Fans of British crime dramas, there’s another upcoming project you’ll want to add to your watchlist. Another in a long line of BBC crime series, the upcoming Unforgivable, set to debut on BBC Two and iPlayer later this year, is ready to explore another pressing topic as it explores how grooming and sexual abuse affect not just the victim but the lives of their family as well. Ahead of the show’s release, first-look images of a selection of the cast have been released via Radio Times and are available below.
The series is the next project from Jimmy McGovern, best known for penning the huge global hit Time, which starred Game of Thrones‘ Sean Bean in its first season, and The Last of Us star Bella Ramsey in its second. The series boasts a cast of eye-catching performers, led by Marcella‘s Anna Friel, Line of Duty‘s Anna Maxwell Martin, SAS Rogue Heroes‘ Bobby Schofield, and Nightsleeper‘s David Threlfall, all of whom can be seen in the first-look images below. Also in the cast in supporting roles are the likes of Mark Womack, Paddy Rowan, and Phina Oruche. There is currently no release date for Unforgivable.
What is ‘Unforgivable’ About?
There are an enormous number of British crime dramas, from cozy outings like Vera to hard-hitting, star-studded mysteries like Broadchurch, led by David Tennant and Olivia Colman. With that in mind, it can be easy for any new additions to fall under the radar. For some, the sight of the likes of Friel and Maxwell Martin teaming up won’t be enough to convince them to sit down and indulge in this poignant drama. For those, a synopsis should suffice, with one thankfully already being released via the BBC. The official synopsis reads:
“Having served his prison sentence, Joe (Schofield) arrives at St Maura’s, an institution which offers him a home and rehabilitation after his release. With the support of Katherine (Martin), an ex-nun, Joe undertakes therapy sessions in the hope of understanding what led him to commit the abuse and to face up to the consequences. Simultaneously, his sister, Anna (Friel), is dealing with the enormous impact that Joe’s crime has had on her family – her sons, Tom (Austin Haynes) and Peter (Fin McParland), and her father, Brian (Threlfall). The drama examines the extensive ripple effect of abuse from multiple perspectives and how those involved can try to move forwards in the midst of the devastation.”
Unforgivable is scheduled for release this year. Make sure to check out Maxwell Martin’s Line of Duty, and stay tuned for more updates on Collider.

Line of Duty
- Release Date
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2012 – 2020
- Directors
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David Caffrey, Douglas Mackinnon, Daniel Nettheim, Michael Keillor, John Strickland, Jed Mercurio, Sue Tully, Gareth Bryn, Jennie Darnell
- Writers
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Jed Mercurio
Source: Radio Times