Watch Waterloo Road on iPlayer here / Watch the Waterloo Road trailer on YouTube here.

Congratulations to Molly Wright for Most Promising Newcomer and Best Supporting Actress Nomination. Apostasy has also received nominations for Best Debut Screenwriter, Debut Director and Breakthrough Producer.

Starring Siobhan Finneran, Robert Ems and Sacha Parkinson. Raised in the Jehovah Witness 'The Truth', sisters Alex and Luisa are devoted to each other and to their faith. Their mission is to convert the large Pakistani community of Oldham before Armageddon.

But when Luisa (played by Sacha Parkinson) is found guilty of fornication, Alex and her mother, Ivanna (played by Siobhan Finneran), are forced to ostracise her as punishment for her sin.

As the story develops, it becomes clear that it is Ivanna who must restore God's blessing and secure the spiritual future of her family. Her faith is truly tested when she is forced to choose between her daughters.

Written and directed by a former Jehovah's Witness, this film gives a true insight into a fundamentalist religion that seeks conformity in its devotees. Told through a collection of deeply personal prayers and charged set pieces, Apostasy examines religious identity and the paradox of being in, but not part of, this world. Apostasy is a feature for BBC Films and BFI.

Reviews

The Guardian - Daniel Kokotajlo's debut about life among a religious community in Oldham is authentic, sensitive and subtle but has a sledgehammer narrative punch.
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/oct/09/apostasy-review-daniel-kokotajlo-jehovahs-witnesses

BFI - 'Apostasy' is a remarkable and authentic debut film, providing rare insight into the complex nature of faith, family, duty and love.
http://film.britishcouncil.org/apostasy

BFI - Daniel Kokotajlo, writer-director Apostasy, wins 50k IWC Schaffhausen Filmmaker Bursary.
http://www.bfi.org.uk/news-opinion/news-bfi/announcements/daniel-kokotajlo-apostasy-iwc

Read more about the show: LA Productions website

It stars Nico Mirallegro (The Village), Daniel Mays (Mrs Biggs) and Jodhi May (Ice Cream Girls). The film is produced by LA Productions for the BBC and directed by David Blair (The Street, Accused).

Joint Enterprise Law allows several people to be charged with a crime where they are not the primary offenders. It has been increasingly used in the last ten years to tackle crimes, often murder, which are deemed to be gang-related.

Jimmy McGovern said "Joint Enterprise was first used in Britain's courts a few hundred years ago. It was designed to stop the aristocracy duelling. If one duelist killed another then all involved in that duel (the seconds and the surgeons) were charged with murder. It worked. Britain's aristocrats stopped duelling. Now the law is being used against Britain's youth. If someone dies in a fight and you're involved in any way whatsoever, you could find yourself charged with murder. And, if you do, Heaven help you because the burden of proof required in joint enterprise cases is frighteningly low."

Nico Mirallegro plays a 17-year-old called Johnjo who gives his friends a lift to what he thinks is a trip out for pizza. In fact they plan a violent confrontation that ends in death. Under the law of joint enterprise, Johnjo is charged along with the gang.

Daniel Mays and Susan Lynch (Monroe) play the victim's parents, with Jodhi May and Andrew Tiernan (Prisoners' Wives) as Johnjo's parents. The supporting cast includes Michelle Farley (Game Of Thrones), Jack McMullen (Waterloo Road) and, as a court judge, Michael Gambon.

McGovern added: "When it comes to casting you always have a 'wish list' - a list of actors who'd be perfect for the parts you have written. You never get them of course. They're often too busy or away on holiday or they hate the script or whatever. But on this occasion, I got them all, every single one on my wish list. And I am over the moon."

Jimmy McGovern's Common airs Sunday 6th July on BBC1 at 9pm.