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Hitting the ackpot

A friendship tested by a cash windfall is the first of many gripping stories in
BBC1’s new series of Moving On. It’s a great drama, says actress Sally Lindsay

or nearly a “CATH’S HUSBAND seemed very light on “Debs and her husband are
decade, the the surface, but it heartbroken and you just see it all
BBC1 drama MANIPULATES HER turned quite dark.” unfold from there.
Fseries Moving INTO THINKING SHE Sally and actress “I’d met Shaun a couple of times
On has been a SHOULDN’T SHARE Sarah Niles (best before back in our EastEnders and
sparkling gem known from the Corrie days, but I didn’t know him
amid the daytime THE MONEY” comedy Catastrophe) well. I was really impressed by him.”
jumble of quiz shows play best friends from Stockport native Sally has carved
and repeats of Murder, SALLY LINDSAY school, Cath and Debs, out a career playing forthright but
She Wrote. The punchy married women with grown-up warm-hearted northern women
one-hour drama has some serious kids who live across the road from like Cath. She rose to fame as
pedigree – the series was created by each other. “Basically, we have barmaid Shelley Unwin in
firebrand TV maker Jimmy a lovely little life. We live Coronation Street from 2001-06
McGovern – and has always opposite, we go to Weight and went on to roles such as
attracted a raft of household names Watchers together and go Lisa in Sky’s long-running
as guest stars. to the bingo straight after. ensemble drama Mount
Past Moving On episodes have We brought our kids up Pleasant, which wrapped
starred Lesley Sharp, Joanne together and our last year after six years.
Froggatt, Sheila Hancock and husbands get on really Moving On has
Shane Richie, among dozens of well. We’ve got it proved a desirable
others. The series has also provided pretty sorted.” gig for actors we
a platform for many actors to try But Cath and wouldn’t normally
their hand at directing: among the Debs’ close see outside of
famous names directing episodes friendship starts to primetime telly, and
are Dominic West, Paul McGann, go wrong when, in gripping and
Johnny Vegas and Robert Glenister. one day, Cath topical storylines.
So it’s good news that after an wins the massive This series sees
absence of two years, Moving On jackpot. Niamh Cusack
returns for a ninth series with the Whereas and Jodhi May
same formula of strong acting and previously they’d star in an
concise writing to tell thoughtful always split all bingo episode about
stories about life in modern Britain. winnings 50-50, this child abuse
Among this series’ starry line up of time Cath’s husband, when Rachel (Jodhi) is
actors are Downton Abbey’s Geoff (ex-EastEnder forced to confront the
Samantha Bond and Sue Johnston, Shaun Williamson) abuse she suffered as a
and Still Open All Hours actress convinces her not to. child at the hands of a
Sally Lindsay. “He manipulates teacher, as well as a betrayal
“It was a lovely little bit of drama, Cath into thinking by her mother (Niamh).
a great series with some gritty she shouldn’t share “It’s quite a hard-hitting,
stories,” says Sally, 44, who has also the money – it’s a kind in it,” says Sally adding with
gritty little series and I was
honoured to be asked to be
of a Gas Light story,”
starred in Mount Pleasant, Scott
PHOTOGRAPHS: REX FEATURES damage that money can cause to the 1938 play in which a the love!” Vicki Power
explains Sally, referring to
Bailey and Coronation Street.
a laugh: “And they don’t pay
Sally’s episode explores the
you anything, so you do it for
husband uses psychological
manipulation to convince
friendships. “It’s about a couple of
best friends,” muses Sally. “It
his wife she’s going mad.
SATURDAY MAGAZINE 13