a powerful depiction of prison life, starring sean bean and stephen graham, with sue johnston. Written by jimmy mcgovern. Sean bean and stephen graham both prove to be an arresting presence in jimmy mcgovern’s new prison drama. ★★★★' – telegraph sean bean and stephen graham astound in enraging prison drama its two stars give exceptional performances as inmate and officer respectively, in a series about the inhumanity of the penal system which lays bare jimmy mcgovern’s genius.★★★★★ – guardian mark cobden is a husband and father like any other. Except that he’s responsible for the death of an innocent man. Tortured by visions of his victim, mark welcomes his four year sentence as penance for his crime. But in this brutal environment, a former teacher is an easy target for the more ruthless residents. Eric mcnally is a dedicated prison officer, doing his best to protect those in his charge. And in an understaffed prison that’s brimming with tension, the inmates’ safety rests on a knife edge. When a dangerous convict threatens to hurt someone eric loves, this honest man faces an impossible choice. An inmate and an officer. Two ordinary men, both trapped by mistakes that any one of us could have made. Unflinching, in jimmy mcgovern's customary style, this urgent bbc drama asks powerful questions about the british penal system. Can mark find the forgiveness he doesn’t think he deserves? And does eric have any choice but to betray his ideals?   release date  26th july 2021