‘The Sixth Commandment’, the BBC miniseries, has earned rave reviews and BAFTAs. True crime is always a drawcard for telly dramas and this one, based on the true story of the Maids Moreton Murders, is no exception.
The series follows the story of Peter Farquhar (Timothy Spall) and Ann Moore-Martin (Anne Reid), two elderly people who were gaslit and manipulated by a psychopath called Ben Field (a chilling performance by ‘Normal People’s Eanna Hardwicke). Sheila Hancock plays Liz Zettl, an elderly friend of Peter and Ann’s.
The Sixth Command true story?
Yes. A Very British Scandal screenwriter Sarah Phelps has adapted the true story of the so-called ‘Maids Moreton Murders’ into the BBC series.
The crimes took place in the Buckinghamshire village Maids Moreton between 2014 and 2017. They began when Peter Farquhar, a distinguished and well-respected teacher, was lured into a relationship with Field, his former student. A religious man, Farquhar struggled to balance his faith and his sexuality, and that personal conflict was preyed upon by Field. After moving in with Farquhar, Field began poisoning the older man with drugs and alcohol.
Field also conned and manipulated Farquhar’s neighbour, Moore-Martin. Becoming close with her, Field gaslit her to such an extent that she was admitted to hospital. She eventually cottoned on to his strategy and cut all contact with him, before dying of natural causes in 2017.
A PhD student and churchwarden, Field admitted in court that he set out to scam the two individuals out of their money, and showed no remorse for doing so.
‘I think that the audience will find the whole story fascinating. But what’s terrifying about this story is that this sort of terrible evil is hiding in plain sight’ says Anne Reid, who plays Moore-Martin.
Where is Ben Field now?
The police began investigating Field when a relative of Moore-Martin’s raised concerns and he was eventually tried and sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 36 years for the murder and fraud.
Field attempted to overturn his conviction, but was unsuccessful.
‘Peter Farquhar and Ann Moore-Martin nourished the lives of many in their time and Sarah’s writing beautifully draws out the richness of their lives and the positive impact they had while exploring the callousness and cruelty brought into their home by someone they trusted,’ says Éanna Hardwicke, who plays Field, ‘but maintained the drama’s focus was on Peter and Ann. He said: ‘I’m mindful and appreciative of the confidence of Peter’s and Ann’s families in trusting us with their stories.’
How many episodes of The Sixth Commandment are there?
Directed by ‘The Duchess’s Saul Dibb, all four episodes are all available on BBC iPlayer.
Where was ‘The Sixth Commandment’ filmed?
It’s set in Buckinghamshire but ‘The Sixth Commandment’ was mostly filmed in and around Bristol. Blaise Estate, Flax Bourton Mortuary, South Bristol Crematorium, Portland Square and St Anne’s House were some of the locations used for filming.
What are the critics saying?
The reviews have been mostly glowing. ‘As fine a piece of television as you will ever see,’ is the verdict of The Guardian’s TV critic Lucy Mangan, while the Financial Times says that it ‘stands out from the ever-expanding line up of true crime offerings’. Not everyone is sold, though. ‘All the clichés of cop thrillers are here,’ cautions The Independent, ‘and courtroom proceedings grind the emotional narrative to a halt.’
BAFTA voters disagreed, awarding Timothy Spall Best Actor and the drama itself Best Limited Series at this year’s TV Awards.