Maxine (TV series)

Last updated

Maxine
Genre Crime drama
Written bySimon Tyrrell
Directed byLaura Way
Starring
  • Jemma Carlton
  • Scott Reid
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series1
No. of episodes3
Production
Producers
  • Emma Foley
  • Tamryn Reinecke
Production companyClapperboard Studios [1]
Original release
Network Channel 5
Release10 October (2022-10-10) 
12 October 2022 (2022-10-12)

Maxine is a British three-part television drama miniseries, based on the story of Maxine Carr's involvement in the 2002 Soham murders, where 10-year-olds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman were killed by Carr's boyfriend Ian Huntley. It was first broadcast in the United Kingdom on Channel 5 in October 2022. [2]

Contents

Cast

The series features Jemma Carlton, in her first television role, as Maxine Carr, and Scott Reid as Ian Huntley. Other cast members include Steve Edge, Barry John Kinsella and Kate O'Toole. [2]

Critical reception

The series was received poorly by critics, with a review by Lucy Mangan in The Guardian describing it as "a show about the Soham murders that is both pointless and dangerous", [3] while The Independent quoted a viewer as labelling it as being in "absurdly bad taste". [4] According to the Daily Mirror , "several Channel 5 viewers found it hard to stomach, particularly as they claimed that the drama seemed to be portraying Carr as a 'victim'". [5] Channel 5 defended the decision to produce the series, with director of programmes Ben Frow being quoted as saying "it's not about the murders, it's about a woman who came from a very challenging upbringing" and "I think we have been deeply respectful to the victims, whilst shining a light on some very challenging issues". [6]

Related Research Articles

Jill Halfpenny is an English actress who first garnered attention playing Nicola Dobson in the coming-of-age BBC drama series Byker Grove (1989–1992). She became more widely known for her roles as Rebecca Hopkins on the ITV soap opera Coronation Street (1999–2000), Kate Mitchell on the BBC soap opera EastEnders (2002–2005), and Izzie Redpath in Waterloo Road (2006–2007). Her other notable credits include Babylon (2014), In the Club (2014–2016), Humans (2015), Three Girls (2017), Liar (2017–2020), Dark Money (2019), The Drowning (2021), and The Long Shadow (2023). She won the second series of the television dance contest Strictly Come Dancing in 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephen Mangan</span> English actor (born 1968)

Stephen James Mangan is an English actor, comedian, presenter and writer. He has played Guy Secretan in Green Wing, Dan Moody in I'm Alan Partridge, Seán Lincoln in Episodes, Bigwig in Watership Down, Postman Pat in Postman Pat: The Movie, Richard Pitt in Hang Ups, Andrew in Bliss (2018), and Nathan Stern in The Split (2018–2022).

Healing School, A Science Academy is a co-educational secondary school and specialist academy located on Low Road in the village of Healing, North East Lincolnshire, England.

Maxine or Maxene may refer to:

Jackie Kabler is a British freelance television presenter and reporter with QVC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richard Osman</span> English comedian, producer, TV presenter and writer

Richard Thomas Osman is an English author, television presenter, producer, novelist, and comedian. He is the creator and former co-presenter of the BBC One television quiz show Pointless. He has presented the BBC Two quiz shows Two Tribes and Richard Osman's House of Games, and been a team captain on the comedy panel shows Insert Name Here and The Fake News Show. He has made appearances on British panel shows including Would I Lie To You? and QI.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soham murders</span> 2002 double homicide in Soham, Cambridgeshire, England

The Soham murders were a double child murder committed in Soham, Cambridgeshire, England, on 4 August 2002. The victims were two 10-year-old girls, Holly Marie Wells and Jessica Amiee Chapman, who were lured into the home of a local resident and school caretaker, Ian Kevin Huntley, who subsequently murdered them – likely via asphyxiation – and disposed of their bodies in an irrigation ditch close to RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk. The bodies were discovered on 17 August 2002.

<i>Silk</i> (TV series) British television legal drama series

Silk is a British television drama series produced by the BBC which was broadcast over three series on BBC One between 22 February 2011 and 31 March 2014. Created by Peter Moffat, the series follows the daily goings on of Shoe Lane Chambers and its members in their personal and professional lives.

Sir Alan George Moses is a former Lord Justice of Appeal, a Court of Appeal Judge and the former chairman of Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). He is joint Chair of the United Kingdom's Spoliation Advisory Panel.

Events from 2004 in England

Events from 2003 in England

Events from 2002 in England

<i>The Bisexual</i> 2018 British television series

The Bisexual is a comedy-drama television series created by Desiree Akhavan and Rowan Riley and starring Akhavan, Maxine Peake, and Brian Gleeson. The series, a co-production between British television network Channel 4 and American streaming service Hulu, debuted on 10 October 2018 in the United Kingdom and on 16 November 2018 in the United States.

<i>Des</i> (TV series) British TV series

Des is a British three-part television drama miniseries, based on the 1983 arrest of Scottish serial killer Dennis Nilsen, after the discovery of human remains causing the blockage of a drain near his home. The series premiered on 14 September 2020.

Four Lives, originally and internationally titled The Barking Murders, is a British television miniseries, first aired from 3 to 5 January 2022 on BBC One. It follows the true story of the families of four young gay men who in 2014 and 2015 were murdered by Stephen Port. Facing failings by the Metropolitan Police, they fought for justice for their loved ones. Stephen Merchant plays serial killer Port with Sheridan Smith as Sarah Sak, the mother of Anthony Walgate, Port's first victim.

<i>Its a Sin</i> (TV series) British television series by Russell T Davies

It's a Sin is a British drama television miniseries written by Russell T Davies. Set in London between 1981 and 1991, it depicts the lives of a group of gay men and their friends during the HIV/AIDS crisis in the United Kingdom. It's a Sin features a main cast consisting of Olly Alexander, Omari Douglas, Callum Scott Howells, Lydia West, and Nathaniel Curtis. Other actors cast were David Carlyle, Keeley Hawes, Shaun Dooley, Tracy-Ann Oberman, Neil Patrick Harris and Stephen Fry. The series was directed by Peter Hoar, produced by Red Production Company, and premiered in the United Kingdom on Channel 4 on 22 January 2021.

The Drowning is a British four-part television thriller drama miniseries written and created by Francesca Brill and Luke Watson. It was first broadcast on Channel 5 on four consecutive nights from 1 February 2021. It stars Jill Halfpenny, Jonas Armstrong, Rupert Penry-Jones and Deborah Findlay.

<i>Together</i> (2021 TV film) 2021 British film by Stephen Daldry

Together is a 2021 British comedy-drama television film written by Dennis Kelly and directed by Stephen Daldry. It stars James McAvoy and Sharon Horgan as a couple re-evaluating their relationship during the COVID-19 pandemic, with Samuel Logan making an appearance as their son, Artie. It was shot in ten days in Kensal Rise, London.

Deceit is a British four-part television drama miniseries, based on the true story of a controversial undercover operation carried out by the Metropolitan Police in 1992. Niamh Algar stars as the undercover police officer, codenamed "Lizzie James", who attempts to entrap a suspect in a murder investigation. It premiered on Channel 4 on 13 August 2021, and all subsequent episodes were made available for streaming on All 4 that same day after broadcast. The series, written by Emilia di Girolamo and produced by Story Films, received critical acclaim.

<i>The Devils Hour</i> British thriller television series

The Devil's Hour is a British drama thriller television series created by Tom Moran, and executive produced by Steven Moffat through his production company Hartswood Films. The series consists of six episodes, and premiered on 28 October 2022 on Amazon Prime Video. In November 2022, the programme was renewed for a second and third series.

References

  1. "Maxine". Clapperboard Studios. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  2. 1 2 Cremona, Patrick (29 June 2022). "Channel 5 announces cast for new Maxine Carr and Ian Huntley drama". Radio Times . Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  3. Mangan, Lucy (10 October 2022). "Maxine review – a show about the Soham murders that is both pointless and dangerous". The Guardian . Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  4. Harrison, Ellie (11 October 2022). "'Absurdly bad taste': Maxine viewers criticise Channel 5 show about Soham murders". The Independent . Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  5. Cook, Rebecca (10 October 2022). "Channel 5 viewers 'switch off' as Soham murders drama 'makes Maxine Carr a victim'". Daily Mirror . Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  6. Jeffrey, Morgan (25 August 2022). "Channel 5 boss says Maxine Carr drama is "deeply respectful to the victims"". Radio Times . Retrieved 10 August 2023.