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New
series of Judge John Deed now filming on location for BBC ONE
Following
the huge success of the first series of Judge John Deed, Martin
Shaw returns in the title role for a second series, which is now
in production for BBC ONE, it was announced today by Jane Tranter,
BBC Controller of Drama Commissioning.
Judge John Deed is written by BAFTA award-winning writer GF Newman
and produced by Newman under the aegis of BBC Controller of Continuing
Series Mal Young.
Says Young: "Quality writing and a quality cast. What more
could we ask for from a talent such as GF Newman, who is no stranger
to dealing with taboo issues in a hard-hitting fashion."
Jane
Tranter says: "The first series of Judge John Deed proved extremely
popular with audiences when it was shown last autumn, and provoked
a considerable reaction from the public, the legal profession and
the critics.
"This new series follows in the wake of re-commissions for
the third series of both Merseybeat and Waking The Dead - exceptionally,
before the second series of each have even been transmitted - as
well as new series of In Deep, Dalziel & Pascoe and Down to
Earth."
Mr
Justice Deed is not an average high court judge. An idealist at
heart, the judge's more traditional colleagues regard him as something
of a renegade to the old school tie.
He's made it to the top of his profession on his own terms, armed
with a sharp intellect, a rakish charm, keen wit and passionate
belief in justice. Fearless and independent, he is sworn to serve
state and sovereign, not the government hacks who constantly try
to influence his decisions.
In the first episode, Deed must deal with corruption within the
jury and the suspected murder of a QC. A body of a call girl is
discovered dumped in a skip, and a high profile diplomat's car is
witnessed at the scene.
The case is further complicated when it is revealed that the British
government is engaged in a deal to secure a huge aircraft order
from the diplomat's country.
Away
from the courtroom, Deed continues his tempestuous relationship
with prosecution barrister Jo Mills (Jenny Seagrove).
His
ex-wife Georgina Channing QC (Caroline Langrishe) is now engaged
to Cabinet Minister Neil Haughton (Nick Reding). Deed and Haughton
are destined not to see eye to eye.
GF Newman, whose previous credits include the ground-breaking BBC
series Law and Order and the Channel 4 series The Nation's Health,
says: "Drama is about stretching cosy assumptions to breaking
point and finding something worthwhile with which to replace them."
An all-star cast also features John Sessions, Christopher Cazenove,
and Donald Sinden.
Judge John Deed is written and produced by G F Newman and made by
One-Eyed Dog Ltd for BBC ONE. Executive Producers for the BBC are
Mal Young and Ruth Caleb.
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