Robbie Coltrane agrees celebrities accused of sex crimes should be named

It is correct authorities reveal the names of prominent individuals who are accused of sex offences, argues actor

Walters says she chose not to refer to any of the high-profile sex scandals when working on the programme because the drama is fictional

Robbie Coltrane has said he believes it is right that authorities reveal the names of celebrities accused of sexual offences.

The actor plays a suspected paedophile In Channel 4's new four-part drama National Treasure, which is based on Operation Yewtree, the police investigation set up after the Jimmy Savile scandal.

One key question the drama lingers on is whether police are correct in leaking the names of suspects.

Coltrane told the Radio Times he has no doubts: “Yes, it is a dichotomy - who do we protect the most?

“The potentially innocent, by keeping them anonymous, or the damaged victims who suffer alone and who wouldn't come forward unless they saw others were?

“In my mind, it's clear. It's the victims who deserve the most protection.”

National Treasure follows old school TV star Paul Finchley (Coltrane), who is accused of historic sex offences.

He faces a public trial as well as the anger and scrutiny of his wife Marie (Julie Walters) and daughter Dee (Andrea Riseborough).

Walters said she chose not to refer to any of the high-profile sex scandals when working on the programme because the drama is fictional.

She said: “If you start bringing all that in, you're coming at it the wrong way. It's not about those cases - it's about the human stuff and how they relate to one another and how they deal with it.

“I only know what I saw flashed on the news, and I didn't really read about them at the time, any of the things that have happened.”

Coltrane and Walters were both in the regular cast of Harry Potter, but this is the first time they have really acted together.

The actress said: “We did have dinner together during filming National Treasure - not often, because I'm usually lying down in my room when I'm not working.

“It's exhausting stuff and there aren't a lot of gags.”