Accused (TV series)
Accused - A question of guilt is a British television anthology series of Jimmy McGovern. Since 15 November 2010, two seasons were broadcast on BBC One. Each episode follows a different character who awaits his verdict in court and tells the story of how it came to trial. The main roles of each episode famous actors and actresses such as Christopher Eccleston, Benjamin Smith, Juliet Stevenson, Andy Serkis, Marc Warren, Naomie Harris, Sean Bean and Anne -Marie Duff are seen.
The series follows previous drama series by McGovern as The Street and Moving On. After the 2009 series The Street has been set, McGovern founded RSJ Films to produce independent dramas, from which finally the anthology series Accused - arose a question of guilt. The scripts come from McGovern, Danny Brocklehurst and Alice Nutter and were filmed in Manchester. In 2011 won the series an International Emmy Award for best drama series.
First Season
The series was commissioned by Jay Hunt and Ben Stephenson and announced in May 2010. Each episode revolves around a different character, which is brought to justice. On his way to dock the events are shown, which have led to the crime and is thereby the audience the " question " whether the defendant should be found guilty or not.
McGovern about the series:
"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. "
McGovern was the principal author of the series, with co-authors Alice Nutter, Danny Brocklehurst and Esther Wilson for episodes 3 to 5 was directed by David Blair ( episodes 1, 2, 5 and 6) and Richard Laxton ( Episodes 3 and 4), during RSJ Films production took over. Filming for the series took place around Manchester from May to August 2010.
A number of the cast members were announced directly to the series: Christopher Eccleston and Pooky Quesnel " Willys history," and Mackenzie Crook, Robert Pugh, Benjamin Smith and Ben Batt in " Frankie's history." It was announced in June that will play Juliet Stevenson and Peter Capaldi in " Helen's Story " and Andy Serkis in " Liam's Story ". In July it was announced Naomie Harris in " Alison's history" and in August, Marc Warren for " Kenny's history."
Second Season
On 24 February 2011 was announced by the BBC drama controller Ben Stephenson, that Accused - A question of guilt for a comprehensive four episodes second season was extended, which was broadcast in 2012. Despite the relatively small number of spectators from the first season in charge saw the potential enough to find in the second season a wider audience.
Filming for the first two episodes of the second season began in November 2011. Among the new cast of these episodes include Anne -Marie Duff, Olivia Colman, Robert Sheehan, Joe Dempsie, Sheridan Smith, Paul Popplewell and the comedian John Bishop. The first episode in the lead roles Colman and Duff are seen, was written by McGovern and Carol Cullington while in the credits of the second episode ( with the cast Sheehan, Bishop and Smith) again Daniel Brocklehurst and McGovern are seen.
In January 2012 it was confirmed that Anna Maxwell Martin will complete the cast of the second episode. It was also announced that Sean Bean will be seen as " an English teacher with a twisted alter ego " in an episode alongside Stephen Graham.
The first episode of the second season was aired after a large- scale advertising campaign on 14 August 2012. The last episode of the series contains a different concept than that of the previous episodes: there is no new defendant in court, but there are former defendants (Jake, Stephen, Stephen 's father and the judge ) from previous episodes to see and play for the story the episode a significant role.
Broadcast
The first broadcast of the full six episodes of the first season was sent from November 15 to December 20, 2010 on BBC One. The four episodes of the second season aired from 14 August to 4 September 2012.
In February, Sky announced the broadcast of the series on the pay- TV channel Sky Atlantic HD. The first season was seen there on 4 April to 9 May 2013. The second season was broadcast directly after from 16 May to 6 June 2013.