HOLDING. ITV. MONDAY. 9pm. TV PACE. NO SPOILERS

[Blondeshavemorefun]

New drama on a Monday - 4 part drama

Olivier award winning actor, Conleth Hill (Game of Thrones, Dublin Murders, Vienna Blood) plays local police officer Sergeant PJ Collins, a gentle man who hides from people and fills his days with comfort food and half-hearted police work. He is one of life’s outsiders, lovable, but lonely and a bit rubbish at his job.

When the body of long-lost local legend Tommy Burke who vanished 20yrs ago , is discovered, PJ is called to solve a serious crime for the first time in his career. Unearthing long buried secrets, PJ finally connects with the village he has tried so hard to avoid.

Siobhán McSweeney (Derry Girls, Nowhere Special, Anthony) plays vulnerable, messy Bríd Riordan. Bríd had been due to marry Tommy before his untimely disappearance, whilst Charlene McKenna is youthful, stuck Evelyn Ross who desperately loved him. The two women are at the heart of the community and neither is above suspicion.

Brenda Fricker takes the role of Lizzie Meany, a shy presence in PJ’s life who has been battling her own demons and secrets as PJ comes to discover…

Episode 1

When human remains are found in a sleepy Irish village, Sergeant PJ Collins finally has a genuine crime to solve. As the gruesome discovery ripples through the community, it threatens to expose a lifetime of secrets.

Brenda Fricker, Siobhán McSweeney, Charlene McKenna, Helen Behan and Pauline McLynn cast alongside Conleth Hill in ITV’s four part adaptation of Graham Norton’s bestselling novel Holding

Directed by Kathy Burke, written by Dominic Treadwell-Collins and Karen Cogan and produced by Happy Prince and Port Pictures in association with Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland and co-produced by Virgin Media Television

Academy award winning actress Brenda Fricker will return to television to star alongside Conleth Hill in ITV’s four part adaptation based upon Graham Norton’s funny and tenderly perceptive debut novel, Holding, which is located in West Cork, Ireland.

Some alterations to the plot. Massive alterations in tone.

Interesting - how do you feel the tone was altered @Ellmau?

It was just less subtle and less kind in the way the characters were presented. Evelyn's character was totally different.

Why do they change boos when making to tv

I think it's like the debate we had about Reacher (can't remember if you were on that one @Blondeshavemorefun). But so much of what's written is about inner experiences or turmoil or thinking/thoughts. Not always easy to convey that without making it into dialogue, which I think probably makes things less subtle or nuanced.

Yes was on that @BIWI

On lots of tv threads

Have no life 😂

Deadline is good on ch5 at mon

I enjoyed it but was surprised at how different it was from the book. The characters of Linus, Florence and Evelyn are completely different. They’ve added the annoying character Stephen and brought Brid’s mum back to life. Mrs Meany’s story was completely changed too and Anthony’s affair was completely left out when it was so crucial to Brid’s story. Presumably Graham Norton was ok with so much of his book being rewritten!

I haven't seen it yet, it's starting on more tv tonight so looking forward it. In the book he transfers to Cork City I think? And he and Brid meet up. It's implied that they will continue to see each other iirc. It's a lovely book, very charming and cosy and very Irish. I can't really imagine that they can really capture it successfully on screen, but I am hopeful. I think GN is a great story teller, I hope he keeps writing.

I watched the first episode and decided it wasn't for me.

We usually like the same stuff @LadyEloise100 - have you changed numbers mol

its good. Worth a watch

I enjoyed it, but it wasn't a patch on the book.

@Blondeshavemorefun
The change of numbers was forced on me - whatever they're doing to Mumsnet, I got locked out.
The emojis have been changed too.
I preferred the old ones -embarrassed, angry etc.

Yes we do usually like the same tv series but I didn't enjoy the first one - it was a bit stage Oirish for me.

Give it another go. For me

flutters Eyelashes

pah about being locked out. I don’t like the new changes 🥲

I've just found this on ITV player & quite enjoyed it.

Dark undertones!

Wouldn't it have been self defence for Abigail if he was attempting to have sex with her?

So turned out to be like his dad?

Perhaps it's different in the book but Evelyn & the school boy & PJ & Brid-bleurgh!