Public outcry on Twitter as many British realize horrors of Ireland’s Great Hunger for the first time
The top-rated British drama “Victoria,” about the monarch who ruled during the Irish Famine, shocked British viewers to the core with the realistic presentation of that horrific event.
The headline and lead paragraph in the “Daily Express” read:
“British viewers horrified by ITV drama's brutal Irish Famine episode.
“VICTORIA viewers were left shocked by the brutal reality of tonight’s episode so often left out of British history.”
The drama focused heavily on the “horrific famine” in Ireland. British leaders were seen as utterly indifferent to it, most notably the man in charge Charles Trevelyan, who thought it was God’s punishment for the Irish.
Screenwriter Daisy Goodwin took to Twitter to post about the accuracy of the episode.
everything #Trevelyan says about Ireland based on historical documents #Victoria
— Daisy Goodwin (@DaisyGoodwin) October 1, 2017
A fan posted back:
@DaisyGoodwin well done for highlighting the irish problem with the potato famine that the govenment ignored..thank you ?#Victoria
— GAVIN M GREAVES ? (@realgmg67) October 1, 2017
Trevelyan, who was head of administration for famine relief in the 1840s, stated, “The judgement of God sent the calamity to teach the Irish a lesson, that calamity must not be too much mitigated… The real evil with which we have to contend is not the physical evil of the Famine, but the moral evil of the selfish, perverse and turbulent character of the people.”
The TV drama portrayed Queen Victoria being adamant that her government should be doing more to help.
Jenna Coleman as Victoria, in the title role of the ITV drama.
However, the upsetting scenes left many British viewers astounded at what their government had done back in 1845.
The Daily Express noted most “viewers disturbed by a piece of history that they had not been taught about.”
Fans of the show instantly flocked to social media to discuss the Famine.
I'd imagine the story of the #Irishfamine will be a first for many in the UK, the unspoken genocide #Victoria
— Clar Ni Fhearail (@clarefarrell) October 1, 2017
Oh what a very sad ending and makes you really think of what those poor Irish people went through. #VICTORIA
— Mollie J (@JollieMollie) October 1, 2017
Wonderful performance by @martin_compston in #Victoria on such a heartbreaking and shameful part of our nation's history.
— Katy Jane Nelson (@katyjanenelson) October 1, 2017
A fourth asked:
Is the Great Irish Famine taught about in the British education system? #Victoria
— Pádraig McCann (@Padraig_McCann) October 1, 2017
The English really were that sociopathic in their dealings with the 1840s Irish Famine. Glad that's being portrayed #Victoria
— Joanne Purcell (@CampionJoanne) October 1, 2017
Read more: Irish Great Hunger memorials to visit
Comments