Did Anyone Watch The Thief, His Wife And The Canoe Last Night?

[ladybirder]

If so what did you think? I thought it was excellent and remember it happening.

Never knew Harrogate was by the sea though and I used to live close by;-)

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-10727349/CHRISTOPHER-STEVENS-reviews-weekends-TV-canoeist-faked-death-short-paddle.html

[Ellipsis]

I didn't like the way the first episode was billed as Season 1 Episode 1. This seems quite a simple little story and I really hope they keep it short.

[emily1890]

unsure if I'll watch the rest

enjoyed it, but enough to make me want to know what happens next?

not sure

[bednobs]

i thought there was (still) some query over whether at least 1 of the sons knew

[zebo]

It is told from the woman's point of view and seems very keen to make her out to being under the thumb, her defence in court was marital coercion. The banks, insurance companies, pension funds managed to recover over £600,000 I seem to recall reading. He had a teacher's pension and her spouse's pension from that had to be repaid. Apparently he's remarried and living in the Philippines, getting his UK state pension!

[New Judge]

//Apparently he's remarried and living in the Philippines, getting his UK state pension!//

Are you suggesting he shouldn't receive his State pension, zebo?

[naomi24]

I’ve watched the first two episodes. I really cannot believe she was as nice as she is portrayed or that she wasn’t utterly complicit. To keep that pretence going takes someone seriously hard nosed. I wouldn’t last a single day.

[burlyshirley]

Enjoyed the second part last night, but if they are really being portrayed as they were at the time, I want to give him a good slap - he's so cocky and she is just letting him bully her into going along with everything. I keep thinking how far fetched it all would be if it was just a fictional drama and then realise that it all really happened ! I'm finding it riveting actually.

[ichkeria]

I didn't see it but I remember at the time there was a palindrome competition, inspired by
"A man, a plan, a canal, Panama"

[elliemay1]

I just can't get past the fact that they hurt their sons so much.

[ladybirder]

bednobs you're right. One of them found something that made him suspicious. I'll say no more.

[ferlew]

The actor played the part very well.
The 'man' is the epitome of everything I loathe and despise in a man.
Small, manipulative, weedy, and totally self centred, and everyone else can go and hang.
(I may have grown up with a small bully of a man for a father, probably why I ended up marrying two tall (and more gentle natured) men.

[Smowball]

I’ve been quite gripped by it. Burlyshirley put it perfectly when she said that if you didn’t know that it was a true story you would think it was the most bizarre story ever! Still struggling with the fact that the police seemed to not cotton on for so many years - did they never find it odd that Ann suddenly moved to Panama?? All they had to do was follow her and they would have found him!! Did they never search the house next door either?? Will say no more as one episode left!

[burlyshirley]

Thanks for BA lb. Really looking forward to the last episode tonight.

There's also a documentary about it, tomorrow night.

[burlyshirley]

Smo - I was bemused as well about the house next door, surely the police searched there and would have found evidence of someone living there ? The whole thing was, as you say, bizarre !

[Smowball]

Exactly BS - and his DNA would have been everywhere. Plus all he did was grow a beard and then kept on walking to the local shops as tho he was in complete disguise!!

[burlyshirley]

Yep, like I said Smo, very far fetched, but it all actually happened which is why I am finding it so fascinating. I also thought the same thing about his DNA.

[New Judge]

I think the affair says more about the ineptitude of the police rather than the deceptive skills of Mr & Mrs Darwin.

[naomi24]

The more I see of Ann the less I like her. How easily the lies roll off her tongue. I simply do not believe she wasn’t wholly complicit.

[burlyshirley]

I agree NJ, they came across as useless !

[elliemay1]

I was glad that in the end she had the guts to leave him. Didn't take him long to get a new wife!