Maxine Peake’s Hillsborough drama series ‘Anne’ confirms start date

It’s been announced when ITV’s new mini-series about 1989’s Hillsborough football tragedy begins.

Maxine Peake (Silk, The Village) leads the cast of Anne as inspirational justice campaigner Anne Williams as she attempts to uncover the truth about what happened on that tragic day following her son’s death.

First announced back in 2019, the four-part drama comes from the makers of Bodyguard.

Anne will depict how Williams challenged medical evidence following her son’s original inquest, and refused to accept its verdict of accidental death.

Outlander actor Stephen Walters plays Anne’s husband Steve, Campbell Wallace plays her 15-year-old son Kevin, and Matthew McNulty (Versailles) plays Andy Burnham.

The official synopsis reads: “Anne, from Formby, near Liverpool, was devastated by the loss of her son, 15-year-old Kevin, who was tragically killed at the FA Cup semi-final in 1989 between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest.

“Anne stood defiantly alongside other parents and their families who fought for justice for the 96 loved ones who lost their lives at a football match.

“Determined to unearth the truth about Hillsborough, Anne Williams refused to believe the official line on how the disaster unfolded, seeking new medical opinion, tracking down witnesses whose statements were altered, and leaving no stone unturned in her fight for truth and justice.”

Peake previously commented: “Anne Williams was an extraordinary woman. She spent half her life campaigning for the truth of her son’s death and the other 95 victims who were unlawfully killed at Hillsborough.”

She added: “Her fearlessness and drive to take on the British establishment is mind blowing. I hope we can go some way to bringing the story of Anne, the families, victims and survivors of Hillsborough to an even wider audience.”

Anne begins at 9pm on Sunday 2nd January on ITV.

Writer Kevin Sampson, who was at the 1989 semi-final as a fan, said in 2019: “Anne’s is a story of a mother’s love being stronger than any opponent or obstacle. She refused to lie down, and it’s an honour that her family has entrusted us with telling her inspirational story.”