ITV viewers said they were left ‘heartbroken’ after watching new drama Honour tonight.
Keeley Hawes’ new ITV drama Honour explores the “honour killing” of 20-year-old Banaz Mahmod.
The two-part drama sees Hawes star as DCI Caroline Goode, the officer who investigated the disappearance of Mahmod in 2006.
Mahmod was an Iraqi Kurdish woman who lived in London. She was murdered on the orders of her family after she left her abusive marriage for another man.
Mahod went to the police to ask for help before her death after learning that her uncle planned to have her killed.
However, she wasn’t believed by the officers who interviewed her – with one dismissing her as being manipulative and melodramatic.
ITV viewers said they were left ‘heartbroken’ after watching new drama Honour tonight (Image: ITV)
It was only when Banaz’s boyfriend, Rahmat Sulemani, reported her missing that police began to investigate.
Sulemani took his own life in 2016.
Honour will take a look at the police failings, and the investigation that was launched after her death.
One viewer tweeted: “Watching #Honour knowing what’s going to happen, and seeing the police failings that could’ve prevented it is absolutely soul-destroying. Hope it raises some much-needed awareness around ‘honour’ killings.”
Banaz Mahmod was killed by family members in 2006 (Image: PA)
While another added: “This is already hard to watch. It feels uncomfortable to see a fictionalised version of someone’s very real and tragic story. Again, please show respect when commenting on #Honour. Real people are impacted.”
A third chimed in: “Watching #honour on ITV. Heartbreaking.”
Many fans spoke out to praise Hawes’ powerful performance in the drama too.
One wrote: “@Misskeeleyhawes is nailing it again, always a treat, an incredible actress #Honour.”
Honour airs on ITV on Monday and Tuesday this week (Image: ITV)
Another added: “Only 15 minutes in and @Misskeeleyhawes is blowing me away with her performance!! #Honour.”
Hawes, who also produced the series, said she felt a “huge responsibility” to ensure the re-telling was respectful.
She told Radio Times: “It is a privilege to be working on Honour… in a time when honour killings are still rife, it is critical to shine a light on such an important subject.
“Banaz Mahmod’s story, and DCI Goode’s subsequent investigation, is certainly one that needs to be told and I am proud to be a part of it.
“It doesn’t really sit too well with me that that’s the angle they chose to go with because that’s not Banaz’s story, that’s somebody else’s story,” she told the BBC last year.
“This is about somebody who lost her life very tragically and it’s not about somebody getting to tell their story. I don’t believe that it’s honouring Banaz.”
Hawes says she feels it will help raise awareness around so-called “honour killings”.
Banaz Mahmod will be portrayed by newcomer Buket Komur, while Moe Bar-El will play her lover, Rahmat Sulemani.
Meanwhile, Carnival Row star Waj Ali will play one of Mahmod’s killers, Mohamad Marid Hama.
Honour airs on ITV at 9pm this week on Monday and Tuesday
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
