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

Timothy Spall has always been an excellent actor from his days in Auf Wiedersehen Pet. He has been given some cracking parts in recent years.

Just watching episode one.

It is very uncomfortable viewing, knowing the true story behind it.

The acting is superb.

Charleygirl5

Primrose in the future have the decency to add a spoiler alert because you have ruined it for me giving the ending away.

I do not remember it at all. Timothy Spall really was excellent.

Well, I can’t help it if you don’t know that the 6th Commandment is “thou shalt not commit murder.”😯

As I said to someone else it is not the first TV programme about this case and it was SO heavily reported on at the time of the murders. TV, radio, newspapers, social media all covered it.

I watched episode 1 on catch up out of sheer curiosity. I will watch the remaining epis later.

I feel rather humbled because I am generally deeply cynical and derisory about people who fall for these kinds of romance con-trickery, thinking only a witless, gullible fool would be so easily taken in.

However, the writing and the acting here were so moving and told the story so well that I am starting to understand how an intelligent but desperately lonely and psychologically isolated person can be swayed into believing true love has come his (or her) way at last. Maybe we should all think, there but for the grace of God...

My parents were part of the congregation at the church Peter Farquhar and Ben attended. They said that Ben was a very charismatic young man and Peter was a much loved member of their congregation. They were all horrified when they learnt of what had been happening, not it was not helped by the diocese having a meeting at the church and telling the congregation not to talk about the situation to anyone and not to even discuss it amongst themselves.

I'm in episode one and so admore the sensitive acting by Tim Spall, The Ben character is played brilliantly too. I'm not sure how it can be a spoiler when it is a true story but I can't see how knowing the end would ruin it. Surely it's obvious where it's going? Anyway, I remember the story so well. Excellent reminder of how easy it can be to be manipulated.

Outstanding

hazelnuts

It is easy to say I know these things happen but don’t want to watch——-This happened in my family a priest befriended my cousin whose husband had died He went to live with her in her bungalow and moved his family in She had terminal breast cancer. She ask to see me to tell me she had changed her will leaving him everything . I could not do anything she was so I’ll and so loved He renounced his religion as was not allowed to inherit as a priest
The rest is history

Which religion does not allow priests to inherit? My cousin was a Catholic priest in a diocese, and he inherited from his father.

Wonderful sensitive acting and script. Truly shocking but well worth watching.

I’ve only watched half an hour and am finding it quite difficult. I know the outcome but, like others, would watch Timothy Spall in almost anything, he’s a wonderful actor. In a way (as long as the families involved gave their consent) it’s justified if people are warned by the dramatisation.

Good grief

The families have been very involved in the making of this programme

Anne Reid was talking about her part to Lorraine Kelly this morning

The actors involved met the relatives who were very keen to make this programme to spread awareness

It's excellent and shows just how easily lonely and vulnerable old people can be taken advantage of.

There has been more than one TV documentary telling this truly awful and unbelievably tragic story and watching the last one, which was from the Police perspective and showed a lot of photos, interviews, film and video of the 'real' people involved, I was simultaneously shocked, sickened, saddened but also fascinated from a human perspective by how strange, drawn out and complex it all turned out to be and, apart from the sadness at the distress and suffering of the victims, how difficult in so many ways it was for those investigating...I won't say too much because some are obviously watching the new drama with the great Tim Spall but I have absolutely no desire to see it and for me it feels voyeuristic and just not quite right as do many 'real life' dramas unfortunately!

What you will actually be watching is a true story of pure evil . Its been a true police documentary on Channel 4 or 5 unbelievable human evil at its worst .

Charleygirl5

Primrose in the future have the decency to add a spoiler alert because you have ruined it for me giving the ending away.

I do not remember it at all. Timothy Spall really was excellent.

I guess the title of the thread indicated that it would be discussing the content

We’ll be watching episodes one and two tonight.

I watched it because I saw that Timothy Small and Anne Reid both excellent actors. I was surprised to see how they had both aged.
I shall watch til the end.

Thank you @Staceyann

Primrose in the future have the decency to add a spoiler alert because you have ruined it for me giving the ending away.

I do not remember it at all. Timothy Spall really was excellent.

DeeJaysMum

I saw this advertised but forgot to set it to record. Note I've forgotten which channel it was on to try to find it on catch-up.

It’s on BBC and iPlayer

www.bbc.com/mediacentre/2023/the-sixth-commandment-trailer

It was so well acted.
Timothy Spall was amazing, part 2 tonight with the equally splend Anne Reid.
It is behind the sofa viewing, I remember reading about the case so sad. I will see it through tho.

I saw this advertised but forgot to set it to record. Note I've forgotten which channel it was on to try to find it on catch-up.

I watched the whole series on iplayer. It was a difficult watch. I knew of the case as it was local to me. I think the story needed to be told for the families sake and the tragic loss of their loved ones.
I cried for the families. It was good to see that the police did not give up and justice was finally served.

I enjoyed it, well, maybe 'enjoyed' isn't the right word, but it was compelling. I was initially attracted to it by the cast, all fine actors. I shall watch it to the end, although it is disturbing.

I think we can all learn a lot in this age of scammers and the like by watching such programmes. As we get older we need to be aware that not everyone who appears gentle and helpful really is.
We are often lonely and vulnerable and in need of a friend. I have said up post both my Grandmothers fell fowl of such people.

I watched it as well, Timothy Spall was excellent as was the actor who played Ben.
Such a sad story of a good man, I can understand his brother not wanting to watch it. I agree with his comments that it will be a good thing if it raises awareness of such wicked people. I will be interested to see how the story with Anne pans out, I didn't really follow the case when it happened.