Tuesday, December 13
MAGNIFICENT 7 **** (BBC Two, 9pm)
In 2003, the Beeb aired a documentary about mother-of-seven Jacqui Jackson. She has three "normal" daughters, and four sons who each suffer from a form of autism.
The family's tale has now been turned into an uplifting fact-based drama, although the names have been changed to distance the real children from the emotional impact of watching their lives acted out on screen.
Curtis is supersensitive and allergic to everything, Davey has ADHD and is creative and destructive in equal measures, Christopher is afflicted with Asperger's syndrome, while Richard hates surprises.
The programme gives us a glimpse into the seemingly chaotic home life of the children and their mother.
Producer Deborah Jones explains that while some of the situations depicted actually occurred, others came from the mind of writer Sandy Welch.
"Nearly everything in the film has happened to Jacqui and her children in one way or another. Some of the events we knew about from our research, and some were imagined by Sandy," says Jones.
"Only later, when she read the script, did Jacqui reveal that something just like that had really happened to them."
Jacqui worked on the show as a consultant, and an interpretation of her, in the form of Maggi, is portrayed by Helena Bonham Carter.
The partner of director Tim Burton is a relatively rare sight on our television screens, usually preferring to appear in films.
But the actress says she was tempted into the role by the quirkiness of her character.
"I've always been attracted by eccentrics and I liked the whole message of 'it's all right to be different'," she says.
"It's actually a celebration of all the kids and their differences, a scrapbook of a year in the life of the family.
Education
"I was also fascinated by autism. One good thing about this job is it offers a free education along with it."
During filming she became very close to Jacqui, and was amazed by her maternal instincts.
"I went to visit her and her kids and I could feel as soon as I entered she's a great home-maker," she explains.
"And there are these other people, waifs and strays, that she adopts because she is a natural mother."
Helena, 39, who has one child of her own, says she was struck by Jacqui's sense of humour and upbeat attitude.
"Jacqui is really enchanted by the kids, not depressed by them. Obviously, a lot of it is hard but there are things she finds very funny," she says.
"Her son Luke, who has Asperger's, can't conceive any type of metaphor so takes things desperately seriously, and that often has hilarious results."
Jacqui says she has no regrets about allowing a drama to be made based on her family's life.
"I'm doing it for all children on the autistic spectrum, so that professionals all over the place will learn more about it," she says.
"For every child and parent in the situations shown in the drama, there are also staff in school, doctors and assessors who are misunderstanding things.
"I hope they will watch and recognise some of it and understand pupils they thought were just naughty, but who actually might have ADHD or Asperger's syndrome, a bit better."
