Written by Bafta award-winning writer Peter Moffat (Criminal Justice), the six new episodes will see Series 1 regulars Maxine Peake, Rupert Penry-Jones and Neil Stuke all return to their roles, with Frances Barber, Phil Davis, Indira Varma and Shaun Evans joining the cast.
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> Order the Series 2 DVD on Amazon.
Episode 1
Tuesday 15th May 2012, 9pm
Martha Costello is now Martha Costello QC. The cases are bigger and the stakes are higher, but she learns fast that it can be lonely at the top. Clive Reader, burnt by his unsuccessful silk application, tries to be stoic in his defeat. At Shoe Lane Chambers times are tough, and senior clerk Billy struggles to keep things afloat. Loyalties become divided and friendships are tested in the name of justice.
Martha is defending Brendan Kay, a member of one of London’s biggest crime outfits the Farr Family. He’s accused of blinding a car wash attendant who disrespected their number two, Jody Farr. He’s got the victim’s blood on his shoes and confessed in the back of a police car – it looks like a hopeless case. Martha’s job is made harder because Brendan’s solicitor, Micky Joy, is an old-school player of the system who walks both sides of the line.
She doesn’t like him or the way he operates, but Billy warns her that they need his work to keep Shoe Lane afloat. Martha is up against a notorious QC, Caroline Warwick, nicknamed Lady MacBeth for her uncompromising and vicious approach in court. As Martha feels herself pulled by the various political forces around her, she realises to win she will need an all or nothing defence.
Meanwhile Clive takes on a sensitive case with a new solicitor, the fiery and passionate George Duggan, and is pleasantly surprised when he finds that he’s more than met his match.
Episode 2
Tuesday 22nd May 2012, 9pm
Martha is representing Captain Ed Ryan in a Court Martial. He’s accused of disobeying an order, resulting in the death of a 19-year-old private. Under the watchful eyes of Ryan’s distraught family, who want answers, Martha navigates the army’s legal system with the help of Captain Cassidy – Ryan’s Unit Defence Officer and friend.
Martha doggedly seeks the truth which she believes is hidden beneath words of loyalty and honour. As she peels back the layers of past and present wounds, the shocking reality of modern combat is revealed.
For Clive, temptation is never far away: Caroline Warwick offers him some juicy prosecution work to help his silk application and Billy warns him to keep his relationship with George Duggan purely professional – but could this act as a red rag to a bull?
Episode 3
Tuesday 29th May 2012, 9pm
Clive is in Oxford to prosecute three male students accused of sexually assaulting a young waitress.
He is up against three silks who employ playground tactics. Clive begins to lose his nerve, but a chance encounter with his old friend Ed Marmor bolsters his confidence and he discovers a passion for prosecuting which he didn’t know he had. When his client’s honesty is called into question and with the case in danger of collapsing around him, Clive is faced with one of the biggest decisions of his professional career.
In a case that echoes Clive’s, Martha is defending Ricky Armitage, who has trashed his local mini-mart and attacked the shopkeeper. His violence and lack of remorse are astounding, yet Martha can see that he was fated to walk on a self-destructive path and decides that she will try to divert him.
Episode 4
Tuesday 5th June 2012, 9pm
Martha finds herself in a David and Goliath battle, representing the driver of a high security prison van.
When a group of prisoners escape from his van, Michael Ward opens the doors to find another, younger prisoner dead – and he and his firm are held to be responsible. Working alongside his company’s legal team, Martha is incensed to discover that they have no intention of supporting her client. Unless he starts standing up for himself it looks like Ward will become the fall guy.
Chambers take on a new pupil, Daniel Lomas, who helps Martha to get through to her client. Meanwhile Clive is struggling to get through to Fatima Ali, who has convinced herself that she’s responsible for the death of her brother. Billy, still feeling the pressure from Micky Joy, investigates Caroline Warwick and starts to uncover hidden truths.
Episode 5
Tuesday 12th June 2012, 9pm
Martha is representing Jackson Henderson in a death row case at the Supreme Court. Briefs don’t come with higher stakes than this. But Billy is worried; he knows the emotional strain a case like this will have on her, plus Micky is still pursuing her for Jody Farr. With the clock ticking until Jackson’s execution in Jamaica, Martha faces one of the toughest legal arguments of her career.
The day of Fatima Ali’s trial looms, and Clive increasingly feels that he’s not the right barrister for her. At the risk of losing George, Clive persuades Martha to take the brief instead, conveniently leaving him free for the trial of his career, prosecuting Jody Farr.
Martha knows unless Fatima speaks up for herself, the truth will never come out. Just as she thinks the case is lost, Martha is offered a deal with the Devil in return for Fatima’s freedom…
Episode 6
Wednesday 20th June 2012, 9pm
In representing Jody Farr Martha has truly supped with the Devil. Despite pleading his innocence to this crime, Farr is a notorious criminal responsible for the death of Martha’s former client Brendan Kay. But is he getting a fair trial?
Struggling with shifting power plays and an untenable defence, Martha decides to do her job while not allowing Jody to get under her skin. However, when she senses that he isn’t getting a fair trial she suspects foul play and sets a dangerous trap to uncover the truth.
With the date of his tribunal looming Clive focuses all his efforts on prosecuting Jody Farr, but becomes progressively worried about CW’s state of mind and whether he can still support her application to chambers.
In the face of an uncertain future, Billy finds himself trapped by Micky Joy. Loyalties are stretched to breaking point as the trial runs towards its explosive climax.