What is it?

Factual drama, Mother's Day, is a one-off 90-minute film set in the wake of the IRA Warrington bombing of March 1993.

Warrington Guardian:

Writer Nick Leather's story looks at how Colin and Wendy Parry respond to the loss of their 12-year-old son Tim and how he and three-year-old Johnathan Ball became a symbol of peace during the Troubles.

The programme also tells the story of Dublin mum Sue McHugh who was so outraged by what had been committed in Ireland’s name that she led a 20,000-strong peace rally.

Who is in it?

Daniel Mays (Against The Law, Rogue One) plays Colin Parry, Anna Maxwell Martin (Motherland, The Bletchley Circle) is Wendy Parry and Vicky McClure (Line of Duty, This Is England) portrays Sue McHugh, below.

Warrington Guardian:

Why now?

Scriptwriter Nick Leather, pictured in Bridge Street, has his own experiences of the Warrington bombing and has always wanted to tell the story to the wider world. 

He was just a teenager when it happened and was on his way to the town centre to buy a Mother's Day gift when he heard about the attack on his dad's car radio.

Warrington Guardian:

Nick, who used the Warrington Guardian archives as one his main sources of research, got the chance to pitch the idea to the BBC after another factual drama he wrote called Murdered For Being Different was well received.

It was about the murder of 20-year-old Sophie Lancaster who was kicked to death in a park simply because she was dressed as a goth.

The team behind Mother's Day also wanted the programme to tie in with the 25th anniversary year since the atrocity.

Why is it called Mother's Day? 

The IRA attack in Bridge Street took place on March 20, 1993 – the day before Mother's Day – so most people found about the tragedy in the Sunday papers on Mothering Sunday.

The drama also focuses on two mums on either side of the Irish Sea.

Director Fergus O'Brien said: "This story is principally from the point of view of Wendy and Sue, an English mother and an Irish mother.

"One grappling with the fact that her son was murdered, the other appalled and outraged about what had been done in Ireland’s name."

What the cast and crew said

Daniel Mays

"The thing I’ve taken from it more than anything is that ever since that fateful day Colin and Wendy Parry have ensured Tim hasn’t died in vain.

“They have the Peace Centre and they’ve done all these incredible things and they’ve helped so many people.

Warrington Guardian:

“There are more than 800 victims of the Manchester bomb for example that they help.

“I just think there’s an amazing example of the power of humanity and I’m awe of them as people."

Writer Nick Leather

“It felt absurd at the time that Warrington could be targeted and caught up in something that felt so remote.

“When you’re a kid and you watch the news it’s not that different from watching drama in that you watch it, you can even be affected by it, but it’s a different world.

“Yet something suddenly happened that was not a different world. It was your world."

Anna Maxwell Martin

“It felt important that we went to the Peace Centre so we could understand that part of Colin and Wendy’s story.

“The film at the end is uplifting and what they went on to do to fulfil Tim’s legacy is so positive."

Warrington Guardian:

Director Fergus O'Brien

"Mother’s Day is the result of a fantastic collaboration. Everyone involved put their hearts and souls into ensuring we did this story justice.

"We could have never have made this film without the support of the Peace Foundation where we were first introduced to Colin and Wendy Parry."

Warrington Guardian:

When is it on?

Mother's Day is on BBC Two at 9pm on Monday