Sunday tells the story of the events of January 30th, 1972 when British Paratroopers shot dead 13 unarmed civilians, and wounded a further 15, during an illegal civil rights march in Derry, Northern Ireland. 

The programme, made with the full consultation and co-operation of the families affected by the tragedy, has been carefully researched over several years by an experienced factual production team. More than a hundred first-hand interviews have been conducted with British soldiers and officers, priests, politicians, medical experts and eyewitnesses as well as relatives. 

The drama-documentary examines the political context for 'Bloody Sunday', as well as the impact of the first official Government Inquiry into the day itself, conducted by the then Lord Chief Justice, Lord Widgery, in 1972. 

Starring CHRISTOPHER ECCLESTON, CIARAN McMENAMIN, OLIVER FORD DAVIES and BRID BRENNAN, the two-hour drama was filmed in Derry and Manchester, where the production team recreated Londonderry of the 1970s. The re-enactment of the march - in which more than 2,000 local people took part - took place in Derry itself in March 2001. 

Following the transmission of McGovern's multi award-winning drama-documentary Hillsborough, STEPHEN GARGAN and JIM KEYS, members of the Bloody Sunday Organising Committee, invited him to Derry. McGovern was introduced to relatives of the dead, as well as those wounded on Bloody Sunday. Gaslight Productions was formed to research and develop the story. McGovern wrote the script based on interviews with the bereaved and wounded, and soldiers, as well as a wide cross-section of people involved on the day. 

A team of investigative journalists, led by Factual Producer Katy Jones, also conducted painstaking background research for the programme, and corroborated the factual basis of the drama-documentary independently. Key scenes are based on evidence presented to the Widgery and Saville inquiries. 

Producer Gub Neal, said: 'We have always been committed to making this film with the help and support of the local community in Derry. Jimmy McGovern has a great track record of taking individuals' stories and weaving them together to make honest, but sometimes painful, drama. We believe this film presents an accurate account of what happened during and after the Bloody Sunday march. We are grateful to the people of Derry, and to the many individuals who have contributed - from all sides - to the background research for the programme.' 

Sunday has been commissioned by Channel 4's Head of Drama, TESSA ROSS. It is being produced by Sunday (ni) Productions Limited - a co-production between Derry-based Gaslight Productions and Box TV.