Defending the Guilty

The series was created by Kieron Quirke and based on the 2010 best-selling memoir by Alex McBride (a criminal barrister).{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/sep/14/defending-guilty-show-celebrates-lawyers-arent-heroes|title=Defending the Guilty: the show that celebrates lawyers who aren't heroes |website=The Guardian|date=14 September 2019}}

• Katherine Parkinson as Caroline Bratt, a senior barrister and Will's pupil master
• Will Sharpe as Will Packham, a junior barrister and pupil
• Gwyneth Keyworth as Danielle Sadler, a junior barrister and pupil
• Hanako Footman as Pia, a junior barrister and pupil
• Hugh Coles as Liam Mingay, a junior barrister and pupil
• Prasanna Puwanarajah as Ashley Jeevaratnam, a senior barrister and Danielle's pupil master
• Mark Bonnar as Miles Flynn, the Head of Chambers and Liam's pupil master
• Claudia Jessie as Nessa, Will's girlfriend

{{Series overview

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| link0S = #Special

| linkT0S = Pilot

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| start0S = {{Start date|2018|09|19|df=yes}}

| color1 = #000000

| link1 = #Season 1

| episodes1 = 6

| start1 = {{Start date|2019|09|17|df=yes}}

| end1 = {{End date|2019|10|22|df=yes}}

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{{Episode table |background=#341d7f |overall= |title= |director= |writer= |airdate= |airdateR= |viewers= |viewersR= |country=U.K |episodes=

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 0

|Title = Pilot

|DirectedBy =

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|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2018|09|19|df=yes}}

|Viewers =

|ShortSummary = Will is a naive, 29-year-old pupil barrister competing with three others for the only available place in chambers. He works for Caroline, who calls herself Mummy and uses him as her personal servant. He works on the case of Mike, whose trial for attempted murder ends in acquittal due to needing to avoid revealing the identity of an informant. Will helps convicted teenage mugger Gracie avoid being imprisoned; soon afterwards she and her accomplice mug him in a tunnel as he is cycling home from work.

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{{Episode table |background=#000000 |overall= |title= |director= |writer= |airdate= |airdateR= |viewers= |viewersR=|country=U.K |episodes=

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 1

|Title = Episode 1

|DirectedBy = Tom George{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0bkbf4t |title=Episode 1 |website=BBC |access-date=2023-11-13}}

|WrittenBy = Kieron Quirke

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|09|17|df=yes}}

|Viewers = {{Unreported UK viewers|1.66}}

|ShortSummary = Same episode as pilot

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}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 2

|Title = Episode 2

|DirectedBy = Tom George{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p07l1n7x |title=Episode 2 |website=BBC |access-date=2023-11-13}}

|WrittenBy = Kieron Quirke

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|09|24|df=yes}}

|Viewers =

|ShortSummary = Hetty is an obnoxious woman with a long criminal record. She is tried for assaulting Deanna, whom her partner, Lee, cheated with. He gives evidence, ostensibly to help Hetty. He deliberately gives evidence which destroys the defence's case, causing Hetty to be imprisoned for eight months. Lee is pleased to have enabled himself to gain custody of his two children by Hetty and to continue his relationship with Deanna.

Will is concerned about a rumour spreading that he had a one-night stand with an attractive young juror, Selina. He says that he merely kissed her.

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{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 3

|Title = Episode 3

|DirectedBy = Tom George{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p07l1pmf |title=Episode 3 |website=BBC |access-date=2023-11-13}}

|WrittenBy = Kieron Quirke

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|10|01|df=yes}}

|Viewers =

|ShortSummary = Will tells two colleagues about his encounter with Selina, that he kissed her passionately in the street and in a taxi, but that he did not have sex with her, rejecting her invitation into her house because he wanted to remain faithful to his girlfriend, Nessa.

Will and Caroline's case against a mugger collapses due to the evidence against him being lost.

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{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 4

|Title = Episode 4

|DirectedBy = Tom George{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p07l1q5s |title=Episode 4 |website=BBC |access-date=2023-11-13}}

|WrittenBy = Kieron Quirke

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|10|08|df=yes}}

|Viewers =

|ShortSummary = Caroline and Will defend a man with an unusual obsession, and also get to know each other a little better.

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{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 5

|Title = Episode 5

|DirectedBy = Tom George{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p07l1r7k |title=Episode 5 |website=BBC |access-date=2023-11-13}}

|WrittenBy = Kieron Quirke,
Alex McBride

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|10|15|df=yes}}

|Viewers =

|ShortSummary = The pupils are competing in a mock trial, complete with real actors. Liam and Danielle are paired against Pia and Will. Pia's stock has crumbled in Chambers after her sexual indiscretion. Will feels guilty about having leaked the information. Nessa finds out that Will is lying to her and confronts him about his affair.

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{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber = 6

|Title = Episode 6

|DirectedBy = Tom George{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p07l1rfv |title=Episode 6 |website=BBC |access-date=2023-11-13}}

|WrittenBy = Kieron Quirke

|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|10|22|df=yes}}

|Viewers =

|ShortSummary = The pupils must address a court for the first time, which for Will means the seemingly straightforward case of defending a drug addict failed by an uncaring system. However, his confidence is rocked by the breakdown of his relationship, and he questions if he is really cut out for a career in law. Caroline is asked to give a lecture to the female bar association, but they are less than pleased by what she has to say.

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The programme was broadcast in the United Kingdom from 19 September 2018 on BBC Two.{{Cite web |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2019-09-16/bbc2-defending-the-guilty-air-date-cast-trailer-plot/|title=Defending the Guilty on BBC Two: air date, cast and more |website=Radio Times|date=16 September 2019}}

The show was recommissioned for a second series,{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2019/defending-the-guilty-series-two|title=BBC - BBC Two commissions Defending The Guilty for a second series - Media Centre|website=www.bbc.co.uk}} but was later cancelled due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web |url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/news/6290/no-series2-for-defending-the-guilty/|title=Defending The Guilty's second series cancelled because of coronavirus|website=British Comedy Guide|date=30 March 2021}}

{{Notelist}}

{{reflist

|refs=

{{cite web|url=https://www.barb.co.uk/viewing-data/four-screen-dashboard/ |date= |publisher=BARB |title=Four Screen Dashboard (See relevant channel and week(s))}}

{{cite web |title=Defending the Guilty – Listings |url=https://next-episode.net/defending-the-guilty/season-1 |website=Next Episode |access-date=18 September 2019}}

}}

• {{BBC programme}}
• {{IMDb title|id=8363040|title=Defending The Guilty}}
• {{British Comedy Guide|tv|defending_the_guilty}}

Category:2018 British television series debuts

Category:2019 British television series endings

Category:2010s British legal television series

Category:2010s British sitcoms

Category:2010s British workplace comedy television series

Category:BBC television sitcoms

Category:British English-language television shows

Category:Legal comedies

Category:Television series about lawyers

Category:Television series by Big Talk Productions

Category:Television shows set in London

Category:Television productions cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic

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