Filming begins on a major new conspiracy thriller by Paul Abbott for BBC ONE
David Morrissey and John Simm star in State of Play, a gripping conspiracy thriller set against the background of Whitehall and Fleet Street, which has begun filming for BBC ONE in London and Manchester, BBC Controller of Drama Commissioning Jane Tranter announced today.
Stephen Collins (Morrissey) is a high-flying ambitious member of parliament and Chairman of the Government's Energy Select Committee.
Cal McAffrey (Simm) is a well-respected investigative journalist and Stephen's ex-campaign manager.
When Stephen's young research assistant Sonia falls to her death on the London Underground, it's not long before revelations of their affair hit the headlines.
Meanwhile a suspected teenage drug dealer named Kelvin Stagg is found shot dead. The discovery that Kelvin and Sonia shared a two-minute phone call on the morning of their deaths draws Cal into an investigation that's always one step ahead of the police.
But friendships are tested and lives are put on the line as an intricate web of lies unfolds.
David Morrissey joins the cast fresh from his acclaimed performance in Out of Control. His previous credits include Murder, Tony Marchant's Holding On and Captain Correlli's Mandolin.
John Simm is best-known for his leading roles in The Lakes and Crime and Punishment.
State of Play also stars Polly Walker, (soon to be seen on screen playing Mary Archer in Jeffrey Archer - The Truth) as Anne Collins, Stephen's wife and object of Cal's increasing affection; and Kelly Macdonald (who has appeared in the hit films Gosford Park and Trainspotting) as Della, Cal's outspoken young colleague.
The series has been written by award-winning writer Paul Abbott who has created many hit series including Clocking Off, Linda Green, Touching Evil and Reckless and whose other writing credits include Cracker.
He says: "State of Play is really about government dancing too close to the corporate devil. By creating the link between a rising star of the government and a young journalist, it looks at the way we're all fed information, the way it's laundered for mass consumption, and how that translates once it makes the front page.
"I fell in love with the idea of watching a tiny piece of journalistic gossip trigger an investigation that gradually unearths a scandal."
Jane Tranter said: "State of Play is a major new drama commission for BBC ONE next year and complements other signature dramas such as Spooks, Clocking Off and Cutting It.
"Paul has created an intense, edgy story of deception, collusion and death whose twists and turns will keep viewers on the edge of their seats. "
Producer Hilary Bevan Jones said: "This is a very human story which also exposes the fall out such an investigation can have on the innocent."
Directed by David Yates, whose BAFTA award-winning production of The Way We Live Now was one of the highlights of BBC ONE drama last year, State of Play is an Endor production in association with the BBC.
The producer is Hilary Bevan Jones and executive producers are Gareth Neame and Laura Mackie.
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