The Moorside is a 2017 two-part British television drama. Written by Neil McKay and directed by Paul Whittington, it stars Sheridan Smith, Gemma Whelan, Sian Brooke and Siobhan Finneran and was broadcast on BBC One in two one-hour episodes in February 2017. The drama is based on the 2008 disappearance of 9-year-old Shannon Matthews and the successful search for her by police and volunteers in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, along with the revelation of mother Karen's involvement in Shannon's kidnapping. The title is in reference to the Moorside housing estate in Dewsbury, where the Matthews family lived. Episodes Episode 1 Originally aired 7 February 2017 On the evening of 19 February 2008 on the Moorside estate in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, 9-year-old Shannon Matthews is reported missing by her mother Karen (Whelan). As police search for Shannon during the following days, Karen's best friend Julie Bushby (Smith) organises a search team of local volunteers, and Detective Constables Christine Freeman (Finneran) and Alex Grummitt (Steve Oram) question Karen on Shannon's disappearance. Freeman tells Julie that, due to the increasing probability of Shannon being dead, Karen needs to be prepared for the worst, and police tell Julie to call off the volunteer search, because if Shannon is found dead, the crime scene will need to be preserved, otherwise the investigation may be compromised. However, Julie remains determined that Shannon will be found alive. As Karen makes emotional appeals to the public for Shannon's return, Karen's friend and neighbour Natalie Brown (Brooke) becomes increasingly suspicious of Karen's behaviour: among other things, Karen dances to Freeman's phone's ringtone in front of Natalie and the DCs, and smiles during a march for Shannon. On 14 March, news reaches the community that Shannon has been found alive. Shannon is brought to the police station, where Karen identifies her. As Shannon is taken into care, rumours circulate that she was found at the home of Michael Donovan, the uncle of Karen's boyfriend Craig Meehan. Episode 2 Originally aired 14 February 2017 Freeman and Grummitt tell Karen that Shannon was found under a divan bed in a flat belonging to a man named Michael Donovan in Batley Carr. Karen denies knowing Donovan, but Craig's sister and brother-in-law argue that Karen was with Donovan (Craig's uncle) at Craig's father's funeral. While in police custody, Donovan tells police that he and Karen planned to hide Shannon in his flat, and later release