Anna Maxwell Martin is starring alongside an impressive cast in a new, devastating BBC drama. Unforgivable tackles the fallout of the ultimate family betrayal, as sex offender Joe, who perpetrated crimes within his own family, is released from prison.

Anna plays an ex-nun who runs the accommodation where Joe is sent on his release. The story follows his journey as well as that of multiple members of his family to examine ‘the extensive ripple effect of abuse from multiple perspectives and how those involved can try to move forwards in the midst of the devastation’.

BAFTA-winner Anna joins a cast of multiple award-winning actors, including Emmy-winning Anna Friel and BAFTA-winning David Threlfall. Here’s everything we know so far about the BBC drama, including what Anna Maxwell Martin did to prepare for her latest role.

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What is Unforgivable about?

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Unforgivable is set to be a powerful but confronting watch, centring on one family – the Mitchells – who are dealing with the devastating consequences of grooming and sexual abuse by a member of their own family. Joe (Bobby Schofield) has served his prison sentence and is released into St Maura’s – an institution that becomes his new home and where he tries to rehabilitate.

Anna Maxwell Martin plays former nun Katherine, who now supports ex-offenders at St Maura’s. While there, Joe ‘undertakes therapy sessions in the hope of understanding what led him to commit the abuse and to face up to the consequences,’ explains the BBC synopsis.

Meanwhile, Joe’s sister Anna (Anna Friel) is ‘dealing with the enormous impact that Joe’s crime has had on her family – her sons, Tom (Austin Haynes) and Peter (Finn McParland), and her father, Brian (David Threlfall).’

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Speaking in a release, Anna Maxwell Martin revealed she had been in touch with a real nun as part of her preparation for the role; ‘I spoke to a friend of a friend who is a nun; we had a long chat.’ She added that when she’s getting ready for a new part, she has ‘as many chats with the people I feel I need to do chats with, so I’m not doing anyone a disservice.’ Describing her character, Anna said Katherine, ‘believes in rehabilitation for people who have formerly been sex offenders. She’s a former nun and an all-round good person.’

The hard-hitting drama is a one-off 90-minute special, written by award-winning screenwriter Jimmy McGovern. It’s set and filmed in Liverpool.

Who is in the Unforgivable cast?

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The BBC drama has a strong cast, including:

  • Anna Friel (Marcella, Pushing Daisies) - Anna
  • Bobby Schofield (Time, Anne, SAS Rogue Heroes) - Joe
  • Anna Maxwell Martin (Motherland, A Spy Among Friends, Poppy Shakespeare) - Katherine
  • David Threlfall (Nightsleeper, Shameless, Housewife 49) - Brian
  • Austin Haynes (Adolescence, All Creatures Great and Small, The Railway Children Return) - Tom
  • Mark Womack (The Responder, Playing the Field, Moving On)
  • Paddy Rowan (Time, The Bay, This Town)
  • Phina Oruche (Anthony, Magpie Murders, Taken Down)
  • Finn McParland

How can I watch Unforgivable?

Unforgivable is a 90-minute one-off drama that will air on BBC Two and iPlayer later this year, with the exact release date expected to be confirmed soon.