From Daily Variety:

BBC greenlights Abbott's 'Exile'

Miniseries to star John Simm and Jim Broadbent

LONDON -- The BBC has greenlit a new miniseries created by Paul Abbott, whose successful U.K. shows have included political thriller "State of Play" and blue-collar drama "Shameless."

British thesps John Simm and Jim Broadbent are heading the cast of "Exile," a three-part psychological thriller scripted by Danny Brocklehurst, a frequent collaborator with Abbott.

"Exile," to air in the U.K. on the corp.'s flagship channel BBC1 next year, is made by AbbottVision and Red, the Manchester-based shingle whose topper Nicola Shindler is exec producing alongside Abbott.

BBC's head of drama commissioning Ben Stephenson described the script as "shocking and moving."

The story recounts how during a crisis in his life, a successful London journalist, played by Simm, returns to his home town for the first time in 18 years where he is reunited with his father (Broadbent) and uncovers a dark family secret.

Shaun Dooley, Timothy West and Claire Goose are the co-stars.

"Exile," which began filming Monday in Manchester, is helmed by John Alexander and produced by Karen Lewis.