The Street

have to say i didnt enjoy this episode as much as the Bob Hoskins one, but it was still very good all the same! who's turn is it next week?

Monday 27 July
9.00-10.00pm BBC ONE

Spoiler:

On the street, a phone rings in the Calshaw's house as Jimmy McGovern's powerful, award-winning drama continues. But nobody is home. TA soldier Private Nick Calshaw played by Robin Hood star Jonas Armstrong, is calling from Afghanistan. He has managed to get hold of a satellite phone and is sneaking a call to his family.

The answerphone kicks in and Nick leaves a message. On her return from school, Nick's sister, Ellie, plays the message. As Nick talks, there are panicked shouts in the background, a baby starts to cry, and someone shouts: "Shoot her!" A massive explosion follows and then the line goes dead.

Ellie calls her parents, Alan and Kim, who rush home, frantic with worry. Nick's fiancée, Gemma, runs out of the school where she is teaching. Later, two Army officials call at the house to tell them that there has been an incident involving their son.

Nick travels home on a train with fellow squaddie, Rob, while back on the street his family prepares a welcome-home party. When Nick emerges from the taxi outside his family home, the full extent of his facial disfigurement is revealed to his shocked parents and to Ellie.

Nick seeks sanctuary with girlfriend Gemma. However, despite being surrounded by those who love him, Nick becomes increasingly depressed and withdrawn.

Private Nick Calshaw is played by Jonas Armstrong; Ellie by Kirstie Leigh Porter; Alan by Ian Puleston Davies; Kim by Siobhan Finneran; Gemma by Emily Beecham; and Rob by Lee Turnball.

From BBC website

Monday 10 August
9.00-10.00pm BBC ONE
Press pack

Spoiler:

Alcoholic Shay Ryan (Stephen Graham) discovers he has a sonStreet resident Shay Ryan tells his AA group about the moment he became an alcoholic, as Jimmy McGovern's powerful, award-winning drama continues. It was the day that armed gunmen held up the betting shop where he was manager, leaving Shay traumatised. Before the robbery, Shay needed a drink every night. After the robbery, he needed one every morning, too.

Madeleine, an ex-girlfriend that Shay hasn't seen for years comes to see him at work to inform him that he has a son. Otto is 16 years old and has asked to meet his dad. Madeleine didn't tell Shay about Otto because she wanted nothing more to do with him. Even 16 years ago, Shay's drinking was becoming personally corrosive and destructive to those around him.

Now Shay is hopelessly addicted to vodka, which he mixes with coke in an attempt to hide his alcoholism. His life is a mess. His student lodgers are moving out because of his negligence as a landlord and he's constantly being battered for being drunk and abusive in the pub.

When Madeleine and Otto arrive at Shay's for lunch, as arranged, Shay is shocked to see that his son has Down's syndrome. He can't bring himself to answer the door. Madeleine tries to console a devastated Otto, taking him home. Typically, Shay proceeds to drink himself into a stupor.

Finally, Shay realises that he has lost 16 years of his son's life. Can he pull himself out of his alcoholic malaise, learn to live again and embrace a life enriched by Otto?

After six months without a drink, Shay reveals to his AA group that he understands why Madeleine won't let him see his son again. But Shay lives in hope...

Stephen Graham plays Shay; Maxine Peake plays Madeleine; and Leon Harrop plays Otto.

=They do get some very good actors and actresses on this show. Must show how good it is. If it wasnt any good then no one would want to do it.

Looking forward to the Maxine Peake episode and i think Ruth Jones is in episode 6, that should be good as well.

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Originally Posted by DaVeyWaVey

Completely superb. Anna Friel was fantastic. I cried when she was begging to get her children into St Peters'.

I watched the first episode too and thought that was brilliant as well. It really demonstrated how something so trivial could turn into something much more serious. The tension in that episode was so well done.

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I was sitting crying too when she was at the hearing. Did not realise the vicar was one of her clients until he said you got them in Ruby, very cleverly done. Dee story was emotional and heartwarming as she didn't justify or look for pity on why she was on the game. She did what she had to do to provide for her kids.

Extremely powerful stuff tonight. I was crying by the end. That has to be the best hour of drama I've seen all year. Jonas Armstrong gave a brilliant performance - you could just feel all that anger and angst that was desperately oozing out of him.

You could cut the atmosphere with a knife during the family/girlfriend scenes, making it all the more tense. That "beautiful" speech in the hospital was when the tears started to roll for me and Nick finally managed to get out all those emotions that he must have been feeling and taking out on everyone else.

The reactions were so realistic - the subtle looks made by people in the pub, the child that cried on the train etc.

It was ironic in the end that an Arab saved Nick's life when Nick was fighting against them in the war.

One word for that episode = incredible.

They should rename Monday night bawling eyes out night, as for the third monday in a row I've been reaching for the tissues. Brilliant performance from Jonas and the actors who played his parents, his dad showed real emotion hiding away to break down.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Katy

=They do get some very good actors and actresses on this show. Must show how good it is. If it wasnt any good then no one would want to do it.

Looking forward to the Maxine Peake episode and i think Ruth Jones is in episode 6, that should be good as well.

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the ep with maxine peake in is brill, i have seen it as my son plays otto her son with downs syndrome,all the episodes have been great so far.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Chloe O'brien

They should rename Monday night bawling eyes out night, as for the third monday in a row I've been reaching for the tissues. Brilliant performance from Jonas and the actors who played his parents, his dad showed real emotion hiding away to break down.

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couldn't agree more.. It was the first thing I said when it was over... I have to remember to bring tissues for next monday..

Brilliant acting, worked my every emotion... well done Jim Mc Govern :clap::clap::clap::clap:

Did anyone else think that Nick was like Sean in EE? I thought both played parts well of soldiers returning from war and having to face reality again while living in conflict of what they seen in the war.