Sean Bean to star as a priest in new Jimmy McGovern drama Broken

Sean Bean to star in new Jimmy McGovern drama on BBC1

Sean Bean to star in another Sharpe adventure (Image credit: ABACA/PA Photos)

Sean Bean will play the lead role of Father Michael Kerrigan in BBC1's new drama series, Broken, written by the creator of Accused and Cracker, Jimmy McGovern

Game of Thrones star Sean Bean will play the lead role of Father Michael Kerrigan in BBC1's new six-part drama series, Broken.

It's written by Jimmy McGovern, the creator of Accused – which saw Sean playing a transvestite accused of murder in 2012 – as well as hits Cracker, The Lakes and The Street.

Father Kerrigan is a Catholic priest presiding over a Northern urban parish. Modern and maverick, yet reassuringly flawed, Father Michael must be confidante, counsellor and confessor to a congregation who, like himself, struggles to reconcile its beliefs with life in contemporary Britain.

“I was very excited at the prospect of working with Jimmy McGovern again," said Sean. "His scripts are raw and real and he creates fantastic and interesting characters that resonate with society today.”

Jimmy McGovern said: “It's fantastic, because I've been trying to work with Sean again ever since he played Tracie Tremarco in Accused, which was astonishing stuff, so I'm over the moon he's jumped on board with Broken.”

Lucy Richer, Acting Controller of BBC Drama and Executive Producer, added: “Jimmy McGovern is a masterful storyteller whose characters truly strike a chord, and I am thrilled that the brilliant Sean Bean is taking on the lead role in his fantastic new series for BBC One.”