The Sixth Commandment villagers vent fury at BBC drama for 'glorifying murderer'
Residents of the village where the BBC’s real-life crime drama The Sixth Commandment is set have told of their disgust at it being made.
Actors Timothy Spall and Anne Reid may have won acclaim for their heartbreaking performances as real-life pensioner victims Peter Farquhar and Ann Moore-Martin, but arguably the tiny, close-knit village setting of Maids Moreton, Buckinghamshire, has also played a starring role.
Here, killer Ben Field romantically pursued Peter Farquhar, played by Spall, and Ann Moore-Martin, played by Reid, before subjecting them to despicable acts of mental torture, gaslighting them and conning them out of their money and killing Peter in 2015.
It was only in August 2019, less than four years ago, that Field, 29 at the time was found guilty of murdering Peter and defrauding him and Ann out of more than £225,000. He was sentenced to 36 years in prison.
The Maids Moreton Parish Council Summer Newsletter states the council declined to engage with producers over the making of the drama as it “seemed premature and in poor taste.” The series was instead filmed in Bath and Bristol.
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The newsletter reads: "Wild Mercury and True Vision have made a four-part series for the BBC telling the story of the events that led up to the tragic deaths of Peter Farquhar and Ann Moore-Martin. We declined to engage with them as it seemed premature and in poor taste.
We have been informed that whilst the series shows brief images of the real Maids Moreton, including the village sign, it does not feature the houses where Peter or Ann lived, nor any other homes in the village."
Graham Maw, the council chair, says, “We told the producers we didn’t want anything to do with the drama.”
He adds: “I didn’t know Peter and Ann but know people close to them are upset. A lot of people in the village feel quite raw about it.
"It glories Ben Field" Locals reaction to drama (BBC/Wild Mercury/Amanda Searle)
"Normally, movies or films or programmes are made years after the event. A murder in any community is a shock but this is a small village.
Any murder in any environment is shocking, and has an impact on a community.”
Val Eves, 75, who attends Maids Moreton Church regularly, says she thinks one person will like the drama: “ I'm surprised at the BBC for showing this series.
The opening credits feature Maids Moreton church"From what I know of Ben Field, from the way he was at his trial, he would be delighted they have made a drama basically about him. It glorifies him.”
Andrea Robinson, 78 says: “It’s just too raw. This happened only a few years ago. It really affected the village badly. People are very, very upset about what happened. And the programme brings it all back.
"I’m originally from near Manchester, where the Moors Murders happened, and they waited a long time to dramatise what happened.
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The Red House Care Home in Maids Moreton where Ben Field worked - is depicted in The Sixth Commandment"Everyone is dead. But this is too soon.” Andrea knew Peter well. They went on a group holiday to Berlin together as they were both learning German.
Andrea lost touch with Peter around ten years before his death - before Ben Field came into his life. She adds: “I didn’t know Ben Field. I wasn’t aware of him.
"I do know the majority of us like to see the best of people.
"We like to see the positive side of people’s nature. I think that if the world were a better place, we would all trust each other. But unfortunately, the world isn’t like that.
"Peter was a highly intelligent, lovely man with a great sense of humour. I remember he was a lot of fun to be around on that trip. Peter kept us very amused. We all enjoyed his company.”
A BBC spokeswoman said: "The series was made in full cooperation with members of Peter Farquhar and Ann Moore-Martin’s families who viewed the episodes ahead of transmission and are fully supportive of the series.
"Filming took place in and around Bristol and Bath. Production did not film in Maids Moreton apart from a few establishing shots."
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