Latest news with #Charmian
Metro
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Cancel your weekend plans to binge Sheridan Smith's 'outstanding' Netflix drama
It looks like Netflix subscribers are discovering a Sheridan Smith crime drama that first aired on ITV in 2012. 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 entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you.
BBC News
14-03-2025
- General
- BBC News
Tributes paid to former Cheltenham councillor Charmian Sheppard
Tributes have been paid to a former councillor who has been described as "one of life's really good people".Charmian Sheppard, who passed away at her home in February at the age of 77, served on Gloucestershire County Council for 20 Sheppard was the Liberal Democrat county councillor for St Peters. Councillor Suzanne Williams, who led the tributes in the council chamber on 12 March, said that Ms Sheppard took "a lot of interest in education" during her time as a councillor. She said although Ms Sheppard was a little older than her, they both attended Pate's Grammar School when it was a single-sex school, "with the boys educated far away on the other side of town."Charmian you are and will be missed," she added. "Thank you for being you."The Local Democracy Reporting Service said that Councillor Tim Harman also knew her well. "She was one of life's really good people," he said."I know her contribution wasn't just as a councillor, it was much wider across the whole community with charity work." 'Sorely missed' Councillor David Willingham, who represents the same division that Ms Sheppard did, said she was a lot of help to him."I would really like to put on record my thanks for her support and the history of some of the decisions she was able to impart to me," he added that Ms Sheppard was able to get things done at the council even after she stood down as a councillor."That's obviously the measure of the person she was," he Matt Babbage said he had met her many times over the years."I wanted to acknowledge the enormous amount Charmian did in the local community and say thank you to her," he said."She will be sorely missed."Ms Sheppard's funeral will be held at midday on 24 March at Cheltenham will be followed by a wake at The Gloucester Old Spot.
