Jones to play ex-con in Wainwright’s ITV1 drama

Published Wednesday 18 June 2008 at 16:20 by Matthew Hemley

Exclusive: Former Coronation Street actress Suranne Jones is to star in a new ITV drama about a woman trying to rebuild her life after spending years in prison for murder.

Unforgiven is being created by Sally Wainwright, who wrote ITV’s At Home With the Braithwaites and Bonkers, as well as The Amazing Mrs Pritchard for the BBC.

Wainwright’s writing career started on Coronation Street, which also gave Jones her television break and in which she played Karen McDonald for four years.

Speaking to The Stage, the actress said Unforgiven was a three-parter for ITV1, which is being made by acclaimed drama indie Red Production Company. Headed by Nicola Shindler, Red’s credits include Queer as Folk and Channel 4’s award-winning drama, The Mark of Cain. Shindler will executive produce Unforgiven out of Red’s office in Leeds and the mini-series is expected to air in 2009.

Jones will play Ruth, a woman who has just been released from prison for murdering two policemen years before. A spokeswoman for ITV confirmed Jones’ involvement in the production, but could not confirm further casting.

Jones has become something of an ITV favourite since appearing in Coronation Street. Recent roles include Vincent and Strictly Confidential. She will soon be seen in a new medical drama for the broadcaster called Harley Street, with former soap stars Paul Nicholls and Kim Medcalf. Jones has also appeared on stage in Terms of Endearment with Linda Gray and in A Few Good Men with Rob Lowe.

The actress told The Stage she would like to do more theatre and had her sights set on appearing in a musical. “I would love to do a musical. I have been looking. But I don’t want to do a take-over role, I want to do something from scratch and be part of a show’s development,” she said.