British Comedy Guide
Babylon. Image shows from L to R: Finn (Bertie Carvel), Liz Garvey (Brit Marling). Copyright: Nightjack
Babylon

Babylon

  • TV comedy drama
  • Channel 4
  • 2014
  • 7 episodes (1 series)

Police-based comedy drama focuses on the over-stretched Metropolitan Police Force. James Nesbitt stars as Chief Constable Richard Miller. Stars James Nesbitt, Brit Marling, Paterson Joseph, Jonny Sweet, Bertie Carvel and more.

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Key details

Genre
Comedy Drama
Broadcast
2014
Channel
Channel 4
Episodes
7 (1 pilot + 1 series)
Creators
Danny Boyle, Robert Jones, Jesse Armstrong and Sam Bain
Stars
James Nesbitt, Brit Marling, Paterson Joseph, Jonny Sweet, Bertie Carvel, Ella Smith, Martin Trenaman, Jim Howick and more
Writers
Sam Bain, Jesse Armstrong, Jon Brown and Tony Roche
Directors
Jon S. Baird and Sally El Hosaini
Producers
Derrin Schlesinger, Robert Jones, Jesse Armstrong, Sam Bain and Danny Boyle
Company

Welcome to London's police force, with accusations of racism, the use of lethal force, and corruption all part of the daily routine. Luckily for the public, the capital city has the charismatic but uncompromising Commissioner Richard Miller at the helm, the man with the impossible job of keeping the capital safe.

But Miller has a secret weapon. Director of Communications Liz Garvey is a high-flying PR whizz from America, who's aim is to revolutionise the image of the police by dragging it into the new media age and throwing the doors open.

In an era where everyone with a phone is a cameraman, and crime is being reported on 24 hour rolling news before the police have received a 999 call, controlling the news agenda isn't easy. Particularly when your Communications deputy is the Machiavellian Finn, who's more used to trading stories with journalists over boozy lunches, and is determined to build the fortress walls higher. If that means bringing down the person who got what should have been his job, so be it...

Among Miller's other colleagues overseeing the city's streets from police HQ are Deputy Commissioner Charles Inglis and Assistant Commissioner Sharon Franklin, both with half an eye on the top job. And then there's Tom Oliver, Miller's loyal but faux pas prone assistant.

If life is tough in the rarefied atmosphere at the top, it's not much easier for the police on the streets below. Public Order Specialists Davina and Clarkey find their personal lives spilling over into the riot van; and in the Armed Response Unit, Tony and Banjo must contend with the increasingly fragile emotional state of Warwick, still reeling from shooting an unarmed man.

If the gun squad didn't have enough to deal with, Robbie moves closer to his dream of being a Firearms Officer - an eventuality to strike fear into all that know him.

Over it all, the quiet presence of documentary director Matt is lurking, filming, just waiting for the chance to capture an expose that will stun both police and public alike.

Additional details

Production
Studio
Picture
Colour

Broadcast details

First broadcast
Sunday 9th February 2014 at 9pm on Channel 4
Most recent repeats
  • Friday 8th January 2016 at 10:30pm on London Live - Episode 0
  • Saturday 2nd January 2016 at 10:30pm on London Live - Episode 0
  • Thursday 11th December 2014 at 3:05am on 4seven - Episode 4

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