John Simm and Maxine Peake are to co-star in a new BBC One drama called The Village.
The series – from the pen of Silk writer Peter Moffat - follows the residents of an English village through the 20th century and their turbulent lives.
Newcomer Bill Jones will play Bert Middleton, the youngest child of a poor family whose parents John (Simm) and Grace (Peake) struggle to provide for him.
Upstairs Downstairs actor Nico Mirallegro will play the couple's other son, Joe, who works at the Big House and comes into contact with the troubled Caro (Emily Beecham).
Says John Simm: "I'm delighted to be working with such a great director (Antonia Bird) and brilliant writer in Peter - I've long been a fan of both, alongside such a great cast."
"Beautiful writing - a period piece when we're not focusing on the decision makers but the working people," says Maxine Peake. "It is so great to see the other side - changes within a chain of social and political life, in minutiae.
"My character Grace channels all her energy into her family with a focus on ambition and the idea of freedom for her sons. Women moving into the workplace as the men went to fight and finding independence."
