Finding tonight's play 'The Sixth Commandment' a difficult watch

no, that would not happen in real life.
guess it was done for dramatic purposes.

We saw that on two occasions in tonight's episode, both Martin and Ben were transported in the same police van. Surely (in all the police dramas I have seen - no first hand experience!) there is no opportunity given for 'getting together' and swapping information in the back of a van. And each prisoner's' safety should be a consideration?

Very much better episode tonight; calm, practical, engrossing and utterly chilling. I actually found Ben Field the weakest character; no flash of personality whatsoever, no insight onto what motivated him, no representation of his family and his interaction with them. Martyn was far more convincing.

Watched Part 3 tonight. It was absolutely brilliant in the way it was done. I wouldn’t normally watch this kind of programme but so glad I did. What a harrowing story so well portrayed.

tickingbird

One of the most disturbing things for me happens when truly evil Ben visits an elderly lady in a care home and films the conversation. He basically torments her by reiterating she has no family, no friends and is all alone in the world and that’s her fault. It’s shown in the series but in the documentary the detectives are seen watching this interaction and one has his head down and appears to be wiping tears away. I found that really chilling - pure evil.

Absolutely, I found this scene one of the most upsetting in the whole series.
I hadn't heard of this case at all but thank you for bringing it to my attention, wonderful acting throughout
It's so sad to realise that this happens to vulnerable people and though terribly upsetting,.I feel it does need highlighting and television as a medium can do this.

Well, I must have missed it 😀

BridgetPark

Yes it was during his Auf Wiedersehen Pet days, he had a brummie accent for the character, and alluded to the thickness of brummies in general.

I know exactly what you mean.

I love Tim Spall, but…

I believe Ben Field is imprisoned for 36 years. I hope he isn't in an open prison . Re Martyn who was aquited I wonder if he was a freed because there was no evidence or did he know more than he let on . Where is he now . ?

merlotgran

^Timothy Spall got it spot on, although I cannot stand the man personally, as he decried Birmingham totally, and unfairly, in my opinion^

I haven’t heard about this either. Was it during his Auf Wiedersehen, Pet days?

Don't believe everything you read online without proof!

Perhaps he meant just his character and the fact that for years everyone thought he was bumbling Barry from Birmingham, not acting.

Yes it was during his Auf Wiedersehen Pet days, he had a brummie accent for the character, and alluded to the thickness of brummies in general.

Timothy Spall got it spot on, although I cannot stand the man personally, as he decried Birmingham totally, and unfairly, in my opinion

I haven’t heard about this either. Was it during his Auf Wiedersehen, Pet days?

Enid191 I also had never seen or heard of it having had major surgery at that time so TV was the last thing on my mind.

BridgetPark

This was superbly acted, Anne Reid is always good. Timothy Spall got it spot on, although I cannot stand the man personally, as he decried Birmingham totally, and unfairly, in my opinion.
But the programme is so sad and shows how easily people can be duped, especially the elderly.

Timothy Spall got it spot on, although I cannot stand the man personally, as he decried Birmingham totally, and unfairly, in my opinion

How, exactly? In what way?

Very difficult watch yes.
Timothy Spall excellent as usual, all main parts very well acted.
I can’t believe though, how quickly extremely intelligent people change their wills to benefit people they’ve only known a few months?

This was superbly acted, Anne Reid is always good. Timothy Spall got it spot on, although I cannot stand the man personally, as he decried Birmingham totally, and unfairly, in my opinion.
But the programme is so sad and shows how easily people can be duped, especially the elderly.

DH and I watched this over several nights, in 2 episode sessions. We found it to be a totally riveting watch, although to use the word "enjoy" somehow doesn't seem right in view of the chilling, and often quite harrowing content.

Certainly a case of fact being stranger than fiction, and a salutary warning to the elderly and vulnerable that there most definitely are sheep in wolves' clothing moving among us. The evil, predatory perpetrator should never be released, IMO, as I think he'll always represent a threat to others as long as he lives.

Great acting, especially from Timothy Spall and Anne Reid. One of the best drama/docs I've seen for years.

Primrose53

Enid101

I’ve just watched the first episode and didn’t know it was based on real life events. It was a difficult watch and I was gripped by the story and had no idea what would happen next. Won’t watch anymore though as Primrose53 has just given the ending away. Perhaps a spoiler alert needs adding to the title so others don’t have their viewing ruined.

It was one of the most publicised cases, not sure how you can have missed it. It has also been advertised outlining the whole story and not long ago there was another programme about this over a couple of evenings, so I am puzzled as to how you think I have “spoiled” it.

It’s ok to be puzzled.

Older actors at the top of their game. Harrowing but excellent viewing. Yes , it happened in my town, too. A local small business owner went to jail for emptying his mother's bank account of many thousands without her knowledge. His brother, living a distance away, understood that his kindly (!) sibling was looking after Mum.

Timothy Spall’s performance was a tribute to the character he was playing - a kind, gentle and intelligent man who was still playing an active role in society as a teacher and friend. His homosexuality was exploited by a young man who was apparently without a conscience.

Unlike much detective fiction, The Sixth Commandment showed us the effects of the crime on the relatives and friends of the victim.

The work of the detectives themselves, patiently combing through evidence until they could arrest Ben, was shown in enough detail for me to feel satisfied when the ‘guilty’ verdict was delivered. No doubt he would have had many other victims if he hadn’t been stopped.

I agree with all comments. Chilling and heartbreaking in equal measure. What an evil piece of s..t he was.

Acting masterclass from all the actors involved. Brilliant.

tickingbird, that recording from the channel 4 documentary was chilling.
and as you say, the looks on the faces of the police as it is played, considering all the gruesome things they have seen and dealt with, made me realise it really was as bad as it seemed to me.
i think the perp was working there as a care assistant.
so, often alone with vulnerable people, having time to torment them, meant to be helping them.

Thank you, JaxJacky

I was going to say I'll look forward to watching them then, but you know what I mean!

Callistemon21

Have the last two episodes been on and we've missed them somehow?

Next Monday and Tuesday Callistemon.
BBC iplayer too.

Difficult and upsetting to watch, really heartbreaking at times, nevertheless brilliant acting, an excellent production. Ben reminded me of the young actor who played the killer in the true life drama about the murder of Gianni Vesace, which was televised a couple of years ago, in that the charming exterior masked a ruthless psychopath. Yes deeply sad.