Three Families: BBC Viewers In Tears Over 'Heartbreaking' Drama On Northern Ireland's Abortion Laws

BBC viewers have been left in tears after watching a new real-life drama delving into abortion laws in Northern Ireland.

Three Families is a two-part drama (the first of which aired on BBC One on Monday evening) and is from the makers of 2017 show, Three Girls - which told the horrific true stories of sexual abuse and child grooming in Greater Manchester.

Three Families also focuses on real life events, but this time, it hones in on three different women who have all been affected by the abortion laws in Northern Ireland.

You can watch the trailer below:

In October 2019, abortion became legal in Northern Ireland, but prior to this, it was a criminal offence in the majority of circumstances. In many cases, women had to travel to England for a termination.

Three Families portrays the devastating effect the laws had on three different women between the years of 2013 and 2019 - before legislation changed.

Viewers meet Theresa - whose teenage daughter Orla falls pregnant; Hannah, a young woman who has been trying to conceive and Rosie, an older woman whose unborn child has a genetic condition.

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Sinéad Keenan stars as Theresa, while Lola Petticrew plays Orla, Amy James-Kelly takes on the role of Hannah and Genevieve O'Reilly plays Rosie.

Meanwhile, Colin Morgan, Owen McDonnell, Prasanna Puwanarajah and Kerri Quinn also star.

After watching the first part of the drama on Monday evening, viewers were blown away with emotion, with one calling it "the most powerful show" they had watched in a long time.

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"Well done @BBCOne on the most powerful TV program I've seen for a long time. #ThreeFamilies," they wrote.

Meanwhile another added: "This is a must watch so sad and heartbreaking what these poor women went through, decisions that other people shouldn't be making for them #ThreeFamilies."

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And a third tweeted: "I've just watched #ThreeFamilies a very powerful drama about 3 women from different walks of life having to make awful decisions - well actually the choices they're denied making because of archaic laws.

"I was so damn angry it made me cry. There is still so much more to be done."

"If u haven't watched #ThreeFamilies then u must. Heartbreaking true story about abortion laws in NI. Amazing cast," added a fourth.

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The concluding part of Three Families airs tonight at 9pm on BBC One. Meanwhile, you can watch both episodes on BBC iPlayer now.

Topics: BBC, TV News, abortion

Lucy Devine

Lucy is a journalist working for Tyla. After graduating with a master's degree in journalism, she has worked in both print and online and is particularly interested in fashion, food, health and women's issues. Northerner, coffee addict, says hun a lot. Get in touch at [email protected].