Check out new BBC crime drama Showtrial from the brains behind Line of Duty

Virgin Radio

8 Sep 2021, 13:45

Need some more sofa-detective Line of Duty-esque viewing in your life? Look no further than the BBC's latest upcoming court-based drama from the producers behind AC-12's twists and turns - but this time it's set in a courtroom.

The six-part drama unpicks politics and prejudice in a trial and is based on an entrepreneur’s daughter who is arrested after the disappearance of a fellow student.

It's a game of is she guilty? Or has she been falsely accused on a journey from her initial arrest to the final verdict, all through the eye of a media storm.

Creator and writer Ben Richards (The Tunnel, Strike, Cobra) said: "It explores how they can be distorted by other factors, in a world where concepts such as fairness, doubt and reason are afforded such diminishing value."

BBC One drama controller, Piers Wenger, added: "In Showtrial, Ben shows his powers as an independent thinker and an innovative storyteller, and we are delighted to be working with he and Simon Heath to bring this series to BBC One."

Zara Hayes, director, said: “These scripts are thoroughly gripping and yet say something truly resonant about the justice system. I couldn’t be more honoured to bring them to life along with such a wonderful cast and the dream team in British TV drama…”

Simon Heath, World Productions CEO and Creative Director, said: “I’m hugely excited by the brilliant cast who have signed up to bring Ben’s terrific scripts to life.”

Executive Producer for the BBC Mona Qureshi, said: “Showtrial is utterly absorbing, twisty, thought-provoking British drama at its finest and we’re delighted to have found the perfect cast to captivate the audience with this story.”

Starring Tracy Ifeachor (Quantico); James Frain (Star Trek: Discovery) and Sharon D Clarke (Doctor Who), there's currently no trailer or air date yet, but it should be crashing onto our screens this 2021.

You'll be into it quicker than you can shout 'Silence in court!'