Unforgivable Preview - Jimmy McGovern Returns With Another Hard-Hitting BBC Drama

Images: BBC Press

By Jon Donnis

The BBC has released a first glimpse at Unforgivable, a new original drama from Jimmy McGovern, one of the most consistently fearless writers in British television. Known for work that never shies away from difficult truths, McGovern turns his attention to the aftermath of sexual abuse within a family, setting the stage for what promises to be another emotionally charged and socially urgent story.

Anna Friel as Anna

Set in Liverpool, Unforgivable focuses on the Mitchell family as they attempt to come to terms with an act of abuse committed by one of their own. It's a premise that demands sensitivity and depth, and with McGovern's reputation for giving space to complexity rather than easy answers, it's likely to be a raw but necessary watch. The drama explores not just the act itself, but the reverberations that follow, how trauma spreads across generations, how trust is fractured, and how people try to rebuild in the shadow of something that can't be undone.

Anna Maxwell Martin as Katherine

Anna Friel leads the cast as Anna, joined by Bobby Schofield as Joe and Anna Maxwell Martin as Katherine. The cast also includes David Threlfall, Austin Haynes, and a strong supporting ensemble, with Mark Womack, Paddy Rowan, Phina Oruche and newcomer Fin McParland rounding out the roles. It's an impressive line-up, many of whom have worked with McGovern before, which should give the characters the weight and realism this story needs.

Austin Haynes as Tom

Directed by Julia Ford, who has helmed acclaimed series such as Showtrial and Safe, the drama is made by LA Productions, the team behind Broken and Anthony. Production is complete and Unforgivable is set to air later this year on BBC iPlayer and BBC Two. While full plot details are still under wraps, the first-look images already suggest a heavy, atmospheric tone, with tension etched into every expression.

Bobby Schofield as Joe

This isn't just a family drama. It's about silence, guilt, confrontation and survival. And if McGovern's past work is anything to go by, Unforgivable will not just tell a story. it will challenge viewers to sit with it, think about it, and ask what justice, healing, or redemption might really look like in such circumstances.

David Threlfall as Brian