Little Boy Blue

[emmie]

did anyone watch this when it was first shown. I gave it one and a half episodes before giving up. I couldn't follow the accents, even though i had the tv sound on up high.

[barry1010]

I don't know how to feel about these dramas based on real life tragedies and crime.
I know the parents were fully involved in the making of Little Boy Blue but I wonder how they are impacted by repeats? This series could be shown many, many times.

Sean Mercer, the youth who murdered Rhys, deserves no sympathy and is still in prison. But what about his family? Has he brothers, sisters? Does showing this drama again affect their lives? Stir up antagonism?

All in all I think I prefer my drama to be fictional.

[Ken4155]

Another factual drama well worth the time is the recently aired 'The Salisbury Poisonings'. Almost gave it a miss as I believed I knew most of what occurred, and, having happened only 2 years ago, it was still quite fresh in my mind. What I didn't realise - despite reading almost every press report at the time - was just how much of Salisbury had to be shut down because of the Novichok.

[naomi24]

I have trouble understanding accents too - particularly Scouse, Glaswegian and Geordie, but I watched this a few weeks ago. Excellent.

[Peter Pedant]

educating rita (*) was issued in two versions - julie walters doing her home grown west kairby accent
and one in London english - in which no one noticed a scouser talking scouse in an RP accent - that Branwell Bronte - he was really mental - - - etc

Little Boy Blue is good draymer. They all speak like that oop t North (the phrase is accurate). A 'pule Bizzy ( that is a policeman who main nick was Liverpool somewhere) said it was OK - but the main character wasnt like that
The boy called Latch was a composite
but rang true - beaten up by his class inc one Sean Mercer and didnt go out of the house for two years ....
so Sean Mercer selected him to hide the gun
durrrr bound to end in tears

oh, altho the copy right was a year or so after the case - it was obvious that the script had been changed
Mercers appeals had been turned down
The credits said the father had left the mother and in the replay said they were back together again

and finally they said that the parents had seen it and judged it to be a fair representation.

(*) screams from the usual suspects - what dat den etc ?

[Peter Pedant]

oh stephen graham who is also from West Kairby
I sm not sure if he does his tee vee sofa interviews in a scouse accent. The answer may be yes if he is oop t North

he was also Al Capone in Boardwalk Empire and went home ( to west Kairby ) and promptly got beaten up in a pub
his doleful comment was - the drinkers in west kairby cant tell the difference between an american gangster and an actor

NB Kairby isyour first scouse waird - it is spelt Kirby.
k should be the ch in loch - but that is lesson two

[Vagus]

Kirby, and West Kirby, are two completely different places.
West Kirby is on the Wirral and is quite a posh area.
Kirby is on the outskirts of Liverpool and most definitely isn’t a posh area.
Stephen Graham is from Kirby.

[Rosie29]

I saw it first time round and thought it one of the best of that sort of drama ie recreating a true event. The conflicts of the people involved - loyalties- fear - "doing the right thing" wasverywell portrayed.
And Emmie I'm not deaf but I have subtitles on a lot. People seem to speak twice as fast these days!

[barry1010]

PP, Julie Walters is a Brummie with a true Brummie accent.

[Peter Pedant]

I wondered that
but the scousers assured me...

[Peter Pedant]

details -- you are spoiling some very good stories
AB as you know day after day is no stranger to BS

presumably Mercer thought he could pull a Stephen Lawrence
and so did the Police !

the bit with these drive bys I have never 'got 'is
they are doing it to show they are the big men and everyone should know it
and then when the Bizzies ask - are you the big man, did you do it

they say no no I am only very little

[retrocop]

My wife ( ex Edgebaston High) informs me Dame Julie Walters was born in Edgebaston W. Mids

[Peter Pedant]

then she is a very good actress - Dame Julie that is!
was your dear wife - Edgbaston High is the very best - contemporary with Toyah Wilson ?

[barry1010]

She was, Retro, but was raised in Smethwick (pronounced Smerrick) in the Black Country.

[barry1010]

PP, do you mean Toyah Wilcox?

[tiggerblue10]

I haven't watched it. I did see the documentary a few weeks ago and was quite tearful so couldn't bring myself to watch the dramatisation.

I have problems with many accents in particular Glaswegian, Scouse, Geordie (like Naomi), and Brummie. But, having a rewind button is very helpful ;o)

[Peter Pedant]

yes I do mean Toyah Wilcox
not having a good ..... names-day

[emmie]

i persevered and was rewarded with an excellent factual drama..

[barry1010]

PP, you're not having a good day. Toyah didn't go to Edgbaston High School For Girls (which is still going strong as an independent school. She went to Edgbaston CofE College for Girls which has since merged with a boys school and no longer exists as it was.