The Sixth Commandment

Sadly this is based on a rather horrible case that viewers in the UK will almost certainly remember. Its written by Sarah Phelps, well known for her series of Agatha Christie adaptations on the BBC in recent years. It was made with the full permission of the victim's families.

Its a quietly effective and moving drama which is a sometimes difficult and uncomfortable watch. Very well-written and made.

The use of hand-held camera gave it a documentary feel at times. For me it was very much an actor led piece and this is its greatest strength. The three principals, Tim Spall, Anne Reid and Eanna Hardwicke all deliver big time with understated and nuanced performances.

One of the strongest UK dramas of 2023.

A really good production based on the true story of an evil man and his accomplice. I wasn't aware of this case before seeing this but it's a pretty accurate encapsulation of the events.

Outstanding cast and well written script and, as it's filmed in and around Bath and Bristol, very familiar location filming for me. Tim Spall is as brilliant and understated as ever and the two perpetrators, whilst totally opposite in character, are superbly played.

The casting is absolutely perfect and there's little to criticise about the entire show other than that I'd like it to have been a little more detailed in terms of the evidence gathered by the police and the building of the prosecution case.

Wow, wow and more wow.

You watch Timothy Spall in something and go...what a good performance...and then you watch this. Wow! It has award stamped all over it.

Anne Reid, who I think is one of the UK's much underrated actresses, shines like a supernova in her portrayal of Anne.

Éanna Hardwicke? Yes, I know. I haven't heard of him either. Wherever he's been hiding then this superb creepy, manipulating, hazy devil's portrayal is absolutely top notch and you should be seeing more of him no doubt.

The remainder of the cast put in fabulous performances in this four part excellently written and paced "true story".

You MUST watch this. This makes the Licence Fee top value.

This is a brilliant film based on real events.

A couple of decent elderly people who are lonely are befriended by a young male who apparently uses his charms to get into their heads.

He uses his physical attributes in a way to benefit himself to the detriment of the victims.

It is a 4 part series and a excellent production and direction.

More or less every single one in this show gives a show stopping performance.

The way the story is presented is magnificent. The characters reveal their goodness, badness and evil.

Nuanced characterizations are so well done!

It is a lesson to us all about the extent to which someone can be so wicked:

9/10.

A dramatisation of actual events, the deaths of Peter Farquhar and Ann Moore-Martin, two mature residents and neighbours from the small village of Maids Moreton, who both died after meeting and falling in love with a younger man, one Ben Field.

Arguably the best drama of 2023 so far, it's been a little time since I've said it, but this is truly The BBC at its very best, this is an outstanding, uncomfortable, sometimes upsetting watch.

This story was big news when it broke, it never seemed to make any sense, what this dramatisation does, is give you an almost factual detail of events, I understand that much of it was obviously dramatised, but I think they've got the core essence of what happened.

It is remarkable just how much Eanna Hardwicke looks like the real life Ben Field. His performance here was quite exceptional, and whilst I will rave about Timothy Spall and Anne Reid, Hardwicke made the whole thing come to life.

Timothy Spall should win an award for his performance, he was incredible, Anne Reid also phenomenal.

Fantastic.

9/10.