The Moorside
Based on real events, this powerful story of friendship, trust, and forgiveness takes us to the heart of a community rocked by a child's disappearance. In 2008, 9-year-old Shannon Matthews is reported missing. A frantic search follows and quickly becomes a murder inquiry. Led by Julie Bushby, the community rallies around Shannon's grief-stricken mother Karen, determined to find her daughter and show that although she's from a poor background, Shannon's life is as important as any other. As hope fades and doubts about Karen arise, Shannon is found--with a man her mother knows. As suspicions deepen, Karen's friends set about discovering the truth.
- 2017-2017
- 1 season
- Disney+
- Suspense, Drama
- TV-MA
Based on real events, this powerful story of friendship, trust, and forgiveness takes us to the heart of a community rocked by a child's disappearance. In 2008, 9-year-old Shannon Matthews is reported missing. A frantic search follows and quickly becomes a murder inquiry. Led by Julie Bushby, the community rallies around Shannon's grief-stricken mother Karen, determined to find her daughter and show that although she's from a poor background, Shannon's life is as important as any other. As hope fades and doubts about Karen arise, Shannon is found--with a man her mother knows. As suspicions deepen, Karen's friends set about discovering the truth.
Season 1 Episode Guide
2 Episodes 2017
Episode 1
Episode #1.1
57 mins
In February 2008 on the Moorside estate in West Yorkshire, Karen Matthews reports the disappearance of her 9-year-old daughter Shannon. Karen's friends, largely single mothers like herself, led by outspoken Julie Bushby, rally round, organizing search parties, along with Christine Freeman and other police officers. While Christine prepares Karen for the worst, Julie is upbeat, launching a poster campaign and spear-heading a march as £20,000 twenty thousand are offered as a reward for Shannon's return. As Karen and her boyfriend Craig are offered money for a tabloid interview, Julie dissuades Craig from a suicide attempt but another friend, Natalie Brown, finds Karen's reactions suspect, and when Shannon is eventually found Julie realizes that Karen's doubts might not have been unfounded.
Episode 2
Episode #1.2
59 mins
There is jubilation on the estate when Shannon is found with Mick Donovan, Karen's boyfriend's uncle, who initially claims to have taken the little girl to Blackpool but later confesses to the police that Karen forced him to hide Shannon so that they could share the reward money. However, Karen denies everything and Julie, unlike Natalie, believes her--until she decides to get the truth from Karen herself. In court both abductors are sentenced, though Julie attempts to mitigate on Karen's behalf; after the trial, Natalie and Julie, who have fallen out over the matter, reinstate their friendship.
