Eccleston, Crook board McGovern drama

Christopher Eccleston and Mackenzie Crook have signed up for new BBC crime drama Accused.

The six-part series, which is being written by Jimmy McGovern, focuses on how six men came to be in court, The Guardian reports.

In 'Willy's Story', Eccleston stars as a lapsed Catholic plumber who commits adultery, while 'The Soldier Story' sees Crook play a soldier called Buckley.

Production has already begun on Crook's episode, with Eccleston expected to start filming later this month. The four other leads have not yet been cast.

"In the time it takes to climb the steps to the court we tell the story of how the accused came to be here," McGovern explained. "We see the crime and we see the punishment. Nothing else. No police procedure, thanks very much, no coppers striding along corridors with coats flapping. Just crime and punishment - the two things that matter most in any crime drama."

The show is being produced by the same team that worked on The Street.