BBC drama Floodlights tells the story of , who was sexually abused by .
The feature-length film, made with Andy’s co-operation, will tell how in 2016 the sports star revealed he had been abused while playing at Crewe, prompting a string of other players to come forward and the FA to launch a review.
In February 2018, Barry was sentenced to 31 years in prison in Britain for repeatedly abusing 12 boys aged eight to 15 between 1979 and 1991, with a judge describing him as ‘the devil incarnate’.
In 1995, Barry had been convicted in the United States of sexually abusing a 13-year-old British boy on a tour, and was .
Andy said: ‘Since speaking out in 2016, I wanted to continue to encourage people to talk without fear to make a change.
‘Floodlights tells my story, which no child should ever have to go through. I hope this film helps to stop abuse in football and in all areas of life.’
What is Floodlights about?
The 80-minute drama, which airs on BBC Two tonight, will follow Andy from a boy with a passion for football to his successful professional career, as it reveals he is no longer able to ignore the haunting memories of the abuse he was subjected to.
It will also examine the power and control held by Barry as he groomed young players and their families with the promise of making their dreams come true, the BBC said.
Andy was 11-years-old and playing for Stockport Boys when he first met Barry, and went on to play football professionally, despite harbouring a harrowing secret.
The tale will follow how Barry manipulated Andy into keeping the abuse he put him through a secret, and how the trauma intensified when Barry married Andy’s sister, after having dated her from when she was 16 and Andy was 14.
In traumatic scenes retold in the BBC Two drama, Andy eventually confronted Barry in prison, sharing how his career was damaged by Barry’s actions.
The film follows how Barry groomed multiple young players and their families, promising he would make their dreams come true while subjecting them to horrific abuse.
Who is in the cast of Floodlights?
Shameless star Gerard Kearns plays Andy, while Jonas Armstrong portrays Barry.
Having originally been interested in playing Andy, Jonas said that when he was first propositioned about playing Barry, he thought: ‘I don’t want to do that.’
‘I had a good discussion with my agent and then I decided yeah, I’m going to go for this, because of the fact that this is an extraordinary piece and it’s to raise awareness for people who might still be suffering and the piece is that strong,’ he said in an interview with Victoria Derbyshire.
‘I kind of had to take myself back and put the project forward before myself as a performer, as an actor, if that makes sense. I thought, without sounding cliché, but this story needs to be told, and if I can help facilitate that in any way shape or form, I’m all for it.’
The actor has previously starred in Robin Hood, Line of Duty, The Bay and Edge of Tomorrow.
As well as playing Ian Gallagher in Shameless, Gerard has starred as Pravik in Chernobyl and as Tommy Marshall in The English Game.
Steve Edge plays Andy’s dad Terry, with Morven Christie playing Andy’s mum Jean. Max Fletcher plays a young Andy, Coronation Street star Neil Bell plays DS Haleford, and Outlander’s Antony Byrne plays Neil Warnock.
Elsewhere, David Loy plays a physio, Akib Ahmed stars as a radio journalist, Mark Holgate portrays DC Blakefield, and Mohammad Sakhi is Ash Stephenson. Gentlemen Jack actress Jessica Baglow plays DC Grace, while Lawton Dickens is Batzy, and Frankie Friend plays Jobbo.
The show is written by Matt Greenhalgh, whose previous credits include Control and Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool, and directed by Nick Rowland, who is responsible for Calm With Horses and Hard Sun.
Floodlights airs tonight (Tuesday May 17) on BBC Two at 9pm.
