Anna Friel is in the new BBC drama – Quotenmeter.de

The BBC has announced a new drama from award-winning screenwriter Jimmy McGovern (“Time”) that examines the impact of grooming and sexual abuse on a family. Directed by Julia Ford (“Showtrial”), the as yet untitled standalone drama will be produced by LA Productions (“Broken”) for BBC iPlayer and BBC One.

Set and filmed in Liverpool, the fictional drama revolves around the Mitchell family as they struggle to cope with the devastating consequences of an abuse case and the knowledge that it was started by a member of their own family who has just been released from prison after serving his sentence.

Emmy winner Anna Friel (“Marcella,” “Pushing Daisies”), who was BAFTA nominated for her previous work with Jimmy McGovern in Broken, leads the cast, along with Bobby Schofield (“Time”), BAFTA winner Anna Maxwell Martin (“Motherland”), BAFTA winner David Threlfall (“Nightsleeper”) and Mark Womack (“The Responder”).

Colin McKeown, executive producer of LA Productions, said: “This is an extremely challenging and sensitive subject matter which Jimmy McGovern tackles with intelligence and care. It is a privilege to work with him again following the success of our previous collaboration on individual dramas – Common, Care, Reg and Anthony.”

Writer Jimmy McGovern says, “I can't believe the cast and crew that have been assembled for this production. It's a challenging film, yes, but I can't wait for it to be shown.”

Lindsay Salt, Head of BBC Drama, said: “Jimmy McGovern is one of our greatest playwrights and a master at writing about today's world. His new film sensitively explores the pain of abuse and how it affects not just the victim but the whole family. That it is being brought to the screen with such a high-calibre cast and creative team is further testament to the quality of Jimmy's writing.”

The 90-minute drama is produced by LA Productions for BBC iPlayer and BBC One. It is written by Jimmy McGovern, directed by Julia Ford and produced by Donna Molloy. Executive producers are Jimmy McGovern, Colin McKeown for LA Productions and Nawfal Faizullah and Katherine Bond for the BBC.