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Series 1, Episode 1

Defending The Guilty. Image shows from L to R: Will Packham (Will Sharpe), Caroline Bratt (Katherine Parkinson), Mike (Ian Burfield). Copyright: Big Talk Productions
Will is an idealistic pupil barrister. But his boss doesn't respect him, his clients are all guilty and he is fighting for his job. He is starting to wonder if he has got what it takes.

Further details

Will and Caroline are defending an old lag of a murder suspect with overwhelming evidence against him. But what with Caroline being distracted by her failed silk application they end up pleading innocent anyway.

Meanwhile, Will learns from his fellow pupils that he's last in the running for the job at the end of the year and - worrying all his work has been for nothing - does something he'll regret. Only, a bit of smart thinking can partially save the day, and a piece of brutal cynicism goes a little further.

Notes

This episode is the same storyline as the pilot, and contains much of the same footage. Certain scenes were re-filmed to take into account cast changes. Hanako Footman takes over from Emily Berrington as Pia and Claudia Jessie replaces Jessica Ransom as Nessa.

Broadcast details

Date
Tuesday 17th September 2019
Time
10pm
Channel
BBC Two
Length
30 minutes

Cast & crew

Cast
Will Sharpe Will Packham
Katherine Parkinson Caroline Bratt
Gwyneth Keyworth Danielle
Hugh Coles Liam
Hanako Footman Pia
Prasanna Puwanarajah Ashley
Claudia Jessie Nessa
Guest cast
Sofia Barclay Selina
Ian Burfield Mike
Georgie Glen Judge
Shanu Hazzan Jake
Grace Hoggg-Robinson Gracie
Cally Lawrence Lorraine
Nneka Okoye Becca
Marcus Onilude DI Soulsby
Kirsty Wark Self (Voice)
Writing team
Kieron Quirke Writer
Production team
Jim Field Smith Director
Georgie Fallon Producer
Kenton Allen Executive Producer
Saurabh Kakkar Executive Producer
Jim Field Smith Executive Producer
Kieron Quirke Executive Producer
Matthew Justice Executive Producer
Alex McBride Associate Producer
Jo Alloway Line Producer
David Webb Editor
Jonathan Paul Green Production Designer
Rachel Freck Casting Director
Wiz Francis Costume Designer
Katie Rodgers Graphics
Lara Singer Development Editor
Jamie Cairney Director of Photography
Juliette Tomes Make-up Designer
Paul Judges 1st Assistant Director
Kate Daughton Commissioning Editor

Press

TV review: Defending The Guilty

Given the Supreme Court deliberations are dominating the news today, this is either the best or worst day to launch a comedy about lawyers.

Steve Bennett, Chortle, 17th September 2019

Defending the Guilty: overstuffed with stereotypes

A new adaptation of Alex McBride's memoir is not quite as funny as it thinks it is.

Alistair McKay, Evening Standard, 17th September 2019

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