The BBC has released first-look pictures for Unforgivable, the new drama from Jimmy McGovern (Time, Cracker, The Street) which explores the impact of grooming and sexual abuse on one family.
Directed by Julia Ford (Showtrial, The Bay, Safe), the drama is made by LA Productions (Broken, Anthony, Care) for BBC iPlayer and BBC Two.
The first-look pictures show Emmy-winner Anna Friel (Marcella, Pushing Daisies) as Anna, Bobby Schofield (Time, Anne, SAS Rogue Heroes) as Joe, BAFTA-winner Anna Maxwell Martin (Motherland, A Spy Among Friends, Poppy Shakespeare) as Katherine, BAFTA-winner David Threlfall (Nightsleeper, Shameless, Housewife 49) as Brian and Austin Haynes (Adolescence, All Creatures Great and Small, The Railway Children Return) as Tom.
Set and filmed in Liverpool, the fictional drama centres around the Mitchell family who are dealing with the devastating aftermath of an act of abuse perpetrated by a member of their own family.
Having served his prison sentence, Joe (Bobby Schofield) arrives at St Maura’s, an institution which offers him a home and rehabilitation after his release. With the support of Katherine (Anna Maxwell Martin), an ex-nun, Joe undertakes therapy sessions in the hope of understanding what led him to commit the abuse and to face up to the consequences. Simultaneously, his sister, Anna (Anna Friel), is dealing with the enormous impact that Joe’s crime has had on her family – her sons, Tom (Austin Haynes) and Peter (Fin McParland), and her father, Brian (David Threlfall). The drama examines the extensive ripple effect of abuse from multiple perspectives and how those involved can try to move forwards in the midst of the devastation.
Further cast includes Mark Womack (The Responder, Playing the Field, Moving On), Paddy Rowan (Time, The Bay, This Town), Phina Oruche (Anthony, Magpie Murders, Taken Down) and Fin McParland making his television debut.
The drama is produced by LA Productions and will air this year on BBC iPlayer and BBC Two. It is written by Jimmy McGovern, directed by Julia Ford, and produced by Donna Molloy. The executive producers are Jimmy McGovern and Colin McKeown for LA Productions, and Nawfal Faizullah and Katherine Bond for the BBC.
Jon Creamer
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