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SHERIDAN SMITH STARS IN NEW DRAMA THE MOORSIDE Episode two of the BBC drama airs tonight and picks up after Shannon was discovered by police. Karen Matthews denies any involvement in her

daughter's kidnap, but her friends are suspicious and set about revealing the shocking truth. In 2008 Karen and Matthew were both jailed for kidnapping, false imprisonment and

perverting the course of justice after they faked Shannon's disappearance. The story shocked the nation and devastated the local community. The Moorside explores the hoax through the

eyes of the women who spent weeks searching for Shannon beside Karen. Writer Neil McKay explains: “This drama takes us into the heart of a story and a community that was defined more by

prejudice than genuine understanding.” Sheridan Smith, who plays the Matthews’ neighbour Julie Bushby, added: “The story is a fascinating mixture of what I thought I knew and a whole lot

more that I had no idea about.  RELATED ARTICLES “The themes of faith and trust in human nature, and the way the whole community came together really inspired me.” Shannon’s grandmother June

has labelled the BBC drama “disgusting” and has said that Shannon “deserves to live her life in peace”. Karen Matthews reported that her daughter Shannon, then nine years old, had gone

mission from their home on the Moorside estate on February 19, 2008 Her disappearance sparked the largest missing person search in the area in 30 years. More than 200 West Yorkshire Police

officers joined the search within the first 24 hours, with another 200 volunteers joining on day two. By March 5, more than 250 officers and 60 detectives – around 10 per cent of West

Yorkshire’s Police force – were involved in the case. BBC / GETTY Sheridan Smith stars in The Moorside, a new drama about Shannon Matthews' kidnapping Around 1,500 motorists were

questioned and 3,000 homes were searched, with the help of specialist victim recovery dogs. In total, the operation cost over £2.5 million. > I have a special bond with Shannon >  >

 Karen Matthews Eleven days after her disappearance and one day before Mother’s Day, Karen made a heartfelt appeal for Shannon’s safe return. “Mother's Day is a day when every mum wants

her children around them,” she said. “Today I don't want cards or presents, I just want my darling daughter home safely. “I have a special bond with Shannon and I feel sure that she is

alive and will come home to her mum.” Over the next few days Karen continued to appear on TV pleading for kidnappers to release her daughter, and The Sun upped their reward to £50,000. HOW

LONG WAS SHANNON MATTHEWS MISSING FOR? PA Shannon was immediately placed into care PA West Yorkshire Police launched their largest search for 30 years On March 14, Shannon was found in a

house which belonged to Michael Donovan, the uncle of Karen’s partner Craig Meehan. A court later heard how Shannon had been drugged and hidden in a divan bed base as part of a hoax by Karen

and Michael. They had planned for Michael to eventually taken Shannon to a police station and say that he had found her in order to claim the reward money. Michael told officers at the

scene: “Get Karen down here. We'd got a plan. We're sharing the money - £50,000.” WHERE IS KAREN MATTHEWS NOW? GETTY Around 200 volunteers joined the search for Shannon PH Shannon

was hidden in this divan bed base Karen denied any involvement in the plot but Shannon was taken into care immediately. Mother and daughter were reunited on April 3, but three days later

Karen was charged with child neglect and perverting the course of justice. Both Karen and Matthew denied any involvement. On December 4 they were both found guilty of guilty of kidnapping,

false imprisonment and perverting the course of justice by unanimous decision and were later sentenced to eight years each in prison. After the verdict, Detective Superintendent Andy Brennan

said: “Karen Matthews is pure evil. She started deceiving those closest to her from the very moment that Shannon was kidnapped.  GETTY Michael Donovan was arrested at the scene GETTY Karen

was later arrested for her involvement “Friends, neighbours and family were under the clear impression that Shannon was genuinely missing. “They had no reason to believe that Shannon had

been taken as part of an elaborate scam or hoax. It's difficult to understand what type of mother would subject her own daughter to such a wicked and evil crime.” Karen and Matthew were

both released in 2012 having served half of their terms. Shannon, now 18 years old, was given a new identity and lives with another family. _THE MOORSIDE CONCLUDES TONIGHT ON BBC ONE AT

9PM._