ITV DRAMA LITTLE BOY BLUE BASED ON MURDER OF RHYS JONES

A four-part ITV drama depicting the murder of 11-year-old Rhys Jones has received praise from viewers. Little Boy Blue, released in 2017, follows the killing of Rhys, who was shot in Croxteth in August 2007 whilst walking home from football practice. The boy was shot by a hooded teenager on a bicycle in a pub car park and died at Alder Hey Children's Hospital. According to the drama's account, Rhys was caught in crossfire between gang members.

The series stars Stephen Graham as Detective Superintendent Dave Kelly, who led the investigation into Rhys's murder. Sinéad Keenan and Brían F. O'Byrne play Rhys's parents, Melanie and Steve Jones. Certain scenes were filmed outside Liverpool out of respect for the victim's family and local community. Rhys's parents were heavily involved in creating the drama to honour their son a decade after his death and to show the impact on their family.

Melanie and Steve Jones stated they wanted to demonstrate the pressures, grief and uncertainty their family endured, and to communicate to those involved in Rhys's murder that their sentence never ends. ITV viewers have responded positively to the series since its release. The drama represents the family's effort to keep Rhys's memory alive and to help the public understand his importance to them.