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Warren Brown plays David Wade, a devoted young dad and husband who is trying to the make the best of his new unpaid role as a house husband since his redundancy.

But he's finding the role emasculating and his marriage is suffering. When he and his wife find they can't sort out their differences, their relationship painfully unravels and, finally, takes a terrible and irreconcilable turn.

David will never be the man he once was and has to live with the consequences of his actions as well as those of his father.

Unlike the troubled character he plays, Warren Brown's career is on the up and going from strength to strength. Born and bred in Warrington, Warren had already had a successful career as a professional Thai Boxer before turning his sights to acting. Since that change of direction he has not looked back.

Earlier this year he and his Occupation co-stars, James Nesbitt and Stephen Graham, were thrilled when writer Peter Bowker's powerful 2009 drama, which traces the lives of three ex-servicemen they played who return to Basra, won best drama serial.

Since then, he has been seen as DS Justin Ripley opposite Idris Elba, the eponymous senior detective in ±«Óãtv One's dark, psychological crime thriller Luther. It has proved a hit and Warren is about to reprise his straight-down-the-line detective sergeant and join forces again with Idris as DCI Luther, in two two-hour specials.

So, how does he feel about co-starring with Naomie Harris in a Jimmy McGovern drama? Warren's reply is emphatic.

"I'm absolutely made up. I've always wanted to be in a Jimmy McGovern drama - I don't know how he keeps consistently writing amazing stories. I grew up watching Cracker and The Lakes and I loved The Street. McGovern is one of the best writers in my book.

"The writing is that good that the dialogue goes in really easily which is helpful when the story is very intense to act.

"Being directed by David Blair was a fantastic experience and then I get to play Naomie Harris's husband! Well, it doesn't get any better does it?

"Alison and David's marriage, and how the rot sets in, feels really realistic to me. At the start they are both trying to do the best for each other and their children, who they love unconditionally. It's all the outside pressures of work or lack of it that bare down on their relationship and undo their love.

"Jimmy taps into these sorts of home truths, which we can all recognise and get caught up in. "I hope the viewers will really get into the story. It's multi-layered and morally complicated and I think reflects the stresses and strains that many families face day in day out.

"I think people's sympathies will swing between Alison and David, but they will see why they do what they do.

"Along the way they both behave badly. But then he goes too far and does something which is unforgivable. While his transgression is horrendous and despicable, the audience see what drove him to it.

"But a central twist in the story is that it is Alison in the dock.

"Again, the realism kicks in here because we all hear about people getting off from crimes when they should be sent down and innocent people suffering miscarriages of justice.

"The genius of the story is you don't know what the verdict will be until the last few minutes – just brilliant drama."

±«Óãtv One audiences have most recently seen Warren playing Matt in the dark, romantic comedy Single Father, alongside David Tennant and Suranne Jones.