UNFORGIVABLE: FIRST LOOK IMAGES AND CASTING FOR NEW BBC DRAMA FROM JIMMY McGOVERN

The BBC has released first-look pictures for Unforgivable, an original drama from multi-award-winning screenwriter Jimmy McGovern (Time, Cracker, The Street) which explores the impact of grooming and sexual abuse on one family.

The first-look pictures show Emmy-winner Anna Friel (Marcella) as Anna, Bobby Schofield (Time) as Joe, BAFTA-winner Anna Maxwell Martin (Motherland) as Katherine, BAFTA-winner David Threlfall (Nightsleeper) as Brian and Austin Haynes (Adolescence) 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.

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.

Colin McKeown, executive producer for LA Productions says: “This is a profoundly challenging and sensitive subject, tackled with intelligence and care by Jimmy McGovern. It’s a privilege to be working with him again following the success of our previous collaborations on single 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, Director of BBC Drama, says: "Jimmy McGovern is one of our greatest dramatists, and a master at writing about today’s world. His new film sensitively examines the pain of abuse and how it affects not only the victim but ripples out across the whole family. To see it brought to the screen with such a high calibre cast and creative team is further testament to the quality of Jimmy’s writing."

Directed by Julia Ford (Showtrial, The Bay, Safe), the drama is made by LA Productions (Broken, Anthony, Care) for BBC iPlayer and BBC Two.