I’ve wanted to work on a Jimmy McGovern drama for a while and I think this cracking script really delivers a powerful, emotional drama for the audience."

Stellar British actors Sean Bean (Game Of Thrones, Lord Of The Rings, Sharpe), Stephen Graham (Boardwalk Empire, Occupation, This Is England) and twice BAFTA-winning actress Anna Maxwell Martin (South Riding, The Night Watch, Bleak House) are to star in the two episodes of Accused, made by RSJ Films for BBC One, which film this year.

Sean Bean plays English teacher Simon, whose alter ego Tracie's unconventional quest for love entangles him in an affair that leads inexorably to a terrible crime of passion. Stephen Graham stars as Tony, a satellite and aerial engineer, and Rachel Leskovac (Coronation Street, Holby City) plays his wife of 12 years, beautician Karen.

Little do the trio know that once their paths have crossed their lives will change irrevocably. This episode is written by Shaun Duggan (EastEnders, Moving On) and Jimmy McGovern. The director is Ashley Pearce (Downton Abbey).

Commenting on his new role Sean Bean says: “I’ve wanted to work on a Jimmy McGovern drama for a while and I think this cracking script really delivers a powerful, emotional drama for the audience."

Acclaimed actress Anna Maxwell Martin stars as Tina Dakin, a married mother of three, who is overstretched at home and at the juvenile detention centre where she works as a prison officer.

But something doesn’t seem right when new inmate Stephen Cartwright (Robert Sheehan) arrives and before long she is to meet his father Peter (John Bishop) in the worst circumstances imaginable. This episode is written by Isabelle Grey (Genghis Khan, Midsomer Murders) and Jimmy McGovern. It is directed by Ashley Pearce.

Two episodes of Accused were filmed last autumn. Anne Marie Duff and Olivia Colman star as mothers trying to do the right thing by their sons and their community; Robert Sheehan plays Stephen, who suspects his mother’s palliative care nurse (Sheridan Smith) of serious wrongdoing. John Bishop plays Stephen’s father Peter and Josh Bolt plays Stephen’s younger brother, Dom.

Accused was re-commissioned by BBC One Controller Danny Cohen and Controller of Drama Commissioning Ben Stephenson. It is executive produced for the BBC by Polly Hill, Head of Independent Drama. Sita Williams is the producer and she executive produces with Jimmy McGovern and Roxy Spencer for RSJ Films.

The series directors are David Blair (The Street, Accused) and Ashley Pearce (Downton Abbey). The first series shown on BBC One in 2010 scooped two international Emmy Awards last year: Christopher Eccleston won best performance by an actor and Accused won in the best series category.

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