| Silk | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Drama, crime, legal |
| Created by | Peter Moffat |
| Written by | Peter Moffat |
| Directed by | Michael Offer David Evans Catherine Morshead |
| Starring | Maxine Peake Rupert Penry-Jones Neil Stuke Tom Hughes Natalie Dormer Nina Sosanya John MacMillan |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Language(s) | English |
| No. of series | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 6 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Hilary Salmon |
| Producer(s) | Cameron Roach |
| Running time | 60 minutes |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | BBC One BBC One HD |
| Picture format | 1080i (HDTV) |
| Original airing | 22 February 2011 |
| Chronology | |
| Related shows | North Square Criminal Justice |
| External links | |
| Website | |
Silk is a British television drama series produced by the BBC and first shown in 2011. Written by Peter Moffat, the series follows a set of barristers, and what they do to attain the rank of Queen's Counsel, known as 'taking silk'.
Contents |
Silk was commissioned by Jay Hunt, then-Controller of BBC One and Ben Stephenson, BBC Controller of Drama Commissioning, and was filmed in July 2010.[1] It is based on Moffat's experiences at the Bar. In an interview with The Guardian, he said "I want to tell it as it really is. The extreme pressure, the hard choices, the ethical dilemmas, the overlap between the personal and the professional, principles fought for and principles sacrificed, the Machiavellian politics, the sex, the drinking, the whole story—life at the bar is the richest possible drama territory."[2]
The series' title refers to the act of being appointed a Queen's Counsel, known as "taking silk". Queen's Counsel wear distinctive full-bottomed wigs and their silk gowns. The silk gown is the same as that worn when appearing in court. It is this gown which gives rise to the colloquial reference to Queen's Counsel as "silks" and to the phrase "taking silk" referring to their appointment.[3]
Silk follows a group of barristers from a chambers in London. The series' main focus is on Martha Costello (Maxine Peake) and her ambition to become Queen's Counsel as well as on her rival, Clive Reader (Rupert Penry-Jones), and the chambers' two new pupils, Niamh Cranitch (Natalie Dormer) and Nick Slade (Tom Hughes). The chambers' senior clerk, Billy Lamb (Neil Stuke), also features heavily.[4]
The series' writer, Peter Moffat, also wrote the series Criminal Justice and North Square, as well as an episode of Kavanagh QC. Before the series started, Moffat said in an interview, "I wanted Silk to be full of politics and intrigue. From my experience at the Bar, I felt life in chambers had all of those components, with big stories and lots of courtroom drama—but I wanted to make it as much about barristers and their life in chambers as about the trials".[4]
| Character | Actor/actress | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Martha Costello | Maxine Peake | Defence barrister, aspires to become a Silk |
| Clive Reader | Rupert Penry-Jones | Barrister, aspires to become a Silk |
| Billy Lamb | Neil Stuke | Senior Clerk of the Chambers |
| Nick Slade | Tom Hughes | Pupil, shadows Martha |
| Niamh Cranitch | Natalie Dormer | Pupil, shadows Clive |
| Kate Brockman | Nina Sosanya | CPS prosecutor |
| John Bright | John MacMillan | Middle Clerk of the Chambers |
| Keith Wearing | Dorian Lough | Senior Clerk from a rival Chambers |
| Episode | Title | Directed by | Written by | Ratings (in millions) | Original airdate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Episode One" | Michael Offer | Peter Moffat | 6.34 | 22 February 2011 |
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Fresh from a successful defence in a murder trial, barrister Martha Costello is immediately thrown two last-minute cases by the chambers' senior clerk, Billy. The cases are being heard the following morning and Martha stays up all night preparing. Next morning she is joined by Nick, her new pupil (trainee barrister), to whom she's showing the ropes. They hurry off to meet the defendants: Rush (an aggravated burglary) and Mercedes (a drug mule). Rush is a quietly menacing man who questions whether Martha is up to the job, while Mercedes is pregnant and evidently the victim of a cruel drug-running ring. Martha hasn't had a chance to prepare thoroughly and the judge passes a heavy sentence on Mercedes. With no time to lament her shortcomings, Martha moves on to the Rush case. Nick is convinced he is guilty, while Martha argues that only the jury should decide his fate. The victim is Dodd, a sprightly elderly war hero. Martha's cross-questioning wins only sympathy for him, especially when he reveals a precious medal for heroism was one of the items stolen. Later, at a party in her chambers for legal clients, the solicitor for Rush, the defendant, berates her for her apparent incompetence. However, the next day in court Martha proves that the police had led their witness to identify Rush as the burglar and had also tampered with the crime scene by removing evidence; she wins the case. Rush is a free man and Martha has furthered her cause in the race for Silk – to become a QC. But as she's leaving chambers a package is left for her, rocking her sense that justice wins out in the end. |
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| 2 | "Episode Two" | Michael Offer | Peter Moffat | 5.67 | 1 March 2011 |
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Famous for her opposition to the way the Justice system treats rape victims, Martha is handed a case to represent a man accused of raping his ex-girlfriend. Billy is adamant she needs to do it to prove to the Silk panel that she can do her job no matter how morally repugnant she finds the case. With Clive prosecuting for the ex-girlfriend, Martha feels that she will have her work cut out to prove her client innocent. However, as the case continues, Martha's prejudices are challenged by her pupil and the case itself as she realises that only the victim and the defendant know what actually transpired. Martha realises that only the jury can make the decision as to whether her client is guilty or innocent. Meanwhile, Niamh gets her first day in court – a bail application for Martha's old client, Gary Rush. Due to a court mix-up, Gary has someone else's charge sheet and it gives the impression that this is Gary's first offence. Niamh is unsure of what to do and phones Nick for advice from Martha. Niamh keeps quiet about Gary's criminal past and he is given bail. Both Martha and Niamh have personal troubles as Niamh makes the mistake of sleeping with Clive, her pupil master, while Martha discovers she's pregnant and decides to book an abortion. |
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| 3 | "Episode Three" | David Evans | Peter Moffat | 5.80 | 8 March 2011 |
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Martha defends Mark Draper, a vulnerable teenager accused of cottaging in a men's toilet in a popular park along with two other men. Noah and Clive each defend the other two men. On the day of the trial, Noah is taken ill and Nick is forced to take his place at the last minute. He is embarrassed when he doesn't know a point of law. When Martha cross-examines the police officer who was surveying the toilets, she discovers that Mark lied to her about never having been there before. A furious Martha tells Mark that she cannot continue representing him. However, when Michael, Mark's solicitor, spots one of the defendants talking conspiratorially with the police officer in the toilets at court, Martha re-examines that defendant's record. There are many arrests for cottaging but no convictions. Furthermore, the arresting officer is the one in court today. Martha reveals that the defendant is, in fact, part of a honey trap and that the police officer illegally used entrapment in order to make these latest arrests. The judge dismisses the case. Later, Niamh and Nick defend two dog owners for possessing dangerous animals. This is the first case they've handled and Clive is watching them. While Niamh looks like a natural, Nick struggles to make a proper argument. However, when Nick discovers a crucial piece of information, that his dog is pregnant, he is able argue that she cannot be put down. In contrast, Niamh is unable to save her dog. |
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| 4 | "Episode Four" | David Evans | Peter Moffat | 5.84 | 15 March 2011 |
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Martha has been forced to defend Rachna Ali, an Asian policewoman accused of racism. However, at the same time, Mark Draper, the vulnerable teenager that she defended in episode three, has been arrested for murder. Martha wants to take the case but Billy insists Clive does it. Despite admitting to making the racist comment, Rachna refuses to plead guilty. Suspicious that Rachna isn't telling her something, Martha insists the police officer to whom Rachna made the comment, PC Johnson, is called to testify. Under pressure from Martha, PC Johnson reveals that he wasn't offended by Rachna's comment. The misconduct board find Rachna guilty but decide not to fire her; instead, they let her off with a caution. Kate tries to garner support to get rid of Billy by getting Clive onside. Smelling a rat, Billy calls on another senior clerk, Keith, from another set of chambers to try to tempt Clive away. Later that night, Keith approaches Clive and offers him a superior position at his chambers. Seriously tempted, Clive goes to make sure Niamh is onboard as his pupil to leave with him. However, on returning, Clive discovers Billy waiting for him. He has been set up. Terrified that Billy could destroy his career, Clive agrees to spy on Kate and John and pass on information to Billy. |
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| 5 | "Episode Five" | Catherine Morshead | Steve Thompson | 5.74 [5] | 22 March 2011 |
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Martha is given a high-profile prosecution case against Tony Paddick, a school teacher accused of the attempted murder of a pupil, as Peter Moffat's slick, fast-paced legal drama continues. Martha complains about taking a prosecution case, but Billy persuades her it will be good for her Silk interview. Anyway, it should be an easy win as Noah Zeigler, a low-level barrister from their chambers, is defending. After reading the brief, Martha thinks that attempted murder is the wrong charge and wants to reduce it to grievous bodily harm (GBH). However, she finds herself at loggerheads with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), who won't agree to the change. As the case continues, Martha is able to make Tony Paddick look guilty but she is furious as she sees Noah missing countless opportunities for a good defence. Desperate not to win without a fight, Martha gives Noah a big hint on how to defend the case, but he fails to deliver a killer blow. Subtly, Martha has to do it for him and the jury return a not guilty verdict for attempted murder. However, they do find him guilty of GBH. The CPS are furious and lodge a formal complaint. At the same time, Martha and Clive have their Silk interviews. Martha discovers she is being interviewed by one of the country's highest-ranking female judges, while Clive finds himself in front of his pupil, Niamh's, father, a retired judge. |
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| 6 | "Episode Six" | Catherine Morshead | Peter Moffat | 5.72 [6] | 29 March 2011 |
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Martha is preparing for the biggest case of her career – defending Mark Draper, accused of murdering a high court judge. Clive is defending Mark's girlfriend, Emma Slater, also accused of the murder. After visiting the scene of the crime, Mark tells Martha the judge attacked him with a golf club and it was self-defence, but Martha tells him there isn't any evidence to support this. She instructs an expert, Bill Cutler, to look at the golf club. He finds blood on it even though it wasn't found at the scene of the crime. As the case continues, the judge's wife, Helen, gives evidence that suggests Mark is guilty and Emma was an innocent bystander. However, when Martha cross-examines her, Helen is forced to admit that she removed the golf club from the crime scene to protect her husband. Bill reveals that Mark couldn't have stabbed the judge because of the angle of the wound and Martha realises it was Emma who killed the judge. Mark was protecting her; she is pregnant with his child. With the return of Alan Cowdrey, head of chambers, it is time to discuss the fate of the pupils. They decide to put it to a "moot" and then a chamber's vote. Viewers not learning who, if either, secured a place in chambers. Meanwhile, solicitor Brian Frogett tells Billy he wants Martha for the Gary Rush case, which Billy agrees to in exchange for extra work from Cant Froggett Solicitors. Billy tries to pressure Martha into giving Alan the murder case so that she can take on Gary Rush, but she refuses. Frustrated, Billy resorts to bribing the List Officer, managing it so that Martha could do both cases, one after the other.Martha is then attacked at the court by Gary Rush, who has been told by Niamh that she is pregnant. He punches her in the stomach and she loses the baby. When Kate discovers the bribe, she tries to tell Alan but he refuses to listen. Frustrated, Kate turns to Clive and suggests a breakaway set of chambers, with Clive as its new head – as long as he gets silk. Billy has falsely led Clive to believe that he has indeed achieved silk. It is then announced by Billy, that Clive did not get silk, but Martha did to chambers. This altercation means the vote and therefore the position of the pupils remain ambiguous. With unfair help from Clive Nimah would appear to do the better moot, however Martha's defence of those in chambers who planned the revolt may leave obliged to support her pupil Nick. |
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A second series of six episodes has been commissioned by the BBC and will air in 2012.[7]
Writing in The Daily Telegraph, barrister Sarah Palin praised Silk, saying that "the opening episodes do a good job of capturing the relentless pressure of the criminal Bar" and that "the competition for silk, while a useful plot device, also accurately reflects the fiercely competitive nature of the Bar", but added "the characters featured are a little more youthful than their real-life counterparts" and that the storyline in which one of the pupil barristers shoplifts his wig and gown struck "an absurd note".[4] The Telegraph's television reviewer, James Walton, compared the series to Moffat's previous production, North Square, but said that Silk was "more viewer-friendly" and the characters "far easier to divide into heroes and villains". He concluded that the first episode was "a perfectly OK hour of telly—marred only by the fact that we’ve come to expect a bit more than that from Moffat."[8] Alex Aldridge of The Guardian, meanwhile, called the series "underwhelming" and stated that it implied that cocaine use was "rife" amongst criminal barristers.[9] Also writing in The Guardian, Lucy Mangan implied that the series was predictable and called it "a rare misfire by Peter Moffat [...] and aggravated by the squandering of Peake, whose usually overflowing talents seem to have been dammed here rather than encouraged to irrigate an oddly bloodless role".[10]
The first series averaged 5.9 million viewers, consolidated figures show.[11]