Cancel your weekend plans to binge Sheridan Smith's 'outstanding' Netflix drama
Mrs Biggs is climbing up the streamer's ranking of the platform's top 10 TV shows – making a convincing argument for a mid-August weekend watch.
Smith – who has so many British dramas to her name it can be easy to let one slip – stars in this five-part drama, which is based on the true story of the Great Train Robbery.
The drama focuses on the relationship between Charmian, played by Smith, and Ronnie Biggs, played by Daniel Mays. It follows everything from their first lovestruck meeting and the fateful 1963 train heist, to its aftermath and their eventual divorce in 1976, after Biggs fathered a child in Brazil.
We see the petty crook meet his soon-to-be wife on, of all places, a train. 'The future is full of possibilities,' he tells her. 'The past will only drag you down.'
With that, the Biggs couple set off on a crime spree before they eventually decide to settle down for a quiet married life. That is, until the 'one last job' pops up in the chance to join the train robbers.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
Some labelled the drama a sanitised version of events, but it was inspired by a letter Biggs sent to his wife following the death of their son Nicholas. Biggs's former wife Charmian was also a consultant on the show.
The show's writer and executive producer Jeff Pope said he wanted to set out a romantic tale, rather than a romanticised one.
'We show Ron as perhaps a little too wilfully optimistic and Charmian is the cold voice of reason throughout. It absolutely would be a danger of a piece like this to romanticise it,' he told The Guardian.
'It will get laughed out of court if it's a slushfest. In the first episode, they steal, he strikes her, we acknowledge the fact he had a criminal record; further down the line, Charmian has an abortion by another man. We don't pull back, we don't flinch.'
Praised at the time of its release for the quality of the acting and the excitement of the episodes, TV viewers have shared their positive reception over the years, as Mrs Biggs has been available on ITVX as well as Netflix.
Taking to X, @AshWoody90 praised: 'Mrs Biggs on Netflix, possibly one the best things I have ever watched.' More Trending
@elliot_gonzalez commended the creative partnership between the show's writer and star, writing: 'Jeff Pope and Sheridan Smith should always work together. Mrs Biggs, The Widower, Cilla and now The Moorside. All outstanding work.'
@TVChatty wrote: 'All week I've been watching Mrs Biggs on ITV3. Why did I not watch it first time? Fantastic story and great acting. Really enjoyed it.'
@lizcurran echoed: 'Sheridan Smith is wonderful in Mrs Biggs – she is one of my favourite actors. Utterly mesmerising – always.'
View More »
Mrs Biggs is available on Netflix and ITVX.
Got a story?
If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Wales Online
26 minutes ago
- Wales Online
Welsh lighthouse horror as keeper forced to live with corpse as he went slowly mad
Welsh lighthouse horror as keeper forced to live with corpse as he went slowly mad The Lighthouse, directed by Robert Eggers, is a psychological horror film that was partly inspired by a real-life tragedy that took place more than 200 years ago on the far coast of Wales The original Smalls building has been replaced with a new structure since the automation of lighthouses Robert Eggers' 2019 psychological horror, The Lighthouse, garnered praise and even an Oscar nomination for its striking monochrome cinematography, surreal ambience, and stellar performances from Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson. The film narrates the tale of two 19th-century lighthouse keepers marooned at a remote New England outpost during a violent tempest, with isolation, suspicion, and bizarre visions taking their toll. While audiences and critics have debated the film's symbolism and genre – part horror, part myth, part drama – what many viewers may not know is that it was partly inspired by a real-life tragedy that occurred over 200 years ago on the distant coast of Wales. The true story, now referred to as the Smalls Lighthouse Tragedy, is one of the most distressing chapters in British maritime history and led to a lasting change in lighthouse policy. The Smalls Lighthouse is perched on a rocky islet about 20 miles west of the St David's Peninsula in Pembrokeshire, exposed to the full force of the Irish Sea - designed and constructed in 1775, reports the Mirror. The Smalls Lighthouse Article continues below Life at The Smalls was solitary and confined. At the time, lighthouse crews typically consisted of just two men, who would spend extended periods in complete isolation. Their sole duties were to keep the lamp lit at night and maintain the structure by day, regardless of the weather. In 1801, the lighthouse was staffed by Thomas Howell and Thomas Griffith, two men reputed to be at odds. One day, Griffith fell gravely ill following what was reported as a bizarre mishap. Howell attempted to look after his workmate and set up a distress signal, hoping a passing ship would communicate their need for assistance. However, this was a time before radio, and simple flag signalling proved ineffective in such an isolated location. The lighthouse was battered by storms for weeks on end, making it impossible for any vessel to pass. Griffith's health deteriorated, and eventually, after enduring a lengthy period of suffering, he passed away. Suddenly alone, Howell faced a daunting predicament. Given the strained relationship between the two men, he worried that if he disposed of the body at sea, any subsequent investigation might suspect him of murder. He decided his only choice was to keep the body until help arrived. The lighthouse is situated about 20 miles west of St David's Peninsula in Pembrokeshire Initially, Howell kept Griffith's body inside the living quarters, a hut barely five metres across. However, the smell of decomposition soon became intolerable. A former barrel-maker, Howell took apart part of the interior to construct a makeshift coffin from wooden planks. He placed Griffith inside, secured the lid, and hoisted the coffin onto a ledge on the exterior of the lighthouse, tying it securely in place. The weather showed no signs of easing, and weeks later, the violent winds ripped the coffin apart, casting the boards into the sea and leaving the corpse tied to the railing, exposed to the elements. This is when the incident took on its most enduring – and macabre – image. One of Griffith's arms had come loose, and whenever the wind caught it just right, it seemed to wave or beckon. Howell could see it from inside the hut, a constant and chilling reminder of his dire situation. As days turned into weeks, several ships sailed within sight of the lighthouse, but the conditions were too treacherous to attempt a landing. Crews could see the light still burning at night – a testament to Howell's commitment to his duty – and during the day, they occasionally spotted a figure on the gallery. Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson in a scene from The Lighthouse (2019) (Image: Dumfries and Galloway Standard) From afar, they couldn't discern what had transpired, and with no apparent urgency in the signalling, they continued their journey. It's believed that Howell lived alongside his deceased colleague for approximately four months before a vessel from Milford Haven was finally able to land on The Smalls. When rescuers arrived, they discovered Griffith's body still bound to the railings and Howell physically and mentally altered. Friends back on shore later claimed they didn't recognise him – his hair had prematurely turned grey, his face was gaunt, and he appeared shattered by the ordeal. The Smalls Lighthouse Tragedy sent shockwaves through the maritime community, highlighting the perils of having only two keepers at such a remote station. As a result, the governing body changed its policy to mandate that all lighthouses be manned by at least three people at a time. This rule stayed in place for nearly two centuries, until the automation of British lighthouses in the late 20th century. The events of 1801 have inspired numerous works over the past two centuries. In 2011, the BBC aired The Lighthouse, a radio play by Alan Harris based on the tragedy. Article continues below In 2016, Welsh director Chris Crow released a feature film of the same name, also loosely adapted from the events on The Smalls, before Robert Eggers' The Lighthouse brought the tale to international audiences.
Daily Record
26 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Lighthouse keeper forced to live with corpse for 4 months unrecognisable when rescued
Robert Eggers' 2019 psychological horror The Lighthouse, featuring powerhouse performances from Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson, won acclaim for its striking black-and-white cinematography and surreal atmosphere, even earning an Oscar nomination. The film spins a tale of two nineteenth-century lighthouse keepers stranded at a remote New England outpost during a violent storm, with isolation, mistrust, and strange visions taking their toll. While the movie's symbolism and genre – part horror, part myth, part drama – have sparked debates among audiences and critics, many viewers may not realise that it was partly inspired by a real-life tragedy that occurred more than 200 years ago on the far coast of Wales. This true story, now known as the Smalls Lighthouse Tragedy, is one of the most harrowing episodes in British maritime history and led to a permanent change in lighthouse policy. The Smalls Lighthouse, designed and constructed in 1775, stands on a rocky islet about 20 miles west of the St David's Peninsula in Pembrokeshire, exposed to the full force of the Irish Sea, reports the Mirror. Life at The Smalls was lonely and cramped. At the time, lighthouse crews typically consisted of just two men, who would spend long stretches in complete isolation. Their only duties were to keep the lamp lit at night and maintain the structure by day, regardless of the weather. In 1801, the lighthouse was staffed by Thomas Howell and Thomas Griffith, two men who were known to have a contentious relationship. One day, Griffith fell seriously ill following an unusual accident. Howell attempted to look after his colleague and set up a distress signal, hoping that a passing ship would notice their plight. However, this was a time before radio, and simple flag signalling was of little use in such a remote location. The lighthouse was battered by storms for weeks on end, making it impossible for any ship to pass by. Griffith's condition deteriorated, and eventually, after enduring a long period of suffering, he passed away. Suddenly alone, Howell faced a chilling predicament. Given the strained relationship between the two men, he feared that if he disposed of the body at sea, any future investigation might suspect him of murder. He decided his only option was to keep the body until help arrived. Initially, Howell kept Griffith's body inside the living quarters, a small hut barely five metres across. But the smell of decomposition soon became unbearable. Having previously worked as a cooper, Howell dismantled part of the interior to construct a makeshift coffin from timber boards. He placed Griffith inside, secured the lid, and hoisted the coffin out to a ledge on the exterior of the lighthouse, tying it securely in place. The weather showed no signs of easing up and, weeks later, the violent winds ripped the coffin apart, casting the boards into the sea and leaving the corpse tied to the railing, exposed to the harsh elements. It was then that the incident took on its most enduring – and gruesome – image. One of Griffith's arms had come loose, and whenever the wind caught it just right, it seemed to wave or beckon. Howell could see it from inside the hut, a constant and chilling reminder of his dire situation. As the days went by, several ships sailed within sight of the lighthouse, but the conditions were too treacherous to attempt a landing. Crews could see the light still burning at night – a testament to Howell's commitment to his duty – and during the day, they occasionally spotted a figure on the gallery. From afar, they couldn't discern what had transpired, and with no apparent urgency in the signalling, they continued their journey. It is thought Howell lived alongside his deceased colleague for about four months before a vessel from Milford Haven finally managed to land on The Smalls. When the rescuers arrived, they found Griffith's body still fastened to the railings and Howell physically and mentally altered. Friends back on shore later claimed they didn't recognise him – his hair had turned prematurely grey, his face was gaunt, and he appeared shattered by the ordeal. The Smalls Lighthouse Tragedy sent shockwaves through the maritime community, highlighting the perils of having only two keepers at such a remote station. As a result, the governing body changed its policy to mandate that all lighthouses be manned by at least three people at a time. This rule was upheld for nearly two centuries, until British lighthouses were automated in the late 20th century. The events of 1801 have sparked numerous creative works over the past two centuries. In 2011, the BBC aired The Lighthouse, a radio play by Alan Harris inspired by the tragedy. In 2016, Welsh director Chris Crow released a feature film with the same title, also loosely based on the events at The Smalls, before Robert Eggers' The Lighthouse brought the story to international audiences.
Scotsman
26 minutes ago
- Scotsman
Gags Army shows how humour can help us deal with the trauma of war
Gags Army at the Free Festival is an hour of comedy from British military veterans So the Oasis bandwagon has rolled out of town. It was a fun few days. Some predictions proved to be accurate, others to be wide of the mark. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Edinburgh City Council's leaked memo warning that the city would be full of overweight middle-aged men proved to be right on the money, although the trams seem to have coped – none seem to have been broken by the overload. However, Fringe performers' fears of their sales being affected were utterly groundless, as the Murrayfield gigs had little impact on tickets for my show over any of the three nights. It would appear that overweight middle-aged men don't just want to singalong to chart hits from the 90s. They like a bit of culture too. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Fringe is a month-long introspective bubble where participants and audiences ignore the horrors of the world outside. The Ukraine war and the atrocities being carried out by Israel in Gaza fall off the priority list of many while the festival is in town. So it's nice to see a couple of shows redressing the balance. Which is apt, given that the Edinburgh Festival itself was founded as a celebration of peace and global unity as Europe began to recover from the carnage of the Second World War. For three days next week, The Palestine Comedy Club will be presenting Palestine Stands Up, a show with a line-up of comedians who are continuing to run comedy shows in their country and have come to Edinburgh to showcase their talent. If anything illustrates the strength of the human spirit, it is the ability to laugh in the face of adversity. Likewise, Gags Army at the Free Festival is an hour of comedy from British military veterans who served in the Falklands, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan. Growing out of a workshop which employed comedy as a tool to help them deal with PTSD, it turned out that they were funny guys. They now have a Fringe show. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad If you get the chance, check out these shows. Neither of them shies away from the horrors of war. Both, however, are illustrations of how humour can help us deal with the trauma of violent conflict. And don't be surprised to see some fat middle-aged blokes wearing bucket hats in the audience.
