Accused (Successor to 'The Street'), Tonight, 9pm
Digital Sid
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New drama from the makers and writers of Jimmy McGovern's The Street, starring Christopher Eccleston, Mackenzie Crook, Juliet Stevenson, Peter Capaldi, Andy Serkis, Benjamin Smith, Noamie Harris, and Marc Warren.
Other cast include Pooky Quesnel, Robert Pugh, Tina O'Brien, Joanna Higson, and Everal Walsh.
Episode 1 is 'Willy's Story', RadioTimes review here.
Very much looking forward to this
BBC wrote:Each episode will revolve around a different character as they make their way to the dock in court to hear whether they've been found guilty of a crime. As they walk, the events that led up to them being accused of the crime plays out and leaves the viewers questioning whether each of the people are really guilty or not.
Jimmy McGovern wrote:In the time it takes to climb the steps to the court we tell the story of how the accused came to be here. We see the crime and we see the punishment. Nothing else. No police procedure, thanks very much, no coppers striding along corridors with coats flapping. Just crime and punishment – the two things that matter most in any crime drama.
Other cast include Pooky Quesnel, Robert Pugh, Tina O'Brien, Joanna Higson, and Everal Walsh.
Episode 1 is 'Willy's Story', RadioTimes review here.
Very much looking forward to this
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Comments
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00vrx5p/Front_Row_Screenwriter_Jimmy_McGovern_on_TV_Drama_Accused/
Agreed. Northern, kitchen sink realism at it's best.
Indeed. One of my favourite actors and one of my favourite writers.
Agreed, Northern kitchen sink drama at it's best.
Don't know, but for an SD UK production The Street, especially, the last series was quite visually stunning in places.
It was indeed superb, wasn't aware it was underrated though. Pretty much universal critical acclaim from what i remember.
Just nice to have anything on that isn't X Factor or Soap opera. Or New Tricks
Can't wait!
can't wait
I've really missed Christopher Ecclestone - one of my favourite actors who never disappoints. This series promises to be excellent - so pleased to have some Jimmy McGovern drama back on TV.
Though I don't mind a bit of harmless reality escapism, it is a shame that this will probably be beaten by three or four million by some celebrity eating testicles on ITV.
...no money in his account but his wife could afford a cruiser cab journey
Oh and is it me or do Casting Directors for the BBC sit on their arses, do nothing and just spew the same faces into the same Dramas?
So do I - but the last JM programme I saw had anti-war polemic in the first 11 minutes, bludgeoned in, oh and it had infidelity, bankruptcy and...well, depressed children, lingering meaningful looks...this has nothing original to offer and I'm afraid that the first 11 minutes is crucial...I could be watching "Brookside" in 1984.
Dysfunctional family - check
Money problems - check
War polemic - check
Call Centre polemic - check
Anti-Bank polemic - check
Battered woman - check
Infidelity - check
Poor people smoke and get pissed - check
Religious symbolism - check
Unnaturally scripted monologues - check
Unbelievable coincedences - check
Had high hopes for this...will not be watching the rest: tired, old-fashioned, irrelevant and the worst of all? Well acted and directed...it's the script that's let it down.
Enjoying it so far anyway. Christopher Eccleston really is the best of British when it comes to acting.
Very telling and reminded me of the Sky Arts Chekhov shorts with Johnny Vegas brilliantly ranting about the pains of marriage. Like Chekhov, I think McGovern writes something that his actors can portray in a way that allows us the viewers to make our own assumptions. Did Willie deserve 6 years? Was it retribution or was the cab office lady wrong? Brilliant and Eccleston was stunning esp in the last scene with the family and the mistress, how to act without words.
It's interesting that if it were any other programme than JIMMY MCGOVERN'S "Accused" would people be so forgiving about the stereotypes, cliches and forced set-ups...I have to say, by the end of that episode, I wanted them all to be locked up because they were all appalling people: that may well be JM's experience of life, but it isn't mine.
But Chekhov also allowed his view of the world to colour his writing and then what he called "truth" was his opinion not reality...
Well quite...time for the BBC to elect an extra Casting team perhaps?