BBC AMERICA'S DRAMAVILLE PRESENTS AWARD-WINNING CONSPIRACY THRILLER "STATE OF PLAY" IN DECEMBER

Acclaimed miniseries from Shameless writer Paul Abbot and Harry Potter director David Yates stars Bill Nighy, John Simm, David Morrissey, James McAvoy and Kelly Macdonald

Experience a rollercoaster thriller of deception and collusion in the corridors of power. Following the critically acclaimed series Luther, The Hour and Whitechapel, BBC AMERICA's Dramaville (hosted by Luther star Idris Elba) presents another opportunity to see the award-winning conspiracy drama, State of Play. Written by Paul Abbott (Shameless) and directed by David Yates (Harry Potter), the miniseries stars Bill Nighy (Love Actually), John Simm (Life on Mars), David Morrissey (South Riding), James McAvoy (X-Men: First Class) and Kelly Macdonald (Boardwalk Empire). State of Play premieres Wednesday, December 7, 10:00pm ET/PT as part of BBC AMERICA's Dramaville.

The six-part miniseries' intoxicating storyline and impeccable cast instantly won over fans and critics when it debuted on BBC AMERICA and lead to the feature film version starring Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck and Helen Mirren. State of Play, which redefined the television miniseries, returns to television in celebration of BBC AMERICA's weekly slot Dramaville, the home for groundbreaking British drama.

BBC AMERICA'S General Manager, Perry Simon, says: "I'm delighted that Dramaville, our weekly showcase for the very best of British drama, gives us the perfect opportunity to bring State of Play to a whole new audience. With its dream cast, fascinating plot and brilliant writing, State of Play is the gold standard for contemporary miniseries."

A dynamic combination of murder, suspicion, deceit and intrigue - State of Play examines the tumultuous world of respected journalist Cal McCaffrey (Simm) and his sarcastic newspaper editor Cameron Foster (Nighy) as they attempt to unearth the connection that two unrelated murders have with a prominent, yet deceptive politician (Morrissey). Revelation upon revelation pile up in the aftermath of these two seemingly unconnected events, ultimately bringing to light shady dealings between the government and major corporate powers. Friendships are tested and lives are put on the line as an intricate web of lies unfolds.

State of Play follows the stylish and cinematic crime thriller, Whitechapel, continuing BBC AMERICA's weekly British drama slot Dramaville, airing Wednesdays at 10:00pm ET/PT and hosted by Luther star Idris Elba.

CAST AND PRODUCTION CREDITS

Stephen Collins David Morrissey (South Riding, The Other Boleyn Girl)
Cal McCaffrey John Simm (Life on Mars, Doctor Who)
Anne Collins Polly Walker (Caprica, Rome)
Della Smith Kelly Macdonald (Boardwalk Empire, No Country for Old Men)
Dan Foster James McAvoy (Atonement, The Last King of Scotland).
Cameron Foster Bill Nighy (Love Actually, Pirates of the Caribbean)
DCI William Bell Philip Glenister (Ashes to Ashes, Life on Mars)
Andrew Wilson Michael Feast (Macbeth, Penelope)
Dominic Foy Marc Warren (Wanted, Hustle)
George Fergus James Laurenson (One Day, MI-5)
Greer Thornton Deborah Findlay (Cranford, Torchwood: Children of Earth)

Writer/Executive Producer Paul Abbott (Cracker, Shameless)

Director David Yates (Harry Potter, The Girl in the Caf�, Sex Traffic)

Executive Producer Gareth Neame (Downton Abbey, MI-5)

Executive Producer Laura Mackie (Bleak House, Pride)

State of Play is an Endor production in association with BBC

BBC AMERICA delivers US audiences high-quality, innovative and intelligent programming. Established in 1998, it has been the launch pad for talent embraced by American mainstream pop culture, including Ricky Gervais, Gordon Ramsay, Graham Norton, and successful programming formats including ground-breaking non-scripted television like Top Gear and top-rated science-fiction like Doctor Who. Owned by BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the BBC, BBC AMERICA has attracted both critical acclaim and major awards including an Emmy, four Golden Globes and ten Peabody Awards. The channel attracts one of cable's most affluent and educated audiences and is available on digital cable and satellite TV in more than 71 million homes. It broadcasts in both standard and high-definition, with content available On Demand across all major digital platforms. Online, www.bbcamerica.com is the place to go to dig deeper into pop culture with a British twist.