Future Of Fear

A devastating global crisis is seen through the eyes of a single Manchester family in Russell T Davies’ ambitious new drama…

- Sean Marland

Former Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies peeks into the future again this week – but in a very different kind of TV drama.

In new BBC1 series Years and Years, Davies imagines the next 15 years of UK history through the eyes of an ordinary British family in an ambitious social drama starring Rory Kinnear, Russell Tovey and Emma Thompson.

The story focuses on the Lyons family, who live in Manchester, and begins in the present day before quickly skipping forward five years to see what the future holds for the four Lyons siblings – Daniel, Stephen, Rosie and Edith – who form the focal point of the drama.

As we pick things up, Daniel (Russell Tovey) is getting married to Ralph, Stephen (Rory Kinnear) is worried about his kids, Rosie (Ruth Madeley) is chasing a new man, and Edith (Jessica Hynes) is set to head back home after years away. Presiding over them all is their grandmother, the sharptongued Muriel (Anne Reid).

THE LONG VIEW