State of Play

State of Play explores the tangled relations among three of the most powerful institutions working in today’s complex social world: politics, law enforcement and the media. Set in contemporary Britain, Paul Abbott’s richly textured and tautly plotted thriller could take place in almost any setting. An ambitious member of Parliament, an aggressive investigative journalist who previously served as the politician’s campaign manager and law enforcement officials exploring a series of (apparently) unrelated crimes all end up linked to one another and to matters of corruption, integrity, and responsibility. The twists, turns, and surprises make this production one of the best in the history of television thrillers. Produced by Endor in association with the BBC, Paul Abbott, Gareth Neame, and Laura Mackie served as executive producers with Hilary Bevan Jones as producer, and David Yates as director. The principle cast includes John Simm, David Morrissey, Polly Walker, Kelly Macdonald, Bill Nighy, Amelia Bulmore, Benedict Wong, Marc Warren and James McAvoy. Amid the efforts of government spin doctors and journalism’s quest for headlines or bottom lines, the quest for “truth” is increasingly tortured and blurred. For dramatizing such potent contemporary problems, a Peabody Award goes to State of Play.