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Anna Friel, David Threlfall and Anna Maxwell Martin are among the cast of an upcoming BBC single drama from Time writer Jimmy McGovern about grooming and sexual abuse.

Set and filmed in Liverpool, the currently-unnamed drama, per the synoposis, “centres around the Mitchell family, who are dealing with the devastating aftermath of an act of abuse, and the knowledge that it was perpetrated by a member of their own family who, after serving his sentence, has just been released from prison.”

Friel (Marcella, Pushing Daisies), who was BAFTA-nominated for her work in Jimmy McGovern’s Broken, leads the cast alongside Maxwell Martin (Motherland, A Spy Among Friends, Poppy Shakespeare), BAFTA-winner Threlfall (Nightsleeper, Shameless, Housewife 49), Bobby Schofield (Time, Anne, Sas Rogue Heroes), BAFTA-winner and Mark Womack (The Responder, Playing the Field, Moving On). Further casting will be announced in due course.

McGovern’s LA Productions is making the drama, which...

The BBC on Thursday unveiled an original new drama from screenwriter Jimmy McGovern (Time, Cracker, The Street) which will explore “the impact of grooming and sexual abuse on one family.”

Emmy winner Anna Friel (Marcella, Pushing Daisies), who was BAFTA-nominated for her previous work with McGovern in Broken, leads the cast alongside Bobby Schofield (Time, Anne, Sas Rogue Heroes), BAFTA winner Anna Maxwell Martin (Motherland, A Spy Among Friends, Poppy Shakespeare), BAFTA winner David Threlfall (Nightsleeper, Shameless, Housewife 49) and Mark Womack (The Responder, Playing the Field, Moving On).

Further casting will be unveiled “in due course,” the BBC said.

Directed by Julia Ford (Showtrial, The Bay, Safe), the as-yet-untitled 90-minute single drama will be made by LA Productions (Broken, Anthony, Care) for BBC iPlayer and BBC One.

“Set and filmed in Liverpool, the fictional drama centers around the Mitchell family who are dealing with the devastating aftermath of an act of abuse,...

He’s faced off against many movie characters over the years, including an army of Orcs and James Bond, and soon prolific actor Sean Bean will face another formidable foe in The Frankenstein Chronicles, a six-part miniseries set to air on ITV Encore. Bean will play Inspector John Marlott in the 1800’s-set show, a man assigned to capture a killer who melds body parts together in a manner reminiscent of Victor Frankenstein.

Press Release - “ITV today confirmed commission of The Frankenstein Chronicles, a thrilling and terrifying re-imagining of the Frankenstein myth as a six-part period crime drama to be produced by Rainmark Films.

Incorporating elements from the investigative and horror genres with an extraordinary hero at its centre, Inspector John Marlott, played by multi-awarding winning leading actor Sean Bean (Game of Thrones, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Accused) will be taken on a terrifying journey in pursuit of a chilling and diabolical foe.

I've been feeling my way through Naomie Harris' past work lately, researching for a future post on the actress (see my July 3rd "Before They Were Hollywood Stars" post on her appearance in the 2009 drama "'Small Island'" here). Today, I travel back to 2008 to another British drama - this one titled "Poppy Shakespeare," in which Ms Harris starred as the titular Poppy Shakespeare, a new and worryingly sane patient who arrives at a North London psychiatric ward dressed up to the nines, insisting she’s not mentally ill. Her story is told through the eyes of N, played by BAFTA-winning actress Anna Maxwell Martin, a 13-year...

Hello. My name is John Bensalhia and I'm a freelance journalist. There, that should leave you hurling abuse and running for the hills.

Let's face it, journalists don't really have a very good press – they're a rung or two above bankers, accountants, Inland Revenue staff and parking ticket inspectors, but there's still a stench of doubt whenever you mention the word journalist, which I think is massively unfair - but then I would say that. But then, given some of the more sensationalist members of the media, maybe those sneers aren't as misplaced as you may think.

The new reboot of Doctor Who's proving to be particularly good at targeting modern day trends, whether they're the superficial lifestyles of the likes of Posh And Becks (The End Of The World ), political manifestos (Aliens Of London/World War Three) or now media manipulation. This seems to be a particular target...

Anna Maxwell Martin is about to become the face of Sunday night TV. She tells Emine Saner what makes a meaty role

As a drama student, Anna Maxwell Martin used to go for walks along the Thames. "I would see the National theatre," she recalls, "and think, 'I'm going to be there one day.'" Two years later, in 2003, she was – playing Lyra in His Dark Materials, and bagging an Olivier nomination in the process.

Such single-mindedness seems at odds with the slight person sitting before me in a London bar, finishing her stories with great squeals. Like the one about her mother inviting all her friends round after Maxwell Martin won her first Bafta in 2006, for playing orphan Esther Summerson in the BBC's star-studded Bleak House; the guests were invited, she says, "just to look at it!" Other times, she's thoughtful, delivering considered answers with a faint Yorkshire accent.

London's Royal Festival Hall hosted the BAFTA TV awards on Sunday, April 26. Coming out triumphant at the event for the international category is "Mad Men". The show about advertising agents that airs on BBC Four beats other contenders such as "Dexter", "The Daily Show with John Stewart" and "The Wire".

Honoring the work of British televisions, it also granted the winning of police series "Wallander" for Drama Series and "Criminal Justice" for Drama Serial. Kenneth Branagh on behalf of "Wallander" accepted the award, saying "We're absolutely thrilled. For a series first time out to get this recognition is beyond our wildest dreams."

Other winners at the event are "The X-Factor", the reality show competition developed by Simon Cowell, Stephen Dillane for his role in "The Shooting of Thomas Hurndall" and Anna Maxwell Martin for "Poppy Shakespeare".

Full winners of the awards are available at the official site

Photo Gallery: Red...

Kenneth Branagh has walked away with his first producing honour, beating out Doctor Who to land the Best Drama trophy for his series Wallander at the British Academy Television Awards.

Branagh, who also stars as the eponymous police inspector in the TV show, won the coveted award at a star-studded ceremony in London on Sunday night.

He told the crowd, which included Mischa Barton, Ed Westwick and David Tennant: "We're absolutely thrilled. This is bl**dy marvellous. For a series first time out to get this recognition is beyond our wildest dreams."

Mad Men was named Best International Show ahead of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, Dexter and cult police drama The Wire.

Simon Cowell's TV talent show The X Factor picked up the Best Entertainment Show award, while British cop show The Bill was honoured with the Best Continuing Drama award.

The Hours star Anna Maxwell Martin was named Best Actress for her role in Poppy Shakespeare and Stephen Dillane beat Harry Potter star Jason Isaacs to take home the Best Actor award for The Shooting of Thomas Hurndall.

British comedy duo Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders received the BAFTA Fellowship.

The main list of winners is as follows:

Best Actor - Stephen Dillane (The Shooting of Thomas Hurndall)

Best Actress - Anna Maxwell Martin (Poppy Shakespeare)

Best Entertainment Performance - Harry Hill (Harry Hill's TV Burp)

Best Comedy Performance - David Mitchell (Peep Show)

Best Drama Series - Wallander

Best Continuing Drama - The Bill

Best Entertainment Programme - The X Factor

Best International Show - Mad Men

Best News Coverage - News at Ten - Chinese Earthquake reporting

Best Sport - F1: Brazilian Grand Prix

Audience Award - Skins

Special Award - Jane Tranter

Bafta Fellowship - French and Saunders...

The X Factor has been named Best Entertainment Programme at this year's Bafta Television Awards. Simon Cowell's reality TV contest beat competition from The Sunday Night Project, Qi and last year's winner, Harry Hill's TV Burp, to take the title. Stephen Dillane was named Best Actor for his part in The Shooting of Thomas Hurndall, while Poppy Shakespeare's Anna Maxwell Martin took Best Actress ahead of EastEnders star June Brown. Harry Hill retained his title as Best Entertainment Performer, seeing off Jonathan (more)...

This year's prestigious Bafta Television Awards took place tonight at London's Royal Festival Hall. The full list of winners and nominees follows. Best Actor

Stephen Dillane - The Shooting of Thomas Hurndall (C4) - Winner!

Jason Isaacs - The Curse of Steptoe (BBC Four)

Ken Stott - Hancock and Joan (BBC Four)

Ben Whishaw - Criminal Justice (BBC One) Best Actress

June Brown - EastEnders (BBC One)

Anna Maxwell Martin - Poppy Shakespeare (C4) - Winner!

Maxine Peake - Hancock and Joan (BBC Four)

Andrea Riseborough - Margaret Thatcher: The Long Walk to Finchley (BBC Four) Best Entertainment Performance

Stephen Fry - Qi (BBC Two)

Harry Hill - Harry Hill’s TV Burp (ITV1) - Winner!

Anthony McPartlin & Declan Donnelly - I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! (ITV1)

Jonathan Ross - Friday Night with Jonathan Ross (BBC One) (more)...

EastEnders executive producer Diedrick Santer has paid tribute to June Brown following her BAFTA TV Awards nomination. The actress, 82, is the first soap star to receive a best actress nod since Jean Alexander appeared in the category 20 years ago for her role as Hilda Ogden in Coronation Street. She will battle Anna Maxwell Martin (Poppy Shakespeare), Andrea Riseborough (The Long Walk to Finchley) and Maxine Peake (Hancock and Joan) for the award. Brown was nominated for the gong for her ground-breaking solo episode of the BBC soap, where her character Dot Cotton bid farewell to on-screen husband Jim Branning (John (more)...

London -- Controversial talk show host Jonathan Ross has been nominated for a BAFTA TV award for his weekly BBC1 entertainment show "Friday Night With Jonathan Ross."

The nomination comes despite Ross being suspended by BBC bosses for three months at the beginning of the year for his role in making obscene phone calls that were broadcast on BBC Radio Two.

Ross, who returned to TV screens in January and who recently presented the British Academy film awards, is nominated in the best entertainment performance category. He will compete alongside Stephen Fry for BBC2 quiz show "Qi," comedian Harry Hill for ITV1's satirical show "Harry Hill's TV Burp," and Ant and Dec, hosts of ITV1's "I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here." "Burp" and "Qi" are also nominated in the best entertainment program category alongside ITV1's "X factor" and Channel 4's "Friday Night Project."

In the International category,...

Digital Spy presents the full list of nominees for the 2009 British Academy Television Awards, to be held on April 26. Best Actor

Stephen Dillane - The Shooting of Thomas Hurndall (C4)

Jason Isaacs - The Curse of Steptoe (BBC Four)

Ken Stott - Hancock and Joan (BBC Four)

Ben Whishaw - Criminal Justice (BBC One) Best Actor

June Brown - EastEnders (BBC One)

Anna Maxwell Martin - Poppy Shakespeare (C4)

Maxine Peake - Hancock and Joan (BBC Four)

Andrea Riseborough - Margaret Thatcher: The Long Walk to Finchley (BBC Four) Best Entertainment Performance

Stephen Fry - Qi (BBC Two)

Harry Hill - Harry Hill’s TV Burp (ITV1)

Anthony McPartlin & Declan Donnelly - I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! (ITV1)

Jonathan Ross - Friday Night with Jonathan Ross (BBC One) Best Comedy Performance

Rob Brydon - Gavin (more)...

The 24th annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival closed yesterday after announcing the winners. Here they are: Panavision Spirit Award for Independent Cinema Poppy Shakespeare, directed by Benjamin Ross Best International Film Award Eine Frau in Berlin (A Woman in Berlin), directed by Max Farberbock Nueva Vision Award (Best Spanish language film) Amar a morir, directed by Fernando Lebrija Best Eastern [...]...

The 24th edition of the Santa Barbara Film Festival will kick off Jan. 22 at the Arlington Theatre with Rod Lurie's political thriller "Nothing but the Truth," starring Kate Beckinsale.

The Feb. 1 closing-night film is the world premiere of Jeff Balsmeyer's "Lightbulb," starring Dallas Roberts and Jeremy Renner.

The fest's lineup, announced Wednesday, encompasses more than 200 films from 41 countries, including 21 world premieres and 29 U.S. premieres.

David Fincher has been named guest director. On Jan. 30, the festival will present "A Celebration of David Fincher," at which the director of "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" will be joined by a number of his friends.

Santa Barbara also will feature an array of tributes to many of this season's awards hopefuls, including Kate Winslet, Penelope Cruz, Kristin Scott Thomas, Clint Eastwood and Mickey Rourke. Its Virtuosos 2009 Award will shine a spotlight on Viola Davis, Rosemarie DeWitt, Sally Hawkins, Richard Jenkins,...