The Moorside

[NancyDonahue]

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.

I thought it was really good. Agree that Karen was a bit too exaggerated but not bad enough to bother me. Liked Sheridan and the other friend as well.

The friends were interviewed on This Morning and said she was so realistic they thought some parts were actual footage of Karen so she can't have been that far off the mark.

Poor kids. Feel sorry for the friends and community that supported the family so much only to find out they'd been duped.

I thought it was quite good. Sheridan was good, didn't like the actress playing Karen at all. If that's what she was really like she was bloody stranger than I thought!
The community did a great job in coming together. Looking out for one of their own, I like that.
I do hope Shannon is doing well. Can't imagine what she would make of the programme.
I will probably watch next week to see how it concludes.

I was assuming the exaggerated Karen was supposed to be accurate?!

Oh I'm really disappointed with this! I am a massive Sheridan Smith fan but I think she has had really bad direction for this role. Such a shame. Her character really wasn't "buyable" despite being an actual real person. Also didn't buy the dancing scene. Really badly done. Agree Karen was badly exaggerated. Such a shame. Other characters were very good. (Not the pregnant daughter though! Woeful despite only having one line!)

Oh glad to see I'm not the only one disappointed. I felt bad writing that as Sheridan is usualy so fantastic.

I can't help but think that the grandparents don't really have a leg to stand on regarding the programme given that they sold their story to a newspaper whilst Shannon was still missing.

I remember seeing a police officer describe Karen the first time she saw Shannon after she had been 'found' and how it was portrayed on t.v is depressingly accurate even when she actually saw her she didn't hug Shannon or anything. That poor kid.

I thought the acting of Karen was ace. Very true to form!

This case fascinates me. That poor child.
I thought the casting was excellent. As always if you watch something performed in your own dialect, flaws will be more obvious. I happened to watch an interview with Julie Bushby (?) Interviewed by Ruth and Eamon so assume that was Sheridans character.

I can't believe how alike the woman who plays Karen looks like Karen.

I wish they had played the whole thing tonight instead of having to wait until next week.

I think Sheridan is fantastic in this.

Can't believe I missed it - will it be on catch up?

Yes will deffo be on Iplayer

Definitely looking forward to next week ...seeing the fallout ..did Craig mechanical get arrested after she was found? X

Interesting mix of responses, I thought this was pretty well done apart from Sheridan Smith's part. She's usually pretty good but she was terrible in this, very fake and over-acting. Shame as the rest of the cast were great.

Sheridan had me convinced, I think playing someone we all have clear memory of is harder to carry off.

Karen.......was anyone else just reminded of Harry Enfield Kevin?

Lots of clips of Karen's TV interviews etc here. The portrayal seems accurate

I couldn't help comparing the way Sheridan Smiths character virtually ignoring her own families needs to how she steamrollered herself into the forefront of the search. What did she get out of it?

Ahh yes I watched a documentary about this. She got shopping free from Iceland I believe.

*Craig meehan even, did he leave that computer in 48 hrs?

Thought it was a good drama, although was slightly shocked they dramatised this story.

For some reason, I remember this abduction quite well. Everyone was shocked when Shannon was found, not so much that an uncle was involved as family/known people are often involved, but because Shannon was Drugged and kept under a bed, and they did it for the reward money.

Shannon - hope you are okay and living a fulfilled and happy life.

I thought the portrayal of Karen Matthews was very accurate, go and watch a video of her on YouTube, spot the difference...

Fascinating. Does anyone know if the vicar really was there "god bothering" trying to convert people, was there just offering support like other residents/spiritually when requested, or want there at all? Seemed a bit weird having her in there like that.

I think they probably had Karen and craig down to a tee yes it probably looked strange but from the Tv interviews that is what she was like remember she was lying so maybe playing up. I found Julie awful it was as if she was trying to prove a point about her estate she left her son to be in the middle of it.liked the other neighbour she had her sussed Wasn't the best written drama though.

The other neighbour was in sherlock his sister she was unrecognisable was dd who recognised her.

I was fascinated and appalled with the actions of Sheridan's character. I presume it's meant to be accurate. But that whole steam rollering as a poster put it, was odd and depressing.
All that 'we look after our own' stuff just sticks in your throat.
Love Siobhan Finneran though!