Filming is underway on BBC Scotland drama Counsels, as the broadcast unveils the young legal hotshots leading the series.
The eight-part drama, co-created by Skins creator Bryan Elsley and Gillian McCormack, is set in Glasgow, Scotland, and follows the lives of group of twentysomething lawyers a few years out of university at a crucial moment in their careers. Elsley’s Balloon Entertainment, known for Clique and Champion, is producing for BBC One, BBC iPlayer and BBC Scotland in association with All3Media International. ZDFneo in Germany is a co-producer.
Brandon Grace (My Lady Jane, Hamlet Hail to the Thief), Ro Kumar (Traces, Accidental Death of an Anarchist), Eilidh Park (Wind of Change), George Prentice (The Pendragon Cycle), Alyth Ross (Last Light, Dirty Angels) and Rebecca Bell (Outlander: Blood of My Blood) will play the lawyers navigate their sometimes complex and messy lives as explore the world of law.
A wider ensemble cast includes established actors such as Michelle Gomez (The Flight Attendant, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina), Derek Riddell (Happy Valley, Industry), Laura Haddock (What It Feels Like For a Girl, The Recruit), Daniela Nardini (This Life, Sunset Song), Michael Nardone (Traces, The Night Manager), Sally Howitt (River City, Dinosaur), Stuart Bowman (Guilt, Department Q), Neshla Caplan (The Rig, Rebus) and Stephen Purdon (River City, Sweet Sixteen).
Elsley said the series would introduce “a galaxy of Scottish acting, writing and directing talent to our audience, while McCormack added the series was set against the backdrop of the dynamic, exciting and contemporary city of Glasgow, of which I am hugely proud.”
The production was announced back in March as one of three new BBC dramas out of Scotland. Along with Grams, a darkly comic thriller from Line of Duty producer World Productions, and The Young Team, adapted from Scottish author Graeme Armstrong’s debut novel, Counsels partially offset criticism that came from the cancellation of long-running soap River City.
Louise Thornton, Head of Commissioning, BBC Scotland, said: “We’re delighted to see the cameras start rolling on Counsels. Bryan and Gillian have created a wonderful world showcasing brilliant young lawyers whose professional and personal lives are as dramatic as the cases they represent. Counsels is part of the single biggest BBC investment in drama in Scotland for over a decade and we can’t wait for audiences to get to know these new exciting characters and to get caught up in their lives, loves and dramas.”
David Swetman, SVP Content and Commercial Strategy, All3Media International said the series “is sure to be an international success, as seen in ZDF‘s early boarding as a key co-production partner.”
Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama, and Thornton ordered the series. Elsley and McCormack, are writers, creators and exec producers, with further episodes written by Maryam Hamidi (Vigil) and Jingan Young (Red Eye). Gaynor Holmes and Stephanie Fyfe are exec producers for the BBC with the same Gavin Smith for BBC Scotland and Daniel Donnelly and Dave Evans for Balloon. Brian Kaczynski is the producer and Lynsey Miller (Surface S2, The Turkish Detective) and Siri Rødnes (Shetland, River City) are the directors. Katharina Kremling is the Commissioning Editor for ZDFneo and Screen Scotland as provided production support. All3Media International, which shops Balloon’s programming, is the international distributor.
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