New drama The Village starting tonight at 9pm

Planning to watch this, sunflower. Looks like being a good one.

Yes I'm looking forward to it too. Like both John sim and Maxine Peake.

I am watching Foyles war. I was rather put off "The Village" by the very breathy rendition of "I vow to thee my country" on the trailer by the woman singing the hymn. It is not a tune that should be sung like Ella Fitzgerald sings "Santa baby". I have recorded it though.

Finding the grimness of poor country life a bit hard to take - especially the little boy's cruel father and the evil teacher. Gave up at the boy being caned for being left-handed. When did I become so sensitive? I have a feeling it is since the birth of my grandsons - I could not imagine our little boys having to endure such hardship or cruelty!
(I do know "It's only acting" !!)

Same here, gracesmum. I found it too harrowing after half an hour.

I must be getting soft because I had to turn it off after about 20 minutes of cruelty to the young boy. I know its only a story but it reminded me too much of my early schooldays. My brother was left handed (IS lefthanded) & was bullied mercilessly by the teachers. I got 6 of the best for not being able to recite the Lord's Prayer aged 8.

Big shame because the costumes, sets and buildings were beautifully accurately depicted, ditto the camera work.

What a load of softies we must be!

I hated seeing the cruelty too. I had paused it early on, so fast forwarded through those parts. The little boy has such expressive eyes.

I had been looking forward to watching this but found tonight's episode a bit disappointing as it wasn't quite what I had been expecting. As a left-handed person myself I could have wept at the punishment Bert received.

But surely it's a true depiction of what happened in those days if you were left handed? This series is going to break my heart but it's the best thing I've seen for a long time.

I quite enjoyed it, just because it was a bit different.

I found the harsh treatment of the boy upsetting because sadly that was what really happened in those days, so it's not just a make believe story.

watched this and not very impressed, sorry

I agree Tegan. I found it engrossing. Most of the characters portrayed in there are very true to life, even in my generation and I found I could relate to their problems, which I think is a sign of very good writing and acting. That school teacher was a nasty piece of work though but I'm sure there were, and still are, teachers like him.

Felt sympathy for John Simm's character, knowing I think that change had to come but not wanting it.

Overall I think it was very, very good.

Not sure whether I'll stick with it - a bit too slow with long periods of silence and inactivity. I too found certain parts hard to watch. It's probably not fair to judge on one episode so will be tuned in next week.

Given that one of the people involved [the writer?] did The Lakes many years ago [also starring John Simm] this was never going to be Downton Abbey. Even Lark Rise turned into a parody of itself [if that's the right word ]. I think I could watch John Simm in just about anything [and do].

Just watching the recording of episode 1 - it is a bit slow-moving. Hope to get into it as it goes on.

i thoroughly enjoyed the first episode of " the village " last night, and looking forward to the next one x

I liked it. Aged 10, I used to receive 'two of the taws' (2 strokes of the belt) each Tuesday afternoon when I wasn't able to recite Burns' poetry. Having just arrived in Fife after having been born and brought up in Nottingham, it was no wonder I wasn't able to speak broad Scots! That's how it was in 1960, and most definitely was in 1914!
I like Maxine Peake, and think she was really good last night.

Teganbeing left-handed in the 50/60s was still a crime but the punishment was much less severe. I'm still a lefty and proud of it

It's impossible to believe sometimes that such things as being left handed were frowned upon. I wonder if there's some strange reason for it, like not being able to use a gun or operate machinery [or something like that]? Although I suppose that, before biros were invented it was difficult to write with pen and ink if you were left handed, so maybe it wasn't regarded as wrong as such but they felt it neded to be corrected as it would cause problems job wise later on.

Was George V1 not left-handed and because he was forced to write with his right hand, it resulted in him having a stammer?

I watched lasy night, found it a little slow but that often happens when they are trying to set the characters down, it was harrowing but its as it was thrn, so why should they soften it up for the viewer. I think I am going to enjoy it.

Like others,I had to turn it off because of the violence towards the boys - I just cannot bear to watch violence against children or animals. Even the adverts for the NSPCC have to be switched off in my house. My father was naturally left handed - his father hit him with a steel ruler when he saw him using his left hand. My Dad became ambidextrous, developed a slight stammer and was fearful for the rest of his life. He was a lovely man and it breaks my heart to think of my grandfather's cruelty towards him.

What exactly constitutes entertainment in this kind of drama?