@Kelly I passed it on to my Mam and sister last year. Neither of them have read it yet. I keep telling them to. You learn about Milly, her family, the investigation ( they suspected her Dad at first) and the trial. So detailed and personal. X
@Catherine will have to look for that one….Milly is the one I remember most of all and when their photos came up at the end it choked me up ….there are certain cases stick in your mind….little Jamie Bulger and Sara Payne being but two and it’s when you see programmes like this…also Little Boy Blue a few years ago you realise how much of their lives the police put into the cases….
Catherine Lundy me too….I was feeling frustrated for them but it was showing especially with the hours sat in front of the cctv monitor what they actually put into an investigation….
It was brilliant…such perseverance by all concerned….they had the detective Colin Sutton on BBC breakfast the other morning ….they must have been so frustrated at times….
Did watch it ,not sure Martin clunes was quite right for that part .Also can’t really enjoy the programme knowing its for real! Boy Blue was the same for me good but unsettling , crime fiction I love the gory the better but true crime is not entertainment!
I once drove by a prison car park and there was people with guns drawn ( assume armed guards ) it never registered as being not the norm for a few minutes I thought then I must read to much crime!!!
@Janet eesh. I’m literally a town away. I wasn’t back then mind. But I remember reading about the case. And then the NOTW scandal over hacking her voicemails
@Lilian I believe it was because of the timing around the filming of it, I believe it may have been filmed around the time of an anniversary of Millys death
Martin Clunes was brilliant. I sobbed at the end. The lives of those young women taken from them, and for what? What an evil, abhorrent individual. How on earth must the families have felt though? My heart goes out to them.
When I watched it, I tried to look on it as a work of fiction. If I had let myself believe it was non fiction I think I would have struggled more. I thought Martin Clunes did a magnificent job. I understand that he shadowed a CSI for a while to get the feel for the part. Tips my hat to him. It’s hard to comprehend how anyone could be that callous in the treatment of young girls. I’m pleased he’s where he belongs.
@Angela yes exactly… I worked for the police for 27 years as a volunteer helping to train police officers. I marvel at how they deal with crime. Sometimes going home grey in the face with the harrowing crimes they’ve dealt with…. respect !!
It’s like nhs not perfect but what on earth would we do without them l remember so clearly when Milly and Amelie where taken there parents so bewildered it was heartbreaking
I really enjoyed it. What struck me and touched me the most were the two scenes with Amelia’s parents. Such dignity. Brought tears to my eyes I’m not afraid to say.
It’s taken from the book about to published by the detective in charge of the cases. I’m buying it just as soon as Amazon refund my money for a book I returned.
Enjoyable as it could be knowing what happened to those poor young women. A good insight into how an investigation can be broken by the most innocuous things. In this case, a casual comment from a WPC (at the time) to the DCI.
The Haigh case of the 1940s was helped by a young woman police officer who said that Haigh was just too smooth and plausible that he made her feel he was hiding something. He certainly was!
It was well done but the makers apparently didn’t consult with all the victims families, and some of them are upset, because it was not all that long ago that it happened. Having said that, I can never fault Martin Clunes’ acting
Can understand that! Was so good though and showed the resolution that those police officers had. So sad for all the families involved. My heart goes out.
Apparently a film has been made about the hideous slaughter of James Bulger and the filmmakers did not speak to his family or ask if they minded. I think that is unforgivable.
@David me neither david it still sickens me to this day if I’m honest. The fact that Venables was allowed to live his life in secret also makes me spitting angry
More than you can know, Tee Gee. My daughter had been quite poorly so we didn’t have a party for her but a quiet birthday tea with her older sister. It was a horribly grey, foggy day and as I closed the curtains that afternoon I remember feeling grateful that my daughter was recovering from flu and that we were safe and warm indoors. At that same time, James was being dragged all over the city and being tormented. It breaks my heart.
@David absolutely David especially as only those in the know actually know where he lives now. Having said that I believe he may well be in prison at the moment. Ironically we never see an up to date photo though. Complete anonymity.
@Fiona I still feel that although human rights are considered why are they treated so well in prison. They have a better living standard than many people… I’m very much old skool if you commit the crime do the full time but make it hard graft… breaking rocks in the hot sun etc. Don’t get me started on that one lol
@Tee Sorry to be picky, I like walking on the moors, don’t want to be tripping up over criminals.. We could pay the Egyptians to run prisons for us in Egypt, you could have your hot sun bit too.
Same here Barbara…we must have similar tastes…not keen on doc Martin..but I am hoping to watch manhunt tonight on catch up..as heard many great reviews
Didn’t watch
im going to watch all episodes together
Definitely a winner and better than expected!!
Great
Brilliant.
Excellent!
Brilliant
The real police and investigation is now on channel 5
@Joyce you might want to watch this.
Excellent drama.
Brilliant
Yes, an excellent series. Martin Clunes makes a good detective. It made me think about the poor families involved.
@Maureen Have you read the book written by Milly’s sister? Worth reading.
I have that too read but can’t bring myself to yet
I thought it was beautifully written. Such a heartbreaking case. I definitely recommend it.
@Catherine i will add it to the top on my TBR pile
@Kelly I passed it on to my Mam and sister last year. Neither of them have read it yet. I keep telling them to. You learn about Milly, her family, the investigation ( they suspected her Dad at first) and the trial. So detailed and personal. X
@Catherine will have to look for that one….Milly is the one I remember most of all and when their photos came up at the end it choked me up ….there are certain cases stick in your mind….little Jamie Bulger and Sara Payne being but two and it’s when you see programmes like this…also Little Boy Blue a few years ago you realise how much of their lives the police put into the cases….
I loved it. So well acted and felt authentic
There’s a programme on channel 5 now – Levi bellfield the real manhunt
excellent series. I thought Celyn Jones made a very convincing Bellfield from everything I’ve read about him, even the voice was spot on.
Showed how much detail went into catching him
Thought it was brilliant. As was Martin Clunes.
Excellent.
Brilliant. I saw some of it being filmed
Missed the first one so saving them to watch together was it 3 parts please
@Sue 3 parts. Yes.
@Sue yes three parts x
@Catherine Thank you
If ever there was a referendum for the return of capital punishment then Levi Bellfield or whatever he calls himself now is the man.
Tonight’s was good.but I did get bored last night
@Annie really? I thought it was brilliant from start to finish.
Catherine Lundy me too….I was feeling frustrated for them but it was showing especially with the hours sat in front of the cctv monitor what they actually put into an investigation….
Brilliant, wish there was more true drama like this!! ?
Great.
Brilliant
I thought it was gripping and very well done, reminded ne of Prime Suspect (first one)
Recorded so not going to read any of these posts.
@Senel it is true life so you might know what happens anyway. Fantastic acting. Enjoy. ☺
Brilliant!
It was brilliant…such perseverance by all concerned….they had the detective Colin Sutton on BBC breakfast the other morning ….they must have been so frustrated at times….
Fabulous. He played a great part x
Watched it last night. Really good.
Did watch it ,not sure Martin clunes was quite right for that part .Also can’t really enjoy the programme knowing its for real! Boy Blue was the same for me good but unsettling , crime fiction I love the gory the better but true crime is not entertainment!
@Janet I wonder if we relate more to non fiction. Perhaps it gives us an opportunity to distance ourself from the horror of reality
I once drove by a prison car park and there was people with guns drawn ( assume armed guards ) it never registered as being not the norm for a few minutes I thought then I must read to much crime!!!
@Janet every time i get the train back to walton and wait at that bus stop I get the heebie jeebies
@Charlie I fully understand that. Whenever my travels take me along M62 I get a chill down my back when I see saddleworth moor !!
@Janet eesh. I’m literally a town away. I wasn’t back then mind. But I remember reading about the case. And then the NOTW scandal over hacking her voicemails
Have it recorded so I can binge watch
I did
Haven’t watched it yet but isn’t it about the millie dowler case.
@Laura indeed it is but also others
@Tee awesome sounds gd will have to watch it
@Laura totally recommend it
@Tee will do I don’t normally watch much on itv or BBC but will defo watch this and still need to watch Torvill and Dean
@Laura I can def recommend this. Missed Torvill and Dean tbh
@Tee and Thurs I got death in paradise which I can’t wait for
@Laura oh I adore death in paradise and still watch reruns ?
@Tee me too i wish they wud put season 6 n 7 on netflix already they have season 1-5 on it
@Laura it’s regularly on ITV 3 ?
Yes! It was brilliant! Took the 1st episode to not see Doc Martin tho!!! ?
@Hayley will defo watch it
@Hayley yes I know what you mean but he’s certainly versatile as an actor
yes! he was much more calmer and had a quietness about him. I do like him tho as an actor ?
@Hayley definitely
Have recorded to watch, but re Martin Clunes, I still think of him as Gary from Men Behaving Badly, pre Doc Martin by a couple of decades ??
True stories are always stranger than fiction. What a relief they caught him, he was a most prolific predator. Evil doesn’t cover it.
The best detective story in a long time, xx
Yes I thought it was really good
Omg it was brilliant. It gave me chills at the end. Martin Clunes was fabulous.
@Donna so agree !!
Colin Sutton has written a book about the investigation which will be out later this month
Thought it was June! Thank you
@Christina just checked January 10tj
And Milly’s sister has also released a book from the families perspective as well.
@Mandy great news xx
Thanks Mandy. Pre ordered x
It great x x x
Brilliant really enjoyed it.
Excellent – and Martin Clunes was brilliant
Brilliant loved it
Brilliant!
So many people working on the case xxxx
And so sad as well xx ??
It was fantastic. Martin Clunes deserves an award for the way he played the role.
Really really well portrayed, Martin Climes does deserve an acknowledgement, by all accounts he got a lot of stick for agreeing to play the role.
Why though? He was amazing!
@Lilian I believe it was because of the timing around the filming of it, I believe it may have been filmed around the time of an anniversary of Millys death
@Nikki I’m just glad they caught him. What a horrific story!
Great stuff ??
Yes was really good
brilliant…
Really enjoyed it x
Recorded them – looking forward to watching
Martin Clunes was brilliant. I sobbed at the end. The lives of those young women taken from them, and for what? What an evil, abhorrent individual. How on earth must the families have felt though? My heart goes out to them.
Classy stuff. Clunes was first class
Brilliant …
Really enjoying it
I loved it too. Didn’t think I would but it was excellent. Well done everyone.
Gripping.
Brilliant!
Fantastic
Thoroughly enjoyable – if you can say that about a drama relating to real deaths…… ??
Yep I really enjoyed it if it’s ok to say that as it was based on a true story.
It was brilliant and Martin clunes did an amazing job. Very absorbing
Thought it was Brilliant
Loved it
First class
Excellent
When I watched it, I tried to look on it as a work of fiction. If I had let myself believe it was non fiction I think I would have struggled more. I thought Martin Clunes did a magnificent job. I understand that he shadowed a CSI for a while to get the feel for the part. Tips my hat to him.
It’s hard to comprehend how anyone could be that callous in the treatment of young girls. I’m pleased he’s where he belongs.
I’m not keen on Martin Clunes but thought he snd program brilliant though felt such sadness when photo of girls shown at end
@Angela Yes Angela that was heart wrenching and brought the reality of it all to the fore front
So well done and what l liked was all characters looked like normal people not film stars thank goodness for our police service
@Angela yes exactly… I worked for the police for 27 years as a volunteer helping to train police officers. I marvel at how they deal with crime. Sometimes going home grey in the face with the harrowing crimes they’ve dealt with…. respect !!
It’s like nhs not perfect but what on earth would we do without them l remember so clearly when Milly and Amelie where taken there parents so bewildered it was heartbreaking
@Angela Exactly. I cant even begin to think how I would feel Angela
It was excellent, very sensitively handled.
@Katherine I thought so too Katherine
It was very well done given the tragic subject matter am going to buy the book now
I’m also buying book just love this site it’s wonderful connecting with others who love books as much as l do
@Tee my mind buzzes with recommendations of books l probably wouldn’t read but now will l was in a rut but no longer
@Angela haha so pleased to hear that Angela. Writing is my passion
was very good and I have never been a fan of Martin Clunes but he was brilliant in the role of the detective in charge
@Christine he’s gone up in my estimation. Big time
Brilliant
Fantastic
I thought it was very good. The team really showed a great insight into the hard work they had to put in to get their man!
Can’t read this thread in case of spoilers. Want to watch it on catch-up.
Now caught up. Very good. They handled tough subject matter, including Police errors, with sensitivity.
Excellent. Liked him very much in this. Not a fan of Doc Martin
Yes liked it a lot,love Doc Martin..
Brilliant
I really enjoyed it. What struck me and touched me the most were the two scenes with Amelia’s parents. Such dignity. Brought tears to my eyes I’m not afraid to say.
So well portrayed especially by Martin Clune
Fabulous series. I thought Martin Clunes was so believable in the role.
really put emphasis on the victims and the investigation which was brilliant – I loved it
Im going to watch it on catch up
only seen one episode…seems ok so far
@Joan in my opinion it only gets better
@Tee looking 4ward to the rest then ?
@Joan I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. I was spellbound and the episodes went through so quickly
It’s taken from the book about to published by the detective in charge of the cases. I’m buying it just as soon as Amazon refund my money for a book I returned.
@Fiona, what’s the book called please. Sorry if its been mentioned earlier in the post.
@Fiona wow
It’s called “Manhunt” by Colin Sutton.
@Fiona, thank you ?
@Fiona from memory Colin Sutton was the CSI on the case. Tipping my hat to him
@Andi My pleasure.
Have the last one to watch. Love Martin Clunes. He’s got such a laid back philosophy to life.
I thought it was very well done and Martin Clunes at his best.
Loved it too
Really, really enjoyed it.
He is fab xx
Enjoyable as it could be knowing what happened to those poor young women. A good insight into how an investigation can be broken by the most innocuous things. In this case, a casual comment from a WPC (at the time) to the DCI.
The Haigh case of the 1940s was helped by a young woman police officer who said that Haigh was just too smooth and plausible that he made her feel he was hiding something. He certainly was!
Brilliant
It was well done but the makers apparently didn’t consult with all the victims families, and some of them are upset, because it was not all that long ago that it happened. Having said that, I can never fault Martin Clunes’ acting
Can understand that! Was so good though and showed the resolution that those police officers had. So sad for all the families involved. My heart goes out.
@Anne lm really disappointed families where not consulted l took it for granted permission would be asked if families
It was very good and exactly like the documentary that had been on a while ago xx
Apparently a film has been made about the hideous slaughter of James Bulger and the filmmakers did not speak to his family or ask if they minded. I think that is unforgivable.
I understand the family are very angry too.
@Fiona @David Yes I saw that. It’s horrendous and it opens sore wounds again for the family.
That’s one film I’ll never watch.
Neither will I.
@David me neither david it still sickens me to this day if I’m honest. The fact that Venables was allowed to live his life in secret also makes me spitting angry
I agree. James was killed on our youngest daughter’s second birthday. I’ll never forget it.
@Fiona OMG that makes it even more poignant
More than you can know, Tee Gee. My daughter had been quite poorly so we didn’t have a party for her but a quiet birthday tea with her older sister. It was a horribly grey, foggy day and as I closed the curtains that afternoon I remember feeling grateful that my daughter was recovering from flu and that we were safe and warm indoors. At that same time, James was being dragged all over the city and being tormented. It breaks my heart.
@Fiona ? that’s awful ?
@Tee . I feel the same. I’ve only got to think back and it still upsets and angers me, so god alone knows what the parents are going through.
@David absolutely David especially as only those in the know actually know where he lives now. Having said that I believe he may well be in prison at the moment. Ironically we never see an up to date photo though. Complete anonymity.
The whole situation irks me more than I can say. They had a better education than all our children.
@Fiona I still feel that although human rights are considered why are they treated so well in prison. They have a better living standard than many people… I’m very much old skool if you commit the crime do the full time but make it hard graft… breaking rocks in the hot sun etc. Don’t get me started on that one lol
@Tee Not sure about the hot sun.
@David lol david I got a bit carried away on that one.
Stick them in a prison on the moors and lock them in. Let them sort themselves out. Harsh but…
@Tee Sorry to be picky, I like walking on the moors, don’t want to be tripping up over criminals.. We could pay the Egyptians to run prisons for us in Egypt, you could have your hot sun bit too.
@David yay I think Egyptian prisons is a great idea..
I forget how diverse we all are regarding areas.
I believe so. It’s quite understandable.
Same here Barbara…we must have similar tastes…not keen on doc Martin..but I am hoping to watch manhunt tonight on catch up..as heard many great reviews