Sean Bean & Stephen Graham To Star In ‘Time’, New BBC Drama From Jimmy McGovern
‘Game Of Thrones’ star Sean Bean and Stephen Graham (‘This Is England’, ‘Save Me’) are set to lead the cast of ‘Time’, a new prison drama from Jimmy McGovern for BBC One it has been announced.
Seen through the eyes of two very different men, the drama is a visceral and high-stakes portrayal of life in the modern British penal system. It is a story of guilt and forgiveness, punishment and penitence and the impact that prison has on all those who pass through it.
Sean Bean takes on the role of Mark Hebden, a teacher, husband and father, who killed an innocent man in an accident. Consumed by guilt, he accepts and even welcomes his four-year sentence. Separated from his family, he has no idea what to expect in this unforgiving new environment and needs to learn quickly how to survive.
Stephen Graham is Eric Reid, a prison officer. Caring and honest, Eric tries his very best to protect those in his charge, something which is a daily challenge in this understaffed and high-tension world. When one of the most dangerous inmates identifies his weakness, Eric faces an impossible choice between his principles and his love for his family.
Both Eric and Mark, officer and inmate, are seemingly trapped by their pasts and unsure of their futures. Each has to not only survive, but to find the strength and the way to move forward.
This is not the first time the Bean and Graham have worked together on a McGovern project, having previous appeared in an episode of his anthology series ‘Accused’. Lewis Arnold (‘Humans’, ‘Des’, ‘Broadchurch’) is set to direct.
“Getting to be involved in a Jimmy McGovern drama again is a real privilege and it will be great to be reunited with Stephen. Mark Hebden is another of Jimmy’s complex and superbly written characters and I am looking forward to bringing him to life on screen,” commented Sean Bean. Stephen Graham adds “It is an absolute honour to be working with Jimmy again, I’m feeling blessed. I’m excited to be working with Lewis as I have heard so many incredible things about him as a director, I can’t wait to get stuck in. Of course, I am made up to be back on set with Sean.”
Jimmy McGovern began his career working on ‘Brookside’, and has since gone on to create a string of critically acclaimed drama. Along with ‘Accused’, he created shows such as ‘Cracker’, ‘The Lakes’, ‘The Street’, ‘Moving On’, and the film ‘Hillsborough’.
“Jimmy has a unique style of creating thought-provoking dramas which tell raw and emotional stories, and Time is exactly that,” commented Piers Wenger, Controller of BBC Drama. “With Sean and Stephen in lead roles, Jimmy and Lewis behind the camera, Time is a shining example of British drama talent at its best.”
‘Time’ was commissioned by Piers Wenger, Controller of BBC Drama and Charlotte Moore, Chief Content Officer. It will be directed by Lewis Arnold and executive produced by Tom Sherry and Michael Parke for BBC Studios and Lucy Richer for the BBC. It will be produced by Simon Maloney. It is being distributed internationally by BBC Studios.
‘Time’ is a three-part series and will be produced by BBC Studios Production. It begins filming in Liverpool in Autumn 2020.
