Cherished | |
---|---|
Genre | True crime |
Written by | Gwyneth Hughes |
Directed by | Robin Shepperd |
Starring | Sarah Lancashire Timothy Spall Jake Nightingale Alison Lomas Emma Cunniffe James Barriscale Ian McNeice |
Composer | Mark Russell |
Country of origin | United Kingdom |
Original language | English |
Production | |
Executive producers | Susan Hogg Simon Lewis |
Producer | Polly Hill |
Cinematography | Daf Hobson |
Editor | Liz Webber |
Running time | 90 minutes[1] |
Production company | BBC Drama Group |
Original release | |
Network | BBC One |
Release | 22 February 2005 |
Infobox instructions (only shown in preview) |
Cherished is a single British true crime drama, written by acclaimed screenwriter Gwyneth Hughes, that first broadcast on BBC One on 22 February 2005.[1] Starring Sarah Lancashire as protagonist Angela Cannings, the drama is based on Cannings' wrongful conviction for the deaths of two of her infant children, Jason and Matthew. Directed by Robin Sheppard, the drama also stars Timothy Spall as Angela's husband Terry, Emma Cunniffe as Angela's sister Claire; and Ian McNeice as her defence barrister; Bill Bache.[2] The drama was a joint production between the BBC's drama and current affairs wings.[1] 5.18 million viewers tuned in for the initial broadcast.[3] Similarly to other true-life BBC productions of the time; Cherished has never been released on DVD.
Cannings herself said of the production; "We're still suffering the aftermath of this whole episode. This film is for Jade, so when she is older she can see what it was all about. The general public would assume that we've got back together and that's it. But there is an awful lot of healing. It doesn't just heal overnight. Even now I sit and think why we had to go through all that. We've had quite a lot to do with the scriptwriter, the BBC has been very good. They've dealt with us very fairly." Sarah Lancashire said of playing the part of Cannings; "I'm delighted to be playing the part of Angela. When I read the script I was very moved. The loss of any child is a dreadful thing, the loss of three is unimaginable. Whilst any parent could relate to the anguish that Terry and Angela must have felt I cannot comprehend the strength it must have taken to sustain Angela through even a part of a life sentence. Theirs is a remarkable story."[4]