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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:
BluePheasant · 14/02/2017 23:12

I'm left with a huge sense of there being so much more to this case than we'll ever know. Layers upon layers.

All so sad. A case of abuse leading to abuse if ever there was one :(

Bestthingever · 14/02/2017 23:44

Watching tonight's episode, I realised the case was far more complex than the public realised. Everyone thought it was about making money 'to buy a flat screen tv' to quote my sil! God knows what the truth is or was. I only hope Shannon and her siblings are happy wherever they are.

Bestthingever · 14/02/2017 23:45

I'm

OneWithTheForce · 14/02/2017 23:50

I really want to believe it was in order for Karen to get the kids away from Craig and the plan just went wrong. Her changing stories make it hard to stick with that theory though.

MrsJayy · 14/02/2017 23:58

Tonights was much better than last week and yes what we were saying about julie maybe is true. I know it was dramatised for effect but i think it was a true account of events. I still dont know what that policeman was to Julie was he her boyfriend community officer so knew Julie that waybut the sharing of fags bugged me

MrsJayy · 15/02/2017 00:01

Bluepheasant I agree with you its bloody tragic

Akire · 15/02/2017 00:02

I hadn't realised wasn't all closed case. Surely Shannon would have said where she was - so major plot problem. Plus if she was really all
Packed to leave Craig the police would have noticed all he bags and kids stuff missing would suggest more she was going to run away.

Plus you don't get reward for just finding a missing child in market, it's usually for information leading to an arrest. Not oh look I found missing child where my reward.

I missed bit how did they get tip off about uncle? Something about footprints?

MrsJayy · 15/02/2017 00:18

Shannon was drugged so maybe couldn't remember i wonder if she met him before that is why she went off with him it is all very odd That poor little girl

Akire · 15/02/2017 00:21

Oh yes that rings a bell, they didn't really mention it did they.

MrsJayy · 15/02/2017 00:21

Somebody heard shannon walking about the flat i think, she wasnt packed because craig hadnt gone to work is what she said in the car.

OneWithTheForce · 15/02/2017 00:26

Actually the story about her leaving Craig and taking the kids is bullshit isn't it, why on earth would they have needed to drug Shannon and tie her up in that case? That was pre meditated for them to have whatever drugs they used. And surely Karen would have texted mick during the day when she realise Craig wasn't going to work. She would have text or called and said the plans off, dont collect Shannon.

paddyplaistow · 15/02/2017 00:29

yes - she knew Mick beforehand. There was evidence that Shannon witnessed her mother giving him sexual favours in the weeks before he collected her from school.

HaveCourageAndBeKind · 15/02/2017 00:31

When Shannon's hair was tested, it was found that she'd been drugged for close to 2 years leading up to the abduction.
It was also suggested/learned that Karen had told Shannon that morning to expect to be picked up by Donovan, so she had no reason (as a 9 year old) to suspect that this was odd.
I read the book recommended earlier in the thread and it was more detailed than The Moorside. I did think the acting in this episode was phenomenal, particularly Gemma Whelan as Karen.

paddyplaistow · 15/02/2017 00:44

It was strange watching this. I know the area and some of the people, though not Karen. There is a lot more to this story.None of it good.

hackneyandbow · 15/02/2017 00:54

What more is there to it?

paddyplaistow · 15/02/2017 01:09

About other people who were involved, for one thing.
There is a deeply-ingrained culture of no grassing, and if you fall out with one person on the Estate, you fall out with them all.
People were frightened to say what they knew. Still are.

kennypppppppp · 15/02/2017 01:19

I'm more interested to find out how social services/interventions support a child in Shannon matthew's position. Would that have been a first nationally or would that have happened before and less press/etc I wonder. That poor girl. Lack of disclosures from Karen Matthews as a child etc. ... Leading to dodgy relationships/self esteem issues. Raises massive questions. An interesting programme and makes me feel massively for Shannon and her life and her outcomes etc etc.

GoldenWorld · 15/02/2017 04:05

Mip yes the sexual abuse by her dad and him going to prison is true in Julie's case. I read an interview in a newspaper that she did where she says all this, along with talking about her son that died of cot death.

I don't know about Natalie, but I'd be very surprised if they just made it up for the programme.

southeastdweller · 15/02/2017 07:48

From what I've read of the interviews with Julie (who worked closely with the writer) it's only her opinion that Karen did what she did to get away from her paedo boyfriend so that bit in the car scene where Karen explains why she did it was fictitious. Personally I think it was all about money and one of them were inspired by the Shameless episode I mentioned last night.

KingJoffreysRestingCuntface · 15/02/2017 08:13

For a while it seemed as though they were hinting heavily that Julie was the mysteriously intelligent third party who masterminded the plan. Certainly seemed that way when she was pretty much neglecting her own children to look for the 'missing' one.

Was that the 'real' 999 call? The dispatcher sounded totally over it. I phone 999 frequently and they never sound quite that casual or ask such little information. Or was that call just for the TV show?

And agree with above, if someone asked me, "What do they call her?" I wouldn't know what they meant. But again, it may not be the real call.

Julie seemed far more manipulative than Karen.

DesolateWaist · 15/02/2017 08:25

I think it was discussed on another thread Joffery that the 999 call in the program follows the transcript of the real call. I agree that it seems odd.

I never thought about Julie being the brains behind the operation. Granted she had the nounce to keep the media circus spinning and get a higher reward but I don't think that she would do something like that.

Limer · 15/02/2017 08:28

Thought this was excellent, fantastic acting and gave a great insight into the unfolding events day by day.

Wasn't the 999 caller saying "What do tha call her" - some of my W Yorks friends would definitely say that.

MipMipMip · 15/02/2017 08:40

Thanks Golden. It really is shit all round. I'm surprised in that case they didn't mention that Shannon (please god) didn't have that happen, to really make it clear. Poor poor girl.

MrsJayy · 15/02/2017 08:45

Paddy I guess we will never hearthe full story it is probably grimer thsn we know Sad.

Glastonbury · 15/02/2017 08:51

KingJoffrey a poster Catzpyjamas above has put the transcript of the call on 9/2/17.

The conversation in the car did happen. I remember seeing the Panorama programme at the time showing the Police Liason Officer Christine, Julie and Natalie.

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