Watch The Catherine Cookson Anthology: Colour Blind

The Catherine Cookson Anthology: Colour Blind is a British television drama series based on the works of Catherine Cookson, a prolific writer of romantic historical fiction novels. This particular episode, starring Sue Holderness, Niamh Cusack, Tony Armatrading, Joe Caffrey, Carmen Ejogo, Ian Embleton, Walter McMonagle, Dearbhla Molloy, Art Malik, and Elspeth Charlton, explores the themes of class, race, and love set against the backdrop of a mining community in the early 20th century.

The story follows the lives of two couples who find themselves caught in a web of forbidden love and societal expectations. Liza McCullen, played by Carmen Ejogo, is a young woman from a wealthy and respectable family who falls in love with the charming and mysterious Joe Kelly, played by Art Malik. Joe is a tall, dark, and handsome Irishman who works as a laborer in the local coal mine. Despite being from different social classes and cultures, the two are drawn together by a mutual attraction that they cannot ignore. However, their love is threatened by the prejudices and fears of those around them, including Liza's father, played by Tony Armatrading, who disapproves of their relationship and will stop at nothing to keep them apart.

Meanwhile, another couple, Martha Price, played by Niamh Cusack, and John Boam, played by Joe Caffrey, struggle with their own set of problems. Martha is a young widow who is trying to raise her son on her own while working as a teacher in the local school. John is a loyal and hardworking coal miner who has fallen in love with Martha but is unable to express his feelings due to his own insecurities and the constant presence of Martha's overbearing mother, played by Dearbhla Molloy. As Martha and John try to navigate the complexities of their feelings, they must also deal with the pressures of living in a community where everyone knows everyone else's business and gossip spreads like wildfire.

Into this fraught and intense environment comes the wealthy and arrogant Sir William Thorman, played by Walter McMonagle, whose arrival in town quickly sets off a series of events that will test the limits of everyone's patience and understanding. Sir William is a man of means who believes he can bend the will of others to his own desires, and he quickly sets his sights on Liza as his next conquest. As Sir William and Liza engage in a dangerous dance of seduction and manipulation, the other characters in the story must confront their own fears and prejudices in order to survive a changing world.

The Catherine Cookson Anthology: Colour Blind is a powerful and moving exploration of the human condition, as seen through the eyes of characters who must learn to love and let go in order to survive. The acting in this episode is superb, with each performer bringing a depth and subtlety to their roles that makes the viewer care deeply about their fates. The writing is also excellent, capturing the nuances and complexities of the time period while remaining true to the spirit of Cookson's novels. Overall, this is a must-see for fans of historical dramas and romantic fiction alike.