The four-part ITV series Little Boy Blue, released in 2017, follows the true story of the murder of 11-year-old Rhys Jones. The drama is based on the harrowing real-life killing, which occurred in August 2007 when Rhys was walking home alone from football practice. He was caught in the crossfire of rival gang members and died after being taken to hospital.
Cast and Involvement
Actor Stephen Graham leads the series, playing Detective Superintendent Dave Kelly, the officer who led the investigation. Speaking about his role, Graham told The i Paper: "What I got from him was this amazing tenacity to bring to justice everyone involved in the case." He added: "I approached it with an element of respectfulness, not just because I'm from Liverpool, but also because I'm playing a man who is still alive. You want to portray the truth of the situation."
Rhys's parents, Melanie and Steven Jones, were involved in the production and were played by Sinéad Keenan and Brían F. O'Byrne. At the time, they told the Liverpool Echo they wanted to honour his death and show the pressures they faced and the grief they endured.
Viewer Reactions
Since its release, viewers have praised the series. One person wrote: "Well played story in honour of the victims involved. This is such a well scripted story of such a sad event. It pulls u in and you really go through the emotions. Great cast." Another commented: "Tear jerker and heart tugger. This mini-series is an emotional rollercoaster. The actors in the British crime dramas are from top to bottom, off the charts good, and this one is just is no different. And this is based on a true story." A third added: "Heartbreaking. This true story is so sad. I watch a lot of true crime depictions but this one had me crying more than once - the acting, especially by the mother, was incredible."
Little Boy Blue is available to watch on ITVX.
