User reviews

Brilliantly researched account of this ongoing case which is presented by a superb cast. You can only feel admiration for those girls who had the guts to put themselves through this and for the sexual health team who first tried to bring it to the police.

Extremely moving if harrowing and the lessons still have to be learned nationally as this is not just about grooming in the north of England. It's far more widespread.

I'm not usually one for true crime documentaries, I tend to find they take liberties for entertainment and are cliched and exploitative. However, this is such a jaw-dropping story and I am a social worker so have particular interest in this case that I thought it was worth trying. And it was exceptionally good. Mostly because it clearly has an attention to detail and respect for representing the facts that you don't normally trust as much in other works of this kind. For instance, the lines that were spoken during the court case were taken from transcripts from the real court cases. So, factually it is very impressive. But it is also very well made with excellent production and believable performances from the young actors. Naturally, I would have liked to have seen it go into more detail about the minutiae of the procedural failings, particularly in regards to Children's Service. As well as explore the deeper questions a little more. But I accept that this was made for the Joe public and not for professional social workers. It should be noted that doesn't say much about social services at all, it is mostly a look at the Police procedure and the judicial system.

This was an extremely difficult and scary mini-series to watch. It was so unflinchingly true. We get so caught up in television series like "Law & Order: SVU" where the positive outcome of the many aspects of sexual crimes are dealt with. But in reality, the justice system is much more unforgiving and I'm certain that child sexual grooming is not just going on in the United Kingdom but of course, the British have tackled the problem first. I had to give this series a "10" the pace, the writing, acting, directing was superb. I hope many eyes will be opened.

As hard and difficult this was to watch because of its realistic undertones, it is amazing in that and every other sense. This mini-series is so brutally on-point and straightforward in showing the dark reality of child sex abuse, human trafficking and grooming (not to mention how deadly accurate it is to the particular cases it is directly referring to), that it still haunts me to this day. The screenplay, sublime acting, pace, direction, everything was perfect. I'd recommend this to anyone who are willing to eat up their optimistic hopes and gulp the reality of this world. Because this really will do just that and set the scene. We've needed this and we've got it.

This was one of the best shows I have watched, the acting was great well done. The way these girls were treated was a disgrace, they are very brave and i am very proud of them. Words fail me on how Sara was treated, i take my hat of to her. While watching the show i was moved to tears for them I was also angry at the way they were treated.

This needed to be scripted and played so strongly and correctly and I think they hit the mark. Maybe we need more, the amount of young women who have come forward in the last 10 is shocking and heartbreaking. But more than that it makes me angry that I live around the area and we were blind to it.

This should be a warning to us all that tippy toeing around because we might cause offence does not and should never come before the welfare of our children.

Sad thing about this series is that one community will get tarred with the brush, which is unfair but more must have known what was going on even if they opposed it.

Some great performances, my favourite was from maxine Peak, superb.

Watch it, be careful if you have teen children

A very interesting and important study of the events which unfolded in Manchester. Important viewing, however in my opinion there was a lack of detail about how the girls were groomed which meant it was difficult to understand the full extent of psychological trauma on the girls. The episodes were disjointed and moved through time with no explanation or connection as to how events got to where they did (ie episode 1 left the police not pressing charges then episode 2 is an all guns blazing investigation). Well acted and important but lacking a lot of substantial detail. 3 parts clearly was not sufficient for that.

Very good documentary style based in real life people and situations. Harrowing to watch and scarily, still under reported and even in Rochdale still going on. One my daughter gets a bit older its something i want her to watch as a warning.

This is perhaps the most harrowing show I have ever watched. I'm fact, I could only manage it in twenty minute segments. However, it is absolutely incredible. The story it tells, the acting is unbelievable, the questions it raises, it really is a fabulous piece of television. Well done to everyone involved in the making of this.

Well acted and scary, to think it really happened, Lesley sharpe amazing as ever and the girls actors brilliant, not for the light hearted

Realistically portrayed - sad- infuriating - those men are the scum of the earth!!

However some reviewers are confused as to where Rochdale is ....... Rochdale is a large town in Greater Manchester, England, at the foothills of the South Pennines in the dale on the River Roch, 5.3 miles northwest of Oldham and 9.8 miles northeast of Manchester.

Greater Manchester is not in Yorkshire!

I cried watching this and I am amazed on how truthfully represents reality, also - great acting! It is very important for people to understand that sexual abuse is always happening, and most of the victims are groomed into thinking they deserve it, and end up being silenced. It is outrageous when people outside of the situation judges and thinks they should have told the police earlier or something. Sometimes they are afraid - I would say most times. Brainwashing and manipulation is real. These man know how to do that very well. Also, it is outrageous how society keeps blaming girls, especially British, for wearing mini skirts or being "too provocative" - This is NOT AN EXCUSE FOR ABUSE.

Though an important story, left mid first part. Too long. Beginning good but getting into police part and investigation know outcome and details became uninteresting.!that parents and society let this happen to their young daughters where was the expected supervision. It is very difficult also because the bad guys are Pakistanis and the victims are White British so it has to get around ant racism implication. I stopped watching at point police finally got involved because then all that should have happened with just e years before, happened. Worth watching but not enough for me to go back. That it is a true story is simply a horror if a Justice system that lacks Justice and when years later they come back without sufficient apologies to the girls ...I did not stay to watch the self righteous.

Brillant mini series. I balled my eyes out for these poor girls. It has left me worried for children who are enslaved as sex slaves around the world.

Thats a huge number but backed up by former British Prime Minister, you can find it on YouTube, search for GB News "Britain is Rotten" , be warned much is beyond sickening. The world should know about this. The cases are vile beyond belief.

Imagine being a 12 year old girl knowing this is going to happen night and day, and if you do escape the police wont believe you and no one will do anything, it makes me feel ill.

Writer, Nicole Taylor, Director Philippa Lowthorpe and editor Úna Ní Dhonghaíle were brave to make this. They have been vilified and abused on line for shedding light on this unbelievable, gut wrencing abused, much of it too appalling to repeat and yet is still covered up.

Molly Windsor, Ria Zmitrowicz, Liv Hill, Paul Kaye are all amazing. With so much fuss being made about Adolescence I can only pray that Netflix and Stephen Graham will remake this next.

This was performed absolutely brilliant, they took a massive risk producing this series but I'm glad they did. The story was absolutely breath-taking and the actresses were astonishing, especially Maxine Peak. It was a very hard story to tell and show the world with so much to go by and so little you can only use. However, they have done a fantastic job with the way they told the story and the way they performed the characters was just heart breaking.