Julie Bushby praises Sheridan Smith in The Moorside and tells viewers BBC show is ‘very close to the truth’
JULIE Bushby has revealed The Moorside is ‘very close to the truth’ after some fans questioned its authenticity.
Although the BBC One drama about the case of Shannon Matthews got rave reviews when the first episode aired some viewers questioned whether some parts of the show really happened.
A main point of contention for some was the moment Shannon’s mum Karen started to dance along to her ringtone – the song Brown Eyed Girl.
The bizarre moment had some viewers aghast, as the twisted mother merrily jived in front of stunned police officers just hours after she reported her daughter missing.
In fact, Karen knew that Shannon had been drugged and concealed in a bed in the hope she could later claim the reward money for finding her.
However Julie Bushby – who is played by Sheridan Smith in the show – confirmed the producers made sure the programme was as close to reality as it could be.
She told : “The BBC drama is very close to the truth.
“Sheridan and I have become great friends – she was great. And I think it’s important for Shannon to see the truth.”
Her good friend and neighbour, Julie, was the chair of the Moorside residents and tenants association that helped trace Shannon.
Fans watching the show praised Sheridan for her performance and hailed the two-parter as “the best show of 2017.”
One tweeted: “Sheridan Smith can play any part given, such a top actress #TheMoorside.”
Another wrote: “@Sheridansmith1 is amazing as always! Such a talented woman #TheMoorside.”
The BBC drama also deals with the fallout from the community in Dewsbury after they discovered they had been lied to.
Series writer Neil McKay explained: “This drama takes us into the heart of a story and a community that was defined more by prejudice than genuine understanding.”
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“This was an extraordinary story of our time that rocked a community and thrust it under the media spotlight.
“As a nation, we only ever saw it from one perspective and I hope this drama will capture what it was like to be at the centre of that community - how they responded and lived through it.
“On BBC One it's important to bring human stories to life and allow the audience to come to their own conclusions.”
When is The Moorside next on BBC and what is it about?
Episode two of The Moorside will air on Tuesday 14 February at 9pm.
For anyone who missed the first part of the show, you can catch up now using BBC's iPlayer.
The Moorside retells the story of the manhunt from the perspective of the friends of Karen Matthews.
Sheridan Smith plays neighbour Julie Bushby, the chair of the Moorside residents and tenants association that helped trace Shannon.
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