Is Time based on a true story?
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video  A gritty new prison drama has landed on BBC One, with Time arriving on our screens on Sunday night. Starring Sean Bean and Stephen Graham, Time is a high-stakes representation of life in the modern British correctional system, seen through the eyes of two people on different sides of a high-security facility. The three-part series from the BBC, written by Jimmy McGovern, follows new inmate Mark Cobden (Bean), a schoolteacher, and prison guard Eric McNally (Graham). Graham recently told Metro.co.uk and other press that the hard-hitting new series is difficult to watch  and hes not wrong. I love the fact that stuff I do is difficult to watch for people, Graham said. Comparing Time to Netflix period drama Bridgerton, he said, Thats not difficult to watch. I think this is difficult to watch because its coming into your living room. Heres everything you need to know. Sean Bean and Stephen Graham star in the gritty new series (Picture: BBC/Matt Squire/James Stack)  While the series is not based on a real life story, creator Jimmy and the cast of the show went to great lengths to ensure the series was as realistic as possible. Stephen previously revealed that he shadowed a real prison guard to learn the ins and outs of prison life. Speaking to The Sun, the actor said: I absorbed this fella like a sponge. These prison guards, theyre trying to do a job to the best of their ability. Their job is to protect themselves, protect the prisoners and make it a nice, reasonable, cohesive place where everyone can do their time, treated with respect.  Stephen plays a prison warden in the new drama (Picture: BBC/James Stack)  The shows synopsis reads: Mark Cobden (Sean Bean) is newly imprisoned, consumed by guilt for his crime, and way out of his depth in the volatile world of prison life. He meets Eric McNally (Stephen Graham), an excellent prison officer doing his best to protect those in his charge. However, when one of the most dangerous inmates identifies his weakness, Eric faces an impossible choice; between his principles and his family.  Time will air weekly on BBC One from Sunday June 6 at 9pm. All episodes are available to watch on BBC iPlayer. If youve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page  wed love to hear from you. For more stories like this, check our entertainment page. Follow Metro.co.uk Entertainment on Twitter and Facebook for the latest celeb and entertainment updates. You can now also get Metro.co.uk articles sent straight to your device. Sign up for our daily push alerts here. MORE : Time is a hard to watch prison-based drama from the BBC but its worth every minute  MORE : Killing Eve star Jodie Comer wound up working with Stephen Graham after sliding into Jack Thornes DMs