BBC1 legal drama will boast cast of unknowns

Published Tuesday 16 May 2006 at 15:15 by Liz Thomas

BBC1 is to broadcast a new investigative legal drama, titled The Innocence Project, with a cast almost entirely made up of unknown talent and penned by an upcoming writer.

The eight-part series, which is being made by Paul Abbott’s production company Tightrope Pictures, is scheduled to air in the autumn.

The drama follows a professor, played by Monarch of the Glen actor Jon Ford, who hand picks a team of law students to tackle difficult or forgotten cases, wrongful convictions and failures of the criminal justice system.

Jane Tranter, BBC controller of drama, said: “It is great to be working with the creative powerhouse of Hilary Bevan-Jones [co-founder of Tightrope] and Paul Abbott, and to have the attention of Tightrope focused on smart pre-watershed drama on BBC1. Oliver Brown is an extraordinary and bright new writing talent, and his first major drama series is packed full of engaging characters and stonking stories.”

Actors involved have only a handful of major television and films credits between them and include Luke Treadaway, who graduates from LAMDA this summer, Irish newcomer Ruth Bradley, What A Girl Wants talent Oliver James and Christine Bottomley, who most recently appeared in Jimmy McGovern production The Street. It also features Stephen Graham, who has appeared in Goal and Gangs of New York.

The commission comes at a time when the BBC is looking to address the lack of authored, original pieces on television and follows the recent BBC Creative Futures report looking into the Corporation’s editorial policy, which recommended that there should be more opportunities for young talent.

With a pre-watershed time slot, The Innocence Project is aimed at teenagers - a demographic for whom Tranter recently told The Stage she was keen to provide specific programming. Executives admit that 12-16 year olds have been particularly under served in recent years.