MAXINE Peake, the actress born and brought up in Bolton, is set for another gritty onscreen role, about child abuse.

She plays social worker Sara Rowbotham who bravely exposed the scale of the grooming of young girls by gangs of men in Rochdale. The drama, Three Girls, is based on the true story of just a couple of those groomed and abused between 2005 and 2012. The scandal, ultimately leading to the conviction of nine Asian men, was even greater because the victims’ allegations were virtually ignored for years by police and council staff – a fact which shocked the nation.

Maxine has a personal stake in this particular drama. She felt she could easily have become a real-life victim; two friends suffered this situation and she witnessed other girls being targeted for sex.

Maxine Peake has a long professional c.v. of taking on roles with social significance. In her private life, she supports a variety of causes.

No doubt she will provide another compelling performance in this new must-see drama.