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STATE OF PLAY BBC TV VERSION

Warner - BBC Video / Region 1 / out now

Featuring David Morrissey, John Simm, Bill Nighy, Kelly MacDonald,

With the big screen version currently riding high it is definitely time to take another look at the mesmerising BBC mini-series that paved the way. Absolutely stunning, State of Play is to the naughties what Edge of Darkness was to the 1980's - the conspiracy thriller series du jour, brilliant acted and superbly written the serial journeys into the dark heart where the media and the UK political scene are wary bedfellows and isn't happy with what it finds.

Stephen Collins (Morrissey) is a high-flying, ambitious member of parliament and Chairman of the Government’s Energy Select Committee. Cal McCaffrey (Simm) is a well-respected investigative journalist and Stephen’s ex-campaign manager. When Stephen’s young research assistant, Sonia, falls to her death on the London Underground, it’s not long before revelations of their affair hit the headlines. Meanwhile a suspected teenage drug dealer named Kelvin Stagg is found shot dead.The discovery that Kelvin and Sonia shared a two-minute phone call on the morning of their deaths draws Cal into an investigation that’s always one step ahead of the police. But friendships are tested and lives are put on the line as an intricate web of lies unfolds.

The two pivotal roles are those of Stephen Collins and journo Cal McCaffrey of course and as usual Morrissey (who is easily one of the best actors in the world full stop) and the equally good John Simm are superb, Morrissey disintegrating before our eyes and Simm's McCaffrey seeming to get scruffier as the serial progresses.

Its a real ensemble piece though as (like the Magnificent Seven) key players are recruited to the journalist cause, Bill Nighy is a legend and his role as editor Cameron Foster adds a much need level of light heartedness to proceedings, equally good is gorgeous voiced Kelly MacDonald as fellow journo Della, special mention must go to Marc Warren (who is proving himself to be a more than capable talent) as businessman Dominic Foy who is unable to control events that are happening around him. Seriously good and not to be missed, State of Play is British TV at its best.

Extras are audio commentaries on episodes 1 and 6 by writer Paul Abbott and director David Yates as well as producer Hilary Bevan Jones and editor Mark Day.

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