Weekly publishes supplement as town’s bombing recreated in TV drama

Behind Local News
Sep 2, 2018 · 3 min read

Newsquest weekly the Warrington Guardian dedicated its 8 page Weekend what’s on guide to a behind the scenes look at BBC drama Mother’s Day, based on the Warrington bombing. David Morgan explains how the special edition was put together.

Wendy Parry with actress Siena Spiro who plays her daughter in the TV drama

On March 20, 1993, the IRA planted two bombs in Warrington town centre — killing two boys and seriously injuring more than 50 others.

Three-year-old Johnathan Ball was killed instantly, while Tim Parry, 12, died five days later in hospital.

The Warrington Guardian team has been working closely with the Peace Centre, set up by Tim’s parents Colin and Wendy Parry, throughout the year to promote their valuable work helping victims of terrorist attacks around the world in their pursuit for reconciliation and peace.

Along with planning weekly coverage we also started preparations for the forthcoming BBC2 drama Mother’s Day, based on the aftermath of the bombing.

It stars Line of Duty’s Vicky McClure and Motherland’s Anna Maxwell Martin as two mothers on opposite sides of the Irish sea who are brought together in the wake of the tragedy.

The special edition saw us work closely with the BBC to secure interviews with the main cast and writer of the drama.

Actors Daniel Mays and Anna Maxwell Martin, who play Colin and Wendy Parry, were only carrying out interviews with a handful of national papers and magazines and we were the only regional publication to be given time with them after discussing the extensive features we had planned.

Writer Nick Leather provided a strong in-depth interview for us as well having grown up near Warrington. He was able to share his own memories of the IRA bomb and the horrendous impact it had on the town.

The coverage also saw us attend the invitation-only northern ‘premiere’ of Mother’s Day at the Peace Centre to review the film ahead of it airing on TV.

Other features included interviews with Wendy Parry who reflected on her portrayal in the BBC drama and the work that has gone on to promote peace in the 25 years since losing her 12-year-old son, and Sue McHugh, who led one of the biggest peace demonstrations in Dublin after being outraged by the atrocity.

The supplement took a number of weeks to plan and put into action, particularly in terms of confirming interviews, but given the Warrington bombing is such a crucial event in the town’s history it was worthwhile and received a positive reaction from readers.

The Peace Centre is reliant on people’s generosity to ensure its work can continue. To make a donation go to peace-foundation.org/help-us.

Mother’s Day will be aired on BBC2 on Monday (September 3) at 9pm.

Read more about Mother’s Day here: http://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/news/16606174.a-guide-to-bbc-warrington-ira-bombing-drama-mothers-day/

http://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/news/16609092.meet-siena-spiro-who-will-star-in-bbc-drama-about-warrington-bombing/

http://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/news/16588446.watch-first-trailer-of-bbc-drama-mothers-day/

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