''Cherished'' is a single
British
British may refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies.
* British national identity, the characteristics of British people and culture ...
true crime
True crime is a genre of non-fiction work in which an author examines a crime, including detailing the actions of people associated with and affected by the crime, and investigating the perpetrator's Motive (law), motives. True crime works often ...
drama, written by acclaimed screenwriter
Gwyneth Hughes, that first broadcast on
BBC One
BBC One is a British free-to-air public broadcast television channel owned and operated by the BBC. It is the corporation's oldest and flagship channel, and is known for broadcasting mainstream programming, which includes BBC News television b ...
on 22 February 2005.
Starring
Sarah Lancashire
Sarah-Jane Abigail Lancashire (born 10 October 1964) is an English actress. Known for her work in television and theatre, she has received numerous accolades over a career spanning four decades, including three British Academy Television Award ...
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
Timothy Leonard Spall ( ; born 27 February 1957) is an English actor. He gained recognition for his character actor roles on stage and screen.
In 2000, he was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Queen Elizabeth II.
S ...
as Angela's husband Terry,
Emma Cunniffe as Angela's sister Claire; and
Ian McNeice
Ian McNeice (born 2 October 1950) is an English film and television actor. On television, he has played government agent Harcourt in the 1985 television series ''Edge of Darkness'', Bert Large in the comedy-drama '' Doc Martin'', the Newsreade ...
as her defence barrister;
Bill Bache. The drama was a joint production between the
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...
's drama and current affairs wings.
5.18 million viewers tuned in for the initial broadcast. 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
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...
has been very good. They've dealt with us very fairly."
Sarah Lancashire
Sarah-Jane Abigail Lancashire (born 10 October 1964) is an English actress. Known for her work in television and theatre, she has received numerous accolades over a career spanning four decades, including three British Academy Television Award ...
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."
Synopsis
The film begins in 1999, on the day of Matthew Cannings' death. Mother Angela (
Sarah Lancashire
Sarah-Jane Abigail Lancashire (born 10 October 1964) is an English actress. Known for her work in television and theatre, she has received numerous accolades over a career spanning four decades, including three British Academy Television Award ...
), who is alone in the house at the time, is roused by the sound of a sleep apnea alarm fitted to Matthew's cot. Angela enters his room, only to find that Matthew is already dead. Angela immediately telephones her husband Terry (
Timothy Spall
Timothy Leonard Spall ( ; born 27 February 1957) is an English actor. He gained recognition for his character actor roles on stage and screen.
In 2000, he was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Queen Elizabeth II.
S ...
), who rushes home from work and is shocked to discover Angela cradling Matthew in her arms. After Matthew is taken to the local hospital, the Cannings' doctor informs social services that Matthew's death is the third such death in the family since 1989. Two vulnerable persons detectives, DS Rob Findlay (Jake Nightingale) and WDC Jill Dawson (Alison Lomas), take on the case and interview Angela. As a post-mortem reveals traces of fibres in Matthew's nasal passage, Findlay and Dawson suspect that Matthew was smothered; although the evidence is not conclusive. Angela is arrested and taken in for questioning. Despite denying all of the accusations against her, Angela is charged with the murder of Matthew and two of her other children, Gemma and Jason, who died in 1989 and 1991 respectively.
The case is taken to court, and Angela is represented by defence lawyer
Bill Bache (
Ian McNeice
Ian McNeice (born 2 October 1950) is an English film and television actor. On television, he has played government agent Harcourt in the 1985 television series ''Edge of Darkness'', Bert Large in the comedy-drama '' Doc Martin'', the Newsreade ...
), who is convinced that the jury cannot possibly find her guilty due to a lack of corroborative evidence and eyewitness testimony. Despite this, Angela is found guilty on two counts of murder (the other count, of Gemma's murder, is dropped before the trial begins). Angela goes to prison and faces daily abuse from her fellow inmates, who label her a 'nonce' and a 'baby killer'. Whilst in prison, a woman claiming to be Angela's half-sister comes forward, and through dogged detective work, Bache and his team of colleagues uncover a genetic history of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome in Angela's extended family. Coupled with the recent acquittal of
Sally Clark
Sally Clark (née Lockyer, 15 August 1964 – 15 March 2007) was an English solicitor who, in November 1999, became the victim of a miscarriage of justice when she was found guilty of the murder of her two infant sons. Clark's first son died in ...
, who was tried and found guilty of the murder of her two children based on statistical evidence provided by Sir Roy Meadow (
Ronald Pickup
Ronald Alfred Pickup (7 June 1940 – 24 February 2021) was an English actor. He was active in television, film, and theatre, beginning with a 1964 appearance in ''Doctor Who''. Theatre critic Michael Billington described him as "a terrific st ...
), who also provided evidence in Angela's trial, Bache launches an appeal. On appeal, Angela's conviction is quashed and she is released from prison. Subsequently, an epilogue reveals that Angela's trial allowed for a change in the law which states that no single defendant can be found guilty in a criminal trial purely on the basis of evidence submitted by experts. Roy Meadow is also revealed to have been struck off by the
General Medical Council
The General Medical Council (GMC) is a public body that maintains the official register of physician, medical practitioners within the United Kingdom. Its chief responsibility is to "protect, promote and maintain the health and safety of the pu ...
.
Cast
*
Sarah Lancashire
Sarah-Jane Abigail Lancashire (born 10 October 1964) is an English actress. Known for her work in television and theatre, she has received numerous accolades over a career spanning four decades, including three British Academy Television Award ...
as Angela Cannings
*
Timothy Spall
Timothy Leonard Spall ( ; born 27 February 1957) is an English actor. He gained recognition for his character actor roles on stage and screen.
In 2000, he was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Queen Elizabeth II.
S ...
as Terry Cannings
* Jake Nightingale as DS Rob Findlay
* Alison Lomas as WDC Jill Dawson
*
Emma Cunniffe as Claire Connolly
* James Barriscale as Tom Sedley
*
Ian McNeice
Ian McNeice (born 2 October 1950) is an English film and television actor. On television, he has played government agent Harcourt in the 1985 television series ''Edge of Darkness'', Bert Large in the comedy-drama '' Doc Martin'', the Newsreade ...
as
Bill Bache
* Julian Rivett as DS Matt Johnson
* Steve Chaplin as Steven Cannings
*
Marion Bailey
Marion Bailey (born 5 May 1951) is an English actress. She is best known for her work with her partner, filmmaker Mike Leigh, including the films '' Meantime'' (1983), '' All or Nothing'' (2002), ''Vera Drake'' (2004), '' Mr. Turner'' (2014), ...
as Marion Harding
*
Ronald Pickup
Ronald Alfred Pickup (7 June 1940 – 24 February 2021) was an English actor. He was active in television, film, and theatre, beginning with a 1964 appearance in ''Doctor Who''. Theatre critic Michael Billington described him as "a terrific st ...
as Sir Roy Meadow
*
Maggie Ollerenshaw
Margaret Ollerenshaw (born 8 October 1949) is an English actress. She is known for portraying the role of Mavis in the BBC sitcom ''Open All Hours'' (1981–1982) and its sequel ''Still Open All Hours'' (2013–2019). Her other television credits ...
as Mary Barry
*
Mark Tandy as Mr. Dunkels QC
*
Stephen Boxer
Stephen Boxer (born 19 May 1950) is an English actor who has appeared in films, on television and on stage. He is known for his role as Joe Fenton (Doctors), Joe Fenton on the BBC soap opera ''Doctors (2000 TV series), Doctors''.
Career
Stephen ...
as Professor Patton
* Amber Wollen as Jade Cannings (Aged 3–5)
* Kizzie Hopkinson as Jade Cannings (Aged 5–7)
*
Lorna Fitzgerald
Lorna Katie Fitzgerald (born 17 April 1996) is a British actress from Northampton. Her most notable role to date is that of Abi Branning in the BBC soap opera, ''EastEnders''. Since leaving ''EastEnders'' in January 2018, Fitzgerald has develop ...
as Jade Cannings (Aged 7–9)
References
External links
*
{{Gwyneth Hughes
British television films
2005 television films
2005 films