Sue Johnson has revealed how claustrophobic she felt watching Time, the harrowing new BBC drama she stars in.
Former Royle Family and Brookside actress is among the stellar cast of Jimmy McGovern's latest series, appearing as the on screen mother of Sean Bean's character, Mark Cobden, a teacher, husband and father, who is handed a four year sentence after killing someone in an accident.
For those who haven't yet binged it all, we'll not say what the accident is, suffice to say it has dire consequences for all involved.
Sue's character is a middle class woman who never ever imagined her son would end up behind bars and is then left devastated when his imprisonment means he can't be there for an important family event.
Ahead of episode 2 airing on BBC1 on Sunday, Sue appeared on Friday's This Morning and telling hosts Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary how she got into character, she said: "I kept thinking oh gosh' if my son went to prison I'd be terrified every minute, knowing the reality of how it is inside a prison."
Sue, who told the hosting duo that she had worked in prisons before added: "He (Sean) is our eyes, because he's a mild-mannered man not used to this life.
"We are able to live it through him in a way."
And then going onto how Time, which also stars Stephen Graham, made her feel, Sue added: "For me, what I got out of it when I read and watched it, was the claustrophobia of it all; being trapped.
"Who do you go to? Who do you trust? You have to find a way of living life in there. There's nowhere to hide and nowhere to run. You're trapped in this cell and this atmosphere and you have to protect yourself."
Viewers have also said they found watching Time very claustrophobic.
One tweeted: "Just watched #time on BBC. Wow that was intense. The thought of being in prison is horrendous. It made me feel claustrophobic just watching."
Another reacted: "Gritty, claustrophobic, harrowing, brilliant. The best thing I’ve seen for a long time."
