Broken. Drama starring Anna Friel as a single mum in poverty. BBC1

[HelenaDove]

Starting on the 23rd May. Written by Jimmy McGovern (Cracker Hillsborough. The Street) it also stars Sean Bean as a Catholic priest.

Trailer.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/2941906-The-horror-of-Universal-Credit

But she still bashed someones face in. No excuse for that is there and stole money. Awaits flaming.
Her kids weren't starving but she came on hard times I agree. Pretending your mam is still alive just like that....eh, come on.

In the interview Anna Friel gave to Red she said it was based on an RL case.

FULL interview is up online now.

www.redonline.co.uk/red-women/interviews/anna-friel-interview

From the interview.

"But we’re here to talk about Broken, her project with BAFTA award-winning writer Jimmy McGovern (Cracker) and The Lord Of The Rings’ Sean Bean (“a beautiful empathetic person”). Her story is that of a single mother in grinding poverty. “And how far someone will go to be able to put food on the table for their children,” adds Friel. In the short clip I’m allowed to watch, the palpable distress of her character seems to leak out from the screen. The real-life story it was based on was so harrowing, Friel felt it necessary to check that it did actually happen. “People,” she says with a fierce intensity, “are in desperate states."

cow yes McGovern deals with big issues but so do many writers. And personally (I'm a writer myself) I think they're better dealt with when you come at them sideways or with at least some nuance.

The writer needs to ask a lot of questions but I'm not sure he/she must or indeed should provide all the answers. It should be a two way conversation not a lecture IYSWIM.

Meadows, Abbot, Wainright all shine a light on working class/underclass lives with more texture IMVHO.

McGovern doesn't shy away from the issues - more like piles them on with a shovel - and a cherry on the top for good measure. I thought the dead mum scenes were really a bit too much, but if that happens then he is only showing the grimmest of the grim.
Signing on has really changed. I haven't signed on for over 20 years and it wasn't that hard to get your JSA then. Dh has signed on in more recent years - he only got the basic one - not means-tested - as he was made redundant - and again, although he applied for plenty of roles I'm not sure he had to apply for a specific number. These programmes make me very thankful to be working and not have serious money issues. When money has been tight - and no way as bad as the programme - it does make me feel very stressed but I can't even imagine the pressure Christina was in.

I have heard about sanctions but i had no idea it could go on for years. I havent had to claim for a long time ( i was so grateful for child benefit but that was it) and i knew it was a terrible process, but 13 weeks, then 24 weeks then possibly years , is heartbreaking.

justdance indeed Jimmy shovels it on .

And fair play to him, he gets his stuff green lit all the time. Safe pair of hands and all that.

I just think that if the same issue had been tackled by say Shane Meadows, using say Lauren Socha in the Friel role we'd have had something that crackled.

Are you a TV writer GetAHaircutCarl? I always feel that Jimmy McGovern has quite a classic approach to stories as opposed to some of the writers you have mentioned, who btw I also love. To be fair, this is only the first episode of a six series and there may be more nuance as the story unfolds.

GetAHaircutCarl,

Fair points, well made.

Those 3 writers are indeed top of their game.

(Especially admire Shane Meadows: the entire This is England series is a work of bloody genius, especially Lol's narrative arc).

To be fair to McGovern, the remaining 5 eps of Broken may provide some finer shading. It'll be interesting to hear the final appraisal by everyone on this thread!

Oops...Xposted with you all

cow I am ( and a novelist). Though you wouldn't breathe my name in the same room as Jimmy!

He is old skool. And let's be honest if I had his clowt I'd use it to get all my pet projects produced.

I just feel that his desire to make his point sometimes gets in the way. Plus either he or the powers that be are guilty of cleaning up the WC/UC in a way that feels a little patronising to me ( though I understand it).

He is definitely old skool! I am really looking forward to seeing where he takes this in the following episodes.

Me too cowgirls.

@toddlerteaplease - you have made my day - I didn't recognise what church it was - but now I find it was the one where I used to do bell-ringing whilst at Liverpool University last century

I thought it was brilliant and grim as well.

I cried when she found her mother dead (brilliant acting from Friel) and my heart sank when I realised what she was going to do. My next thought was 'how will they pay for the funeral?" because many people in dire poverty don't have insurance.

I will continue to watch but don't expect it to become any easier to watch.

Sean bean was excellent. He often plays violent characters and you forget he can nail the more subtle roles.

bumping as second ep is starting.

Argh it's so sad to be so desperate.

People are that desperate and im scared its only going to get worse.

Much better so far. Went to visit that church yesterday, got soaked and it was closed!

He's exactly how I'd imagine a priest. He's lovely.

Oh shit, this is horrible.

Absolutely heartbreaking.........................and there is a shortage of mental health beds.