If you’ve been enjoying Ludwig’s exceptionally good second series (on BBC One, if you’re wondering), we wouldn’t blame you for thinking it’s as good as Anna Maxwell Martin performances get. But, chances are, you haven’t seen Accused yet. The anthology drama, which first aired more than a decade ago, introduces us to a series of characters who have each been accused of a crime – including Anna’s tormented prison officer, Tina Dakin - and, in our humble opinion, it’s Anna’s best crime drama yet.
Tina’s story is heartbreaking, to say the least. When troubled new inmate, Stephen Cartwright (Robert Sheehan), dies on her watch, her problems have only just begun. A series of betrayals - and cover-ups - from within her own camp result in Tina herself becoming the victim of a harrowing crime, and when she decides to take the law into her own hands, she's the one who ends up on trial. As she stands silent and tense on the dock, the question is, what will her fate be?
Intrigued? With the series available to stream in full tonight (or now, if you like), here’s everything you need to know about Accused before you tune in, including the plot, cast and how to watch Anna’s outstanding episode.
What is Accused about?
Created by Jimmy McGovern, the anthology series, which first aired on BBC One in 2010, follows people who are accused of crimes as each awaits the verdict of their trial. In every episode, we meet a different character and await their fate, which rests on the verdicts of those in court.
As each character makes their way to the dock to find out whether they've been found guilty of a crime, the events that led to them being accused of the crime play out. It’s a moving, deeply thought-provoking series and, as viewers, we’re left questioning whether the person is actually guilty or not.
What happens in Anna Maxwell Martin’s episode of Accused?
Anna stars as Tina Dakin in series 2, episode 4 and her story is pretty dark, to say the least. Tina is a married mother of three who’s struggling to find a balance between her home life and her job as a prison officer at a juvenile detention centre.
When new inmate Stephen Cartwright (Robert Sheehan) arrives, she quickly notices that something doesn’t seem right with him. She asks her colleague, Frank (Ewen Bremner) to put him in a cell with someone else to keep an eye on him – but after Frank ignores the warnings, Stephen is found dead.
Though Tina and her colleague both tell the governor that they didn’t think Stephen was in any danger, Tina struggles to deal with the guilt and, with the encouragement of her husband, she decides to tell the truth. The consequences, however, are far worse than either of them could have imagined, with Tina becoming the victim of a crime herself, as well as an active part in another.
Anna told the BBC of her character: “I felt I’d never really played anyone like Tina before. She’s a prison officer at a youth detention centre and someone who really has limited choices in life and these become increasingly apparent as the story unfolds.
“I read the script and felt really excited. It’s the story of an ordinary woman’s struggle to do the right thing by her family, look out for those in her professional care and eventually follow her conscience – which is her salvation.”
Who’s in the cast of Accused?
The cast of Accused includes:
- Christopher Eccleston (Doctor Who)
- Pooky Quesenl (The Hawk)
- Mackenzie Crook (Detectorists)
- Robert Pugh (West is West)
- Benjamin Smith (Nowhere Boy)
- Ben Batt (In the Dark)
- Andy Serkis (Animal Farm)
- Juliet Stevenson (Professor T)
- Peter Capaldi (Doctor Who)
- Naomie Harris (Skyfall)
- March Warren (Van der Valk)
- Anna Maxwell Martin (The Duke)
- Anne Marie Duff (Bad Sisters)
- Olivia Colman (Broadchurch)
- John Bishop (Fearless)
- Robert Sheehan (Misfits)
- Sean Bean (This City is Ours)
- Sheridan Smith (I Fought the Law)
- Stephen Graham (Little Boy Blue)
- Thomas Brodie-Sangster (Love Actually)
- Joe Dempsie (Skins)
- Josh Bolt (Last Tango in Halifax)
- Oliver Lee (Awaydays)
Is there a trailer for Accused?
Yes, you can watch the trailer for the second series of Accused, starring Anna Maxwell Martin, below.
Is Accused any good?
Yes, it’s a fantastic crime drama that feels genuinely original thanks to its unique premise. Each episode will take you on quite the emotional rollercoaster as you grapple as you grapple with the circumstances surrounding each crime. Fans and critics have heaped praise on the show and it’s little surprise that it won the award for Best Drama Series at the 2011 International Emmy Awards and two accolades at the Royal Television Society Awards in 2013.
How can I watch Accused?
Accused series 1 and 2 are available to watch now on ITVX. To find Anna’s episode, look for series 2, episode 4.
What other Anna Maxwell Martin dramas can I watch now?
If you’re a fan of spy thrillers, we’d recommend A Spy Among Friends. The series brings to life the true story of Nicholas Elliott (played by Damian Lewis) who worked for MI6 in the 1960s and discovered that his close friend and colleague Kim Philby had been secretly working as an undercover agent for the KBG. Anna Maxwell Martin plays Lily Thomas, who interrogates Elliott, and the intense face-off between them makes for truly spectacular viewing. You can watch A Spy Among Friends on ITVX. For something a little lighter, we’d suggest Code 404, which revolves around DI Roy Carver (Stephen Graham) and DI John Major (Daniel Mays), the latter of whom is killed on the job and brought back to life using AI. Anna is, as ever, outstanding as John’s wife, Kelly, who finds herself in the arms of Roy. Code 404 is available to watch now NOW.
