If you heard the news that BAFTA-winning Bad Sisters star, Anne-Marie Duff, received her OBE for services for drama this week, you might be wondering how you can see her acting prowess in action. Lucky for you, we’ve got the answer. Described by critics as “absolutely riveting”, Accused is Anne-Marie’s genius BBC crime drama that we’d highly recommend catching up on immediately.

Having first aired in 2010, the Jimmy McGovern drama is an anthology series, with each episode introducing us to a person accused of a crime and revolving around their courtroom trial. Anne-Marie is one of those people accused, playing the mother of a son who’s seemingly committed a terrible crime that she’s attempted to cover up. But is she guilty?

If you’re looking for a drama you’ll be thinking about long after you’ve finished watching it, here’s everything you need to know about Accused, including the plot, full cast and how to watch it.

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What is Accused about?

Created by Jimmy McGovern, the anthology series first aired on BBC One in 2010 and ran for two series. Each episode revolves around a different character as they await their verdict in court and tells the story of how they ended up there. As they make their way to the dock to find out whether they've been found guilty of a crime, the events that led to them being accused of the crime play out - and, as viewers, we’re left questioning whether the person is actually guilty or not.

individuals seated at a conference table during a discussion or meeting
RSJ Films/BBC

What happens in Anne-Marie Duff’s episode of Accused?

Anne-Marie stars in the second episode of the second series of Accused. She stars as Mo Murray, a single mother who runs a hair salon on a rough estate, and refuses to close her shop to respect a local gang member who's passed away. Her refusal leads to a devastating situation where her best friend’s teenage son is shot dead in broad daylight.

The boy’s mother, Sue (played by Olivia Colman) suggests that she and Mo join the local ‘Women Against Guns’, but Mo is later faced with a shocking revelation. The killer was actually her own son Jake (Thomas Brodie-Sangster), and the gang ordered him to do it in order to avoid being the victim himself. As you’ve probably guessed, the police soon learn the truth and Mo, who has since hidden the gun to protect her son, finds herself in court along with her assisting mother, played by Ruth Sheen. The question is, will they be found guilty?

You can find Anne-Marie's episode here if you want to skip the rest of the series and get straight to it.

Who’s in the cast of Accused?

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BBC

The cast of Accused series 1 includes:

  • Christopher Eccleston
  • Pooky Quesenl
  • Mackenzie Crook
  • Robert Pugh
  • Benjamin Smith
  • Ben Batt
  • Juliet Stevenson
  • Peter Capaldi
  • Andy Serkis
  • Naomie Harris
  • March Warren

The cast of Accused series 2 includes:

group of people engaging in social interaction outdoors with cyclists in the scene
RSJ Films/BBC
  • Anne Marie Duff
  • Anna Maxwell Martin
  • John Bishop
  • Olivia Colman
  • Robert Sheehan
  • Sean Bean
  • Sheridan Smith
  • Stephen Graham
  • Thomas Brodie-Sangster
  • Joe Dempsie
  • Josh Bolt
  • Oliver Lee

Is there a trailer for Accused?

Yes, you can watch the Accused series 2 trailer, which stars Anne-Marie, below:

Is Accused any good?

Yes, it’s better than good. Critics and viewers have called it “absolutely riveting”, “outstanding” and “a cracking drama”. It won the award for Best Drama Series at the 2011 International Emmy Awards and two accolades at the Royal Television Society Awards in 2013. That’s not to mention the slew of other award nominations and wins it’s had. As for Anne-Marie Duff, her performance is nothing short of exceptional.

How can I watch Accused?

You can watch series 1 and 2 of Accused on BBC iPlayer. All episodes are also available to watch on Prime Video and BritBox.

What else can I watch Anne-Marie Duff in?

christine anne marie duff and stephen eddie marsan
Photographer: Matt Squire

If you haven’t yet watched Anne-Marie Duff’s BBC One series, Reunion, we’d highly recommend it. The four-part drama tells the story of newly released deaf convict Daniel Brennan (Matthew Gurney) who's determined to right his wrongs, while unravelling the truth behind the events that led him to prison. Anne-Marie plays Christine, a woman desperate to get to the bottom of what Daniel did. You can watch it here.