3.0 out of 5 star rating
Before watching BBC Two real-life drama Danny Boy, I knew very little about the five-year Al-Sweady Inquiry. After watching Danny Boy, I can’t say I know much more about the true story behind Danny Boy.
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The BBC billed the drama as “a legal and moral conflict that takes us from the battlefield – at so-called Checkpoint Danny Boy – to the courtroom,” but unfortunately viewers see very little of the ‘legal’ aspect, and even less of the courtroom.
In fact, we never even see our central character, accused soldier Brian Wood, inside the courtroom itself. We don’t see him take the stand and deliver his testimony. We don’t see him in the dock during questioning, a tense and “humiliat[ing]” experience the real-life Wood later compared to “walking through a minefield” in a piece for The Daily Mail. Nor do we witness the full reckoning that comes later for now-disgraced solicitor Phil Shiner.
Danny Boy: What happened to Brian Wood? Where is the former soldier now?
Danny Boy is here, but what happened to Brian Wood? Where is the former soldier now after the events of the BBC drama film?
The BBC has rolled out a range of notable titles this year and one of the latest to demand audiences’ attention is Danny Boy.
This feature-length drama is directed by Sam Miller (
Luther,
This Life) and is based on the real-life events that preceding and surrounding the Al-Sweady Inquiry. This saw British troops accused of mistreating Iraqi detainees, and amongst them was Colour Sergeant Brian Wood.
Tuesday, 11th May 2021 at 3:33 pm
BBC Two drama Danny Boy is based on the real-life events that led up to the Al-Sweady Inquiry, during which British troops were accused of mistreating Iraqi detainees.
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Anthony Boyle plays Colour Sergeant Brian Wood, a real life former soldier whose experiences both during and after his service in Iraq are explored on-screen.
The Danny Boy cast also includes Toby Jones, who plays the now-disgraced human rights solicitor Phil Shiner.
Read on for the true stories and real-life history behind Danny Boy.
Is Danny Boy a true story?
Based on a true story, Danny Boy depicts the events surrounding the Al-Sweady Inquiry that took place from 2009 to 2014 and investigated accusations of prisoner mistreatment by British troops in Iraq.
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In the new pictures Toby, 54, dressed smartly in a beige overcoat and striped scarf as he carried a collection of files in his arms.
The story homes in on soldier Brian Wood - played by Anthony Boyle - who embarks on a journey from war hero to alleged murderer following his time in Iraq.
Exciting: The single drama follows the real life events of human rights lawyer Phil Shiner s [Toby Jones] pursuit of British soldiers accused of war crimes
Disgraced: Shiner was struck off as a solicitor in 2007 after being found guilty of misconduct and dishonesty relating to false abuse claims against British troops (right is the real Shiner)
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Normal People star talks playing army wife in new BBC drama Danny Boy It was really heartbreaking. 09/05/2021
Normal People star Leah McNamara got her debut playing school bully Rachel Moran on the BBC adaptation of Sally Rooney s novel.
A year later, she is taking a big step forward from the drama about whether Connell (Paul Mescal) was going to bring her or Marianne (Daisy Edgar-Jones) to the Debs. In her latest role, McNamara is playing an army wife and mum as part of the upcoming BBC Two drama