Films So Good

ITV has shared a first look at stars Steve Coogan, Sharlene Whyte and Hugh Quarshie in new drama Stephen. The mini-series will consist of three episodes and is a sequel to Paul Greengrass’ 1999 film The Murder of Stephen Lawrence, Whyte (Small Axe) will play Stephen’s mother Doreen while Quarshie (Holby City) reprises the role of his father, Neville. Coogan, who recently presented the second season of “This Time with Alan Partridge”, stars as DCI Clive Driscoll who helped secure the conviction of those responsible for the death of the Lawrences’ beloved son.

The Story

The show portrays events from 2006, thirteen years on from Stephen’s death on April 22, 1993, when he was targeted in a racially motivated attack while waiting for a bus in Well Hall Road, Eltham.

Despite knowing the identity of their child’s killers, Doreen and Neville Lawrence struggled to get justice for their son, with the original investigation into the murder failing to convict those responsible.

Doreen and Neville’s ongoing pursuit of justice led to a public inquiry that branded the Metropolitan Police as institutionally racist, which brought about changes to the law and police practices and transformed thinking and understanding of racial inequality in the UK.

Six years on from the Inquiry, however, no progress had been made in Stephen’s case.

The new drama follows Doreen and Neville in their ongoing struggle to achieve justice and details how a detective – DCI Clive Driscoll, who had been working closely with the Lawrences – put together an investigation that finally secured the conviction of Stephen’s murderers, 18 years after his death.

Stephen is being made with the full support of the Lawrence family, including Baroness Doreen Lawrence and Dr Neville Lawrence, who have given the drama their blessing.

Stephen will air this autumn on ITV.