Drama Floodlights Premieres Tues 17 May on BBC Two

Floodlights is a feature-length single drama that tells the powerful and important story of Andy Woodward, a former professional footballer whose courageous disclosures about sexual abuse he suffered as a young player shocked the industry and the world.

Andy found the courage to speak out about his youth coach, Barry Bennell’s, sexual abuse in November 2016. Hundreds more men, many of whom were also victims of Bennell, found the courage to speak out about their abuse as a result, exposing a national scandal in the country’s most popular sport.

The true story follows Andy’s journey from a young boy with a passion for football to a successful professional footballer who appears to have the world at his feet until he can no longer ignore the haunting memories of his youth coach’s abuse and his career is cut short. It investigates Bennell’s power and control over young players and their families, promising to make their dreams come true.

Written by Matt Greenhalgh (Control, Film Stars Don’t Die In Liverpool) and directed by Nick Rowland (Calm With Horses, Hard Sun), Floodlights stars Gerard Kearns (The Last Kingdom, Shameless), Jonas Armstrong (Hollington Drive, The Bay), Morven Christie (Lockwood & Co, The A Word) and Steve Edge (Benidorm, The Madame Blanc Mysteries).

Airdate: Tuesday 17 May 2022 at 9.00pm on BBC Two.