Emotional one-off drama Mother’s Day
Anna Maxwell Martin and Vicky Mcclure on their emotional drama about the aftermath of the Warrington bombing…
Mother’s Day monday / BBC2 / 9Pm
On 20 March 1993, the Cheshire town of Warrington was packed with shoppers and children buying Mother’s Day cards for the following day.
But any sense of normality was shattered just before 12.30pm when two IRA bombs ripped through the town centre, leading to the deaths of 12-year-old Tim Parry and three-year-old Johnathan Ball, and injuring more than 50 others.
Now, 25 years on, BBC2’S emotional oneoff drama Mother’s Day
looks at the devastating impact of the attack on Tim’s parents, Wendy and Colin (played by Motherland’s Anna Maxwell Martin and Mrs Biggs star Daniel Mays), and on Dublin mother Susan Mchugh (Line of Duty’s Vicky Mcclure), who was so moved by news of the tragedy that she organised one of the largest peace rallies in Irish history, attended by around 20,000 people.
TV Times catches up with Anna, 41, and Vicky, 35, on the set of the drama in Belfast to learn more…
Can you tell us about the two mothers you play? anna: Wendy was outwardly stoic with the strength of a tiger so we see her keeping things held in until she can’t any more. She and Colin are a rock-solid couple but they had different reactions. Colin’s a brilliant speaker and was able to talk to the press – perhaps he drew comfort from it and felt he was keeping Tim’s memory alive. Wendy didn’t feel that need to speak and wanted to grieve privately, but she did go on The Late Late Show in Ireland and was very together. vicky: Sue’s just an ordinary woman and when she set up the rally in Dublin, she wasn’t expecting to see thousands of people there. She had no great plans, she wasn’t political; she just spoke from the heart as she had children of her own. Ireland’s political issues are a minefield but Sue just made it about saving children’s lives. She ruffled feathers, upset people and was always being batted down, but she was very determined. I don’t think I could be that brave but Sue managed with the support of her husband Arthur [Ripper Street’s David Wilmot].
what is the relationship like between sue and wendy? vicky: The first time they meet, it’s difficult. Colin is more behind what Sue’s trying to do while Wendy isn’t ready for it, but eventually you see her getting on board and she realises that Sue only wants peace. anna: Yes, at first, Wendy’s tough about this stranger coming in. But once she goes over to Ireland herself, she gets it. By having this big peace movement maybe Sue gave the Parrys the power to set up their centre [The Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Peace Foundation] in Warrington, which educates young people about peace.
How did you find filming sue’s inspirational speech at the rally? vicky: It was enjoyable because the dialogue was really rich but it was a tricky scene – we used some green screen because there weren’t really 20,000 people looking at me. I didn’t want to rehearse, though
– I just wanted to do a straight take to make it as natural as possible because Sue would have felt spontaneous and she didn’t have overbearing confidence so she would have been very nervous.
what research did you do? anna: We watched TV and home videos of Colin and Wendy and I researched the event. I’m a mum and I have a dear friend who lost a child, so I know that what the Parrys went through is your worst nightmare. You’d feel a huge urge to keep yourself together for your other children. vicky: I watched footage of Sue and what she did was a new story to me, but everyone should know about it. It’s such a powerful story. In terms of the bombing itself, I was only nine at the time and I don’t remember it, but I still recall Johnathan and Tim’s faces from their pictures. It’s nice we are remembering those boys.
did you meet the parrys and the Mchughs before starting work? vicky: The director didn’t want us to meet them until we finished shooting, but they’re all supportive of what we’re doing. I haven’t played someone who’s still alive before so it’s scary but I hope we’ve done Sue justice and that I can meet her eventually because she’s an amazing woman. anna: There is pressure playing a real person but I’m just so honoured to be part of this. I’m going to meet Colin and Wendy at their peace centre and I can’t wait because they’re so inspirational and have turned this terrible tragedy into something positive that has helped so many people.
What Sue did was a new story to me but everyone should know it VICKY MCCLURE
I’m just so honoured to be part of this ANNA MAXWELL MARTIN
How easy have you found doing a dublin accent, vicky, and a warrington one, anna? anna: It’s a bit of a nightmare when we are together as it turns out the Dublin accent and the Warrington one are quite tricky to hold on to when you’re in the same room! vicky: I’ve enjoyed it. It put the fear of God in me initially because I didn’t want to offend anyone, especially Sue, but David Wilmot, who’s Irish, has been particularly helpful and I am constantly asking him, ‘Is that all right?’ He has filled me with confidence and I’ve had a really great voice coach, too.
on a lighter note, what has it been like for you working together? vicky: We only have a few scenes together, which is a shame. I’d never met Anna before but always admired her work and she’s good fun. I was bowled over at first because I expected her to be quite quiet but she’s a ball of energy. anna: We’ve all been out together in Belfast. Danny gets swamped by people asking for photos, and as Line of Duty is filmed here, Vicky can click her fingers and get all sorts, too. I get pushed over for not being in Line of Duty. I keep saying, ‘Vicky, can you get me a part?!’
mother’s day is previewed on pages 52-53