Chief Mourner

When a chief mourner dresses like this, you know it’s going to be an interesting funeral. Gemma is in funereal black, and that is the only item that can be checked off in the ‘appropriate’ column.

Having a cuppa at the café beforehand, she stands out like a Victorian peacock of mourning. Alex asks her if she’s a Goth. No, she says, she’s going to a funeral. She does not take umbrage. Given the look she has created, his question makes as much sense as her answer.

At first, the funeral for Callum is just sad. Macca and the other pallbearers follow the robed Billy up the church aisle. The church is huge – and empty.

Such a lot of ceremony before anybody else is even in attendance, I thought. But then I see there are a couple of people sitting up front in the pews. That’s all. The service has started. This is really the high point of the funeral.

Police follow pallbearers

The cops follow the pallbearers in, then sit behind the mourners so they can watch them all. Callum was murdered, and they are investigating.

Billy begins the service, still looking like he is facing his executioner. But he muddles through, until the church door opens. It’s Sarah. She has escaped her keepers. The funeral service goes downhill from there.

And, just because she is so wonderful, here is a look at Gemma as she sits in the café mourning the loss of her friend.

• Manchester Evening News has more, with pics, on the filming of Callum’s funeral.