Street star laments drama decline

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Stephen Graham argues BBC should choose drama over dance shows

Actor Stephen Graham, who stars opposite Johnny Depp in the Hollywood film Public Enemies, has hit out at the decline in drama output on British TV.

The 36-year-old, who starred in the award-winning series The Street, said he was "gutted" it was taken off air.

"You can't take money away from great drama like that and put it into people dancing," he told BBC Breakfast.

"That's why actors like me are going over there," he said, explaining his current decision to work in the US.

"It's a shame," he continued. "Where are writers like Jimmy [McGovern] going to put be able to show their work? Where are we supposed to do our good drama?"

Graham's work includes roles in films such as This Is England and Gangs of New York. He was most recently seen in the acclaimed BBC drama Occupation.

"Stephen is entitled to his own views," a BBC spokesman said. "However, the BBC makes more drama than any other channel in the UK and the budget for drama is considerably bigger than that for entertainment."

Bafta-winning series The Street was written by acclaimed screenwriter Jimmy McGovern, whose TV work includes Cracker, The Lakes and Hillsborough.

Three series were made by Granada and screened on the BBC between 2006 and 2009. Cast members included Bob Hoskins, Timothy Spall, Frances Barber and Anna Friel.

In July, McGovern told BBC Radio 4 the series would not be returning for a fourth series, blaming the decision on cutbacks at ITV Studios in Manchester, where the programme was filmed.

"It's finished now because ITV have closed down that drama unit," McGovern explained, adding that he did not wish to produce the series with a different team.

An ITV spokesman said: "High-quality original drama is a core part of our output - it always has been and continues to be."