Top Telly - The Street BBC television series

In all three series, McGovern has mentored up-and-coming writers to create uncompromising potent stories about people who live on the same street in the North West of England, although the first and sixth episodes are wholly McGovern's voice.

Leading directors David Blair and Terry McDonough return to direct The Street, and the executive producers are Jimmy McGovern and Sita Williams for ITV Studios. The BBC executive producer is Polly Hill, Commissioning Editor, Independent Drama, BBC England.

The series has attracted the cream of British acting. The best performing talent has been drawn by the prospect of working on arguably one of our finest series.

The cast list boasts Timothy Spall, reprising again his memorable role as the lovable Eddie. The high-calibre line-up also features: Bob Hoskins, Frances Barber, Anna Friel, Daniel Mays, Jonas Armstrong, Joseph Mawle, Stephen Graham and Ruth Jones.

"The Street has genuinely struck a chord with people," Jimmy reflects. "I think it works because it tells truthful, yet extraordinary stories about ordinary people. All the stories are about heart and humanity. Viewers can relate to these characters – we can all put ourselves in their shoes and think, 'there but the grace of God, go I'."

Matthew Bird, who also worked with McGovern on The Lakes, says: "Jimmy is just a great story-teller. He is excellent at pinpointing people's emotions and always wears his heart on his sleeve. At the centre of most episodes is a heartfelt love story.

"Jimmy also has a very strong moral sense. In his stories, those who live by the sword, die by the sword. Everyone gets the comeuppance they deserve. In one of the episodes in this series, for example, a really racist character ends up falling in love with a lovely Polish woman. Jimmy has a highly-developed sense of right and wrong."

Sita Williams, whose impeccable track record includes many hit dramas, including Vincent, The Forsyte Saga, Island At War, Always And Everyone and Reckless, is emphatic about what is so strong about Jimmy's work.

"The three most important elements in any drama are the script, the script and the script. Jimmy is such a brilliant writer. He's the most modest writer I know and would hate to be compared to the greats of literature. But, like them, he deals with the major problems of what it is to be a human being. He reflects on the human condition in the most gripping way.

"If you don't have a script, you're nowhere. You can try to paper over the cracks, but viewers are not stupid – they always notice. For instance, you can try and cover up your script by putting loud music over it. But when there's a loud soundtrack, I always think, 'shut up, let me hear the words!' The script has to work on its own merits. You can get seduced by music, but Jimmy's words always work on their own."

Sita explains further: "Jimmy is also a master of dialogue. He writes in the way people speak – which is why we always get such fantastic actors in The Street. His lines are so easy to say. He writes with terrific clarity and brevity. We always end up cutting the first 15 pages of a script because we feel we don't need all this explanation – we just want to get to the nub of why we're bothering to tell this story as quickly as possible. Jimmy has a wonderfully economic way of recounting a story."

The Street

Series of stories from people living in the same street

Starring Timothy Spall, Bob Hoskins, Frances Barber, Anna Friel, Daniel Mays, Jonas Armstong and Jonas Armstrong.