It’s been a striking year for British dramas – the BAFTA judges are going to have a tough time next year.

There’s been the powerful ITV four-parter Little Boy Blue about the murder of 11-year-old Croxteth schoolboy Rhys Jones in 2007.

The BBC’s three-parter Three Girls - on three consecutive nights - had the nation gripped as it told the equalling harrowing, outstandingly acted story of a grotesque group of sex offenders grooming young females in Rochdale.

Here Jimmy has teamed up with Colin McKeown and Donna Molloy of prolific LA Productions.

It is a dream team as they have already changed the face of daytime telly and have made such a strong contribution on prime time.

Colin said at a special screening at the official launch at a Liverpool church that Broken raises the bar. "It is a state-of-the-nation drama,’’ he said.

Multi-award winning Jimmy is one of the most well-respected writers when it comes to dramatising the search for justice - whether it was his stunning Granada drama Hillsborough or his last work, Reg starring Tim Roth as the father of a military policeman killed in Iraq who takes on Tony Blair.

Jimmy’s name and reputation can certainly attract the big names – here the impressive cast list stars Sean Bean as caring father Michael Kerrigan; Anna Friel as feisty Christina as poverty-stricken mum-of-three Fitzsimmons and Line of Duty’s Adrian Dunbar as a wordly, weary man of the cloth Father Peter Flaherty - who is father Michael’s own confidante and spiritual sounding board.

Broken, directed by Ashley Pearce (of Maigret fame) grabs your attention from the first scenes to the powerful closing credits.

Indeed, it is to McGovern’s credit that he can establish characters pretty quickly.

Anna Friel excels as Christina – its a performance of real maturity.

There is mutual respect between Jimmy and Anna which has grown since they worked on Brookside in the 80s.

Broken (episode one was postponed following the Manchester bombing) was filmed in Liverpool - but it could be any major Northern town.

It has all the McGovern rstamps weaved throughout.

There are elements reminiscent of Ken Loach’s ‘’I, Daniel Blake’’ – notably the Job Centre scenes where Christina is confronted by cruel red tape.

Father Michael is a man of sheer goodness. His role in life is to be there for people, to listen and act where necessary.

A priest’s lot in these modern times is heavy one.

Bean’s expressive features speaks volumes as he soul searches.

We see him as a 10-year old and in later episodes we will see his teenage family life.

What happened in his youth is hinted at in a series of intriguing flashbacks.

The pace is well balanced and the music is perfectly pitched.

The first sixty minutes simmers into action and there are some scenes that do shock.

There were gasps of disbelief at the screening when one character does something that acts as a dangerous catalyst.

I have been reviewing Jimmy’s work for two decades.

He remains a class act who admits he cries when he writes. He laughs, too, but Broken’s lighter moments are few.

Mr McGovern urges viewers to stick with it.

Episode one leaves you wanting to know more about likeable Father Kerrigan and his urban flock.

The confessional box plays a huge part in the proceedings and is a clever device to establish the pain, pressure and struggles of members of the ordinary working class congregation.

Is Broken referring to the good priest or society in general?

You will have the next five compelling episodes to judge for yourself.

Tuesday, BBC One at 9pm.