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.

I thought that as well. No one could fit that much in one day if the kids didn't leave for school until 8.30 ish and it had to be done before they got home.

It was a long day. :o But such upsetting scenes. She really got to me. And several times I thought she would back out.

the actress did a great job of portraying how suicide takes people by surprise - i had a dear friend have a serious go at it (lucky for me she didn't quite manage it) and that insistence that everything is fine, odd detachment and focus on the practical was all there - so hard to identify suicidal people. Great acting.

I also love the 2 priests talking about confession, very interesting.

Am I the only one to be impressed by how much she managed to get done on her final day?

I was. I also kept wondering why the police hadn't come to arrest her. Her boss agreed to leave it till tomorrow but surely he would have sent them round to her house by lunchtime at the latest?

I missed how she got found out. Did she set it up herself so her boss would find out or was he onto her already?

She made a mistake with one of the cheques which led to her being found out.

Ah right, thanks rosie.

Yes I agree about the detachment pottered.

It seems so heartless but she wouldn;t have intended it to beher nl.

As you say, neccessary to commit suicide, but also I suppose she wanted to be detached from herself and her guilt, shame, loss of identity etc. It had overwhelmed her and stopping those feelings was her only goal.

She saw death as her only freedom from torment as many people who commit suicide do. Tremendously sad.

sorry, I meant "she wouldn't have intended it to be."

Very good episode. Her poor children though. Surprised at how good Sean Bean is too.

Yes Sean Bean has been a revelation to me . What a good actor and he is quite a hunk now he is older(or is it the priest thing? lol)I am really hooked by it , great series

Oh no i used to have a crush on SB in his sharpe days but not now. Still got a great voice though.

Loved SB in Sharpe but have been horribly distracted from the brilliance of Broken by his dreadful hair dye job Seriously - what was he thinking?

I love it. I share SB's accent (though mine is milder) so that's not a draw I've never really rated him before but I think he's superb in this.

He's meant to be broken himself, hence the hair and the scruffy appearance. He's suffering trauma from CSA and emotional abuse by his mother. I find it compelling, if grim.

I do like the accent. Is it Sheffield (sorry if I'm far wrong there!)

Yes, Sean Bean is from Sheffield. He's a dee-dar

What's a dee Dar?

Person from Sheffield, apparently.

It's what people from the surrounding areas call people from Sheffield due to how they pronounce 'thee' and 'tha'.

Might be a more a football insult these days. My dad called him it because he knew SB supports Sheff Utd. Football rivalry runs deep round these parts.

Just caught up with the latest episode. Found it really hard to watch - actually feel a bit sick now.

Just seen latest episode. Roz was a believable character to me. The sense of detachment and the belief that there is no other way out.I think feeling suicidal is very different to actually doing it. Especially when you have planned it for weeks.

Don't forget SB was Lady Chatterley's Lover on TV a few years ago. I prefer him now - hunkier and more cuddly!

He was very good as Mellors, in Lady C, wasn't he. I don't think I've seen a better adaptation.

The first thing that I remember seeing him in is Clarissa.