the estate? Wonder how the other residents felt about that, knowing she was visiting Karen throughout.

OneWithTheForce · 14/02/2017 22:14

Yes I wondered that bumwad

I think there are a lot of unanswered questions in this case. If there was someone else involved (personally i don't think so) then they've done a fantastic number on silencing Mick Donovan and Karen Matthews. They would have to have some pretty big hold over them both to achieve that. Death threats maybe? As I said, I don't think anyone else is involved. I think the truth is probably something close to what KM confessed in the car with some other stuff she didn't confess. She seemed determined to blame everyone but herself so I have assumed her "confession" followed that theme too- i.e. It will have been a very generous (to her) version of the truth.

Clawdy · 14/02/2017 22:18

Odd that nobody spotted Shannon being met by the uncle, and getting back and entering his house - especially with all the publicity the following day.

AnyFucker · 14/02/2017 22:19

I wonder if the policewoman thought that Julie was involved in the plot

Chelazla · 14/02/2017 22:19

Mip type Shannon Matthews cutting edge in you tube it's in there as part of the longer documentary. It's worth watching the whole thing.

Owllady · 14/02/2017 22:20

Was it a paedophile ring type thing?
Karen not involved obv, she seems and seemed rather vulnerable. I was confused how and why the police believed them (in real time not on the tv series, 're series just made it seem even more bizarre)
I wonder if the police just thought they would get to the bottom of the bigger picture and who was involved
Iykwim
V sad anyway :(
I hope Julie is ok. Poor Julie
And I obviously hope all the children are safe

southeastdweller · 14/02/2017 22:21

One theory I've read is that either Karen or Donovan were inspired by a similar story that was featured on Shameless in early 2008.

DrowningSeas · 14/02/2017 22:22

Shocking

FATEdestiny · 14/02/2017 22:22

Did Shannon herself give any evidence in court?

I got the impression that Shannon didn't know Michael, so why did she go with him and what actually happened while she was there?

Chelazla · 14/02/2017 22:22

I much preferred this one. Julie came across awful in the first episode, much better in the second. I suspect, although a busy body she does just try to see the best in people. Only Natalie actually came out of it all well. Wonder why she'd be Karen's friend in the first place though.

BitOfFun · 14/02/2017 22:23

Here we are, on Wikipedia:

Amanda Hyett, Craig Meehan's sister, was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender on 4 April 2008.[46][47] Alice Meehan, mother of Craig Meehan and sister of Michael Donovan, was arrested on suspicion of attempting to pervert the course of justice, on 4 April.[46][47] Amanda Hyett and Alice Meehan were released on police bail on 4 April but were rearrested with Meehan's sister Caroline, on 10 April and held on suspicion of perverting the course of justice before being released on bail.[48] Hyett and Alice Meehan were later released without charge, although Hyett was jailed the following year in an unrelated conviction for benefit fraud.[49]

Wotcha, Anyfucker ;)

MipMipMip · 14/02/2017 22:25

Thanks Chelazla, I'll check that out.

Clawdy · 14/02/2017 22:26

I can't believe anyone else was involved, as Karen would simply have accused them to get herself off the hook. She would have blamed someone else immediately.