- Radio Times
- Review by:
- Alison Graham
When it was first broadcast in 1996, Jimmy McGovern’s powerful, overwhelming drama about the 1989 disaster at the Hillsborough football ground, with its controversial and forthright allegations of a cover-up, caused a national convulsion of shock. We had seen the tragedy that claimed 96 lives unfold on TV, but McGovern, with great skill, made achingly sad the bald statistics; real people died, all of whom were taken from families who were left without answers.
So now, just weeks after the findings of the Hillsborough Independent Panel were revealed, is absolutely the right time for a repeat. Christopher Eccleston gives the performance of his career as Trevor Hicks and we see vividly his torment as the father who takes his two adored Liverpool FC-mad daughters to a football match and never sees them alive again.
About this programme
Jimmy McGovern's 1996 drama exploring how 96 spectators lost their lives at a 1989 FA Cup semi-final at Hillsborough stadium in Sheffield. The film examines the circumstances that led to fatal overcrowding on the Leppings Lane terrace, and follows three families' battle to find out the truth about the disaster. Starring Christopher Eccleston, Ricky Tomlinson, Annabelle Apsion, Rachel Davies and Mark Womack.
Cast and crew
Cast
- Trevor Hicks
- Christopher Eccleston
- John Glover
- Ricky Tomlinson
- Jenni Hicks
- Annabelle Apsion
- Theresa Glover
- Rachel Davies
- Eddie Spearritt
- Mark Womack
- Jan Spearritt
- Tracey Wilkinson
- Joe Glover
- Scot Williams
- Chief Supt David Duckenfield
- Maurice Roeves
- Dr Popper
- Ian McDiarmid
- Ian Glover
- Stephen Walters
- Adam Spearritt
- Kevin Knapman
- Sarah Hicks
- Sarah Graham
- Tony Edwards
- David Crellin
- Supt Marshall
- John Graham-Davies
- Supt Murray
- Richard Heap
- Vicki Hicks
- Anna Martland
- ACC Jackson
- James Masters
- Dr Slater
- Edward Peel
- Tim King
- Andrew Readman
- Social worker
- Mark Chatterton
- PC with Trevor
- Jack Dearn
- PC One
- Joe Duttine
- PC Two
- Stephen Hackett
- Video technician
- Bruce Jones
- Journalist
- Andrew Lancel
- PC in control booth
- Tony Pitts
- Foreman
- Dennis Planch
- Special constable
- Paul Warriner
Crew
- Director
- Charles McDougall
- Executive Producer
- Gub Neal
- Producer
- Nicola Shindler
- Writer
- Jimmy McGovern
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