New legal comedy Defending the Guilty is gearing up to film in the autumn for BBC Two.

The series is from Big Talk Productions and writer Kieron Quirke, and is based on Alex McBride”s book Defending the Guilty: Truth and Lies In The Criminal Courtroom.

The 6 x 30 stars Will Sharpe as Will Packham, an idealistic pupil barrister under the tutelage of a cynical and jaded pupil-master played by Katherine Parkinson.

The series run comes after a successful pilot, described by controller of BBC comedy commissioning Shane Allen as “terrifically vibrant and sure-footed”.

Georgie Fallon produces and Jim Field Smith directs. For more on Defending the Guilty, including shoot dates and key HoDs, log into Production Intelligence.

Big Talk Productions is also busy on the second series of Timewasters, a time-travel comedy about a south London jazz band that goes back to the 1920s. Shooting is also underway on Big Talk”s third series of Mum starring Lesley Manville and Peter Mullan.

Image: BBC