SHOWTRIAL CONFIRMED FOR SECOND SERIES ON BBC ONE

The BBC has announced the return of hit drama Showtrial, as exclusively revealed by TV Zone last month, with a brand new cast and explosive murder investigation. Made by World Productions for BBC One and iPlayer, the fictional drama is written and created by Ben Richards.

The new Showtrial will star BAFTA award-winner Adeel Akhtar (Sherwood), Nathalie Armin (Home), and Michael Socha (The Gallows Pole) and will once again centre around a hotly contested criminal trial that divides the nation and takes place in the full glare of the media spotlight.

When the high-profile climate activist Marcus Calderwood is left for dead in a violent hit and run, he uses his dying moments to identify his killer - a serving policeman. But who is this unnamed ‘Officer X’? What does his own history reveal about the nature of trauma and revenge, and was Marcus’s death a careless accident or cold-blooded murder?

From the victim's last breath to the jury’s final verdict, Showtrial takes us into the worlds of the charismatic and cocky officer Justin Mitchell (Michael Socha); Sam Gill (Adeel Akhtar), an anxious defense solicitor with a reputation for winning lost causes; and Leila Hassoun-Kenny (Nathalie Armin), a rigorous CPS lawyer leading the case against the accused.

As public outrage reaches fever-pitch, Showtrial questions what happens when a trial is dominated by contentious issues and whether the truth is ever clear cut. Is a fair trial possible when tensions are riding so high?

Showtrial creator and writer Ben Richards says: “I am very grateful to the BBC for the opportunity to explore another sensational trial which I hope will be just as entertaining as our first outing. I love writing Showtrial and I’m honoured to have a cast of such high quality to deliver it.”

Adeel Akhtar says: “I’m a big fan of Ben’s writing and so excited to be given the opportunity to join the second series of a brilliant show.” Nathalie Armin says: “I’m thrilled to be a part of this brilliant story. Leila is a fascinating role and I can’t wait to bring her to life.”

Simon Heath, CEO, World Productions says: “Ben’s sharp, timely and provocative scripts have once again attracted a stellar cast to this new season of our Showtrial anthology. I can’t wait to see how Adeel, Nathalie and Michael bring to life Ben’s compelling triumvirate of lead characters.”

Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama says: "We're so excited to once again join forces with Ben Richards and World Productions to bring a new unmissable Showtrial to BBC One and iPlayer. With Adeel, Nathalie and Michael leading the cast, and a brand new central mystery to be played out in front of the nation, Showtrial will have viewers hooked from the start."

Showtrial (5x60) is created and written by Ben Richards, directed by Julia Ford (Everything I Know About Love, Safe) and produced by Ken Horn (Line of Duty, The Moorside). Executive producers are Simon Heath and Emma Luffingham for World Productions (an ITV Studios company), with Nawfal Faizullah for the BBC.

Filming on Showtrial begins in November in Belfast, and further casting will be announced in due course.