Yahoo News Little Boy Blue viewers ‘struggle’ to watch ‘heart breaking’ ITV drama as support pours in for Rhys Jones’ family
Viewers “struggled” to watch “heart breaking” ITV drama Little Boy Blue, which told the tragic real-life story of 11-year-old Rhys Jones, who was shot dead in Liverpool.
The harrowing first episode recreated the moment Jones was killed in a pub car park in Croxteth by 16-year-old Sean Mercer when he opened fire on a rival gang 10 years ago.
Viewers watched as Sinead Keenan, who plays Jones’ mother Melanie, raced to the scene before she and Jones’ father Steve, played by Brían F. O’Byrne, were dealt the devastating news that their son had died, despite attempts to resuscitate him.
The series starter left some fighting back tears, while others found it too hard to watch.
One viewer tweeted: “I’m really struggling to watch this. I've been crying since it started #littleboyblue. Just awful.”
Another posted: “Really struggled watching that. Heartbreaking story. Couldn't hold back the tears. This will be an extremely emotional series.”
A third wrote: “One of the hardest things I've ever watched, cried throughout. Can't even imagine what that poor family is going through #LittleBoyBlue.”
30 seconds in and already heartbreaking. No words. #littleboyblue #efc
— Andy Lawler (@bluemoose9) April 24, 2017
Thinking of the jones family tonight x brave move supporting this Tragic story being told ! #littleboyblue
— Kent Riley (@Kentriley) April 24, 2017
My heart goes out to the Jones family. Even though I knew about this tradgedy my stomach was in knots from start to finish. #littleboyblue
— Paddy McGuinness (@PaddyMcGuinness) April 24, 2017
Struggled to hold it together throughout #littleboyblue soul wrenching tv, as a parent ... Jesus how do you deal with that
— Jumbo Hoorah (@Marvin100) April 24, 2017
Incredible performances in #LittleBoyBlue. I'd give anything for it not to be a true story 💔Cuddle your loved ones that bit closer tonight.
— Brooke Kinsella MBE (@brookekinsella) April 24, 2017
#LittleBoyBlue was excellent tonight, great cast, script, and director. 👍🏻
— Jack P Shepherd (@JackPShepherd88) April 24, 2017
Jones' parents gave their full support to the series, which was penned by BAFTA-winning screenwriter and producer, Jeff Pope.
Liverpool born actor Stephen Graham, who plays Detective Supt. Dave Kelly, the senior investigating officer on the case from Merseyside Police, said he was reduced to tears on reading the script.
“My agent sent it to me,” Graham told the Liverpool Echo. “She said, ‘I think you would like this project.’ I read it and I literally couldn’t stop crying. I thought it was amazing and felt Jeff Pope had handled the sensitivity of the story incredibly well.”
He continued: “This story is not just specific to Liverpool . It’s universal. The incident happened in Liverpool so it’s about that togetherness and coming together as a community and as people. But these kind of things were happening in London, in Birmingham, Manchester.”
Little Boy Blue is on ITV on May 1 at 9pm.
