When is The Moorside episode 2 on BBC1 tonight, who are Karen and Shannon Matthews and who does Sheridan Smith play? Here’s all you need to know
SHERIDAN Smith returned to our TV screens in a dramatic retelling of the search for kidnapped school girl Shannon Matthews.
BBC drama The Moorside follows the family and friends of Karen Matthews and what happened when her daughter Shannon 'disappeared' in 2008 only to be found 24 days later.
So what will the drama cover? Who else is in it and when is it on?
Here's everything you need to know about the fascinating BBC crime drama...
What time is The Moorside on TV?
The first part of the crime drama aired on BBC1, February 7 at 9pm.
It will conclude on Tuesday February 14 - tonight - at the same time.
Both parts of the show last for one hour, with those who miss it on TV being able to catch up on BBC iPlayer.
The second part of the drama goes head-to-head with Secret Life of Dogs on ITV and 24 Hours in A&E on Channel 4.
What happened to Shannon Matthews?
In 2008, the nation was gripped when schoolgirl Shannon Matthews went missing on her way home from a swimming trip.
Her mum Karen was seen pleading on TV for the girl's safe return as West Yorkshire Police spent £3.2million trying to find her.
Hundreds of neighbours also joined in the 24-day search for the nine-year-old.
She was eventually found less than a mile away, drugged inside the base of a double bed in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire.
It was then revealed that Karen had orchestrated the plot, so she could bag the £50,000 reward money with her accomplice Michael Donovan, the uncle of Craig Meehan – who was Karen’s boyfriend at the time.
They had planned to release the schoolgirl, ‘discover her’ then take her to a police station and claim the reward before splitting.
Karen Matthews was dubbed ‘the most hated mum in Britain’ for the crime.
What story does The Moorside tell?
The Moorside retells the story of the manhunt from the perspective of the friends of Karen Matthews.
Sheridan Smith plays neighbour Julie Bushby, the chair of the Moorside residents and tenants association that helped trace Shannon.
Efforts included marches, personal searches, and door-to-door enquiries - which were eventually revealed to be pointless.
It also deals with the fall out from the community after they discovered they had been lied to.
Series writer Neil McKay explained: “This drama takes us into the heart of a story and a community that was defined more by prejudice than genuine understanding.”
Charlotte Moore, Controller of BBC One, added: "Drama has the ability to tackle sensitive subjects from different perspectives and consider the impact of a crime rather than the crime itself.
“This was an extraordinary story of our time that rocked a community and thrust it under the media spotlight.
“As a nation, we only ever saw it from one perspective and I hope this drama will capture what it was like to be at the centre of that community - how they responded and lived through it.
“On BBC One it's important to bring human stories to life and allow the audience to come to their own conclusions.”
Who is in the cast of The Moorside?
The main characters in the film are centred on bold women in the fight for Shannon's safety - and so it makes sense to get strong and acclaimed actresses to take on the roles.
These include...
Sheridan Smith (Julie Bushby)
Sheridan Smith is a BAFTA award-winning actress who has been awarded an OBE for her services to television.
She started her career as a comedy actress in British sitcoms Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps and The Royle Family.
However, she has since moved on to more serious roles in the past few years, and took on the role of Cilla Black in her biopic.
The star was widely praised for her part in The C Word - playing a character battling cancer.
She has also moved over to the stage as a leading lady - playing Elle Woods in Legally Blonde: The Musical, and Fanny Bryce in Funny Girl last year.
On her role in The Moorside, Sheridan said: “The story is a fascinating mixture of what I thought I knew and a whole lot more that I had no idea about.
“The themes of faith and trust in human nature, and the way the whole community came together really inspired me.”
Gemma Whelan (Karen Matthews)
Gemma completely transformed herself to play the role of the much-despised mum, Karen Matthews.
She will be known to most as playing the role of warrior Yara Greyjoy in the smash-hit series, Game of Thrones.
The star also took on the role of Veronica in the BBC3 sitcom Uncle, as well as Morgana Robinson's The Agency last year.
Sian Brooke (Natalie)
Sian Brooke became the breakout star of 2017 before the end of January.
This was thanks in large part to her shock role in BBC drama Sherlock - playing Sherlock's secret sister Euros.
Appearing as Krista in the short-lived TV series Dinotopia in 2002, Sian has since had fleeting roles in TV staples including Foyle’s War, Hotel Babylon, Midsomer Murders and A Touch of Frost.
She also featured as Martine in four episodes of the critically acclaimed comedy-drama, Not Safe For Work, which aired last year.
As well as appearing on our TV screens, Sian has an impressive CV in the theatre – having trained and graduated from RADA in 2002.
Since then she appeared in Romeo and Juliet with the Royal Shakespeare Company, Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz at the Southbank Centre, and, finally, as Ophelia alongside her new on-screen brother in the 2016 retelling of Hamlet.
How have people reacted to The Moorside so far?
Friends and family on Shannon have been vocal about their anger over the show, branding it 'a disgrace' that they Beeb decided to go forward with the dramatisation.
June and Gordon Matthews, who looked after Shannon for much of her young life, claim they won’t be watching The Moorside as they say their granddaughter “deserves to live her life in peace”.
Speaking to the , grandmother June said: "Shannon deserves to live her life in peace. She deserves to be left alone.
"What happened to her was a trauma, a tragedy. It is sick and disgusting that it is being turned into a TV show.
"It isn’t entertainment. It’s real life and it hasn’t even been ten years since it happened.
"If she sees it, Shannon is old enough now to understand that it is about her. She will know it is about the terrible things that happened to her. How is that fair?"
The pair claim further insult was added when they received a letter from the production company behind the drama asking them to pass a letter on to daughter Karen, who served an eight year sentence for the despicable crime along with accomplice Michael Donovan, explaining she is to be one of the characters in the show.
The parents of Madeleine McCann have also complained to the BBC about the “insensitive” way their daughter has been drawn into the controversial TV drama.
Madeleine disappeared almost 10 years ago and Karen was supposedly inspired by the huge hunt for the little girl to stage the kidnap of her own daughter.
Maddie's plight was referenced several times in the opening episode.
Before the fake plot was exposed Kate and Gerry sent messages of support to Karen.
A close friend of the couple said: “They feel it in insensitive and bad timing and the show tried to glorify a terrible crime involving a young girl.”
After the first episode of the show aired, fans took to Twitter to praise the performance of Sheridan Smith, who played the role of Julie Bushby.
One said: “Sheridan Smith can play any part given, such a top actress 👏🏼 #TheMoorside”
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