Ecclestone to star in TV crime drama

Former 'Doctor Who' star Christopher Eccleston is being reunited with 'Cracker' creator Jimmy McGovern for a new BBC1 crime drama.

McGovern’s new six-part series 'Accused' also features 'Pirates Of The Caribbean' and 'The Office' actor Mackenzie Crook.

Each separate hour-long story tells how a character accused of a crime came to be in the dock.

Eccleston plays a plumber and lapsed Catholic who fails to be a faithful husband, while Crook’s episode sees him portray a soldier described as “a man you need on your side”.

Eccleston – who played the Time Lord before David Tennant – recently said that he wanted to take on more comedy roles to surprise everyone and himself.

He and McGovern previously worked together on powerful dramas 'Cracker' and 'Hillsborough'. The new series also reunites the creative team behind BBC1 hit 'The Street'.

McGovern said: “It’s great to work with Chris again and I’ve often tried in the past to get Mackenzie into something of mine.

“And, needless to say it’s wonderful to reunite the team that made 'The Street'.”

The further four episodes of Accused will be filmed in and around Manchester until the end of August and other cast members are yet to be announced.