JUDGE JOHN DEED SERIES 2 NOW FILMING

Article originally posted 4 July 2002

BBC-1 have begun filming on a second season of Martin Shaw starring drama Judge John Deed. Following the huge success of the first series of Judge John Deed, Martin Shaw returns in the title role for a second series, which is now in production for BBC ONE, it was announced today by Jane Tranter, BBC Controller of Drama Commissioning.

Judge John Deed is written by BAFTA award-winning writer GF Newman and produced by Newman under the aegis of BBC Controller of Continuing Series Mal Young.

Says Young: “Quality writing and a quality cast. What more could we ask for from a talent such as GF Newman, who is no stranger to dealing with taboo issues in a hard-hitting fashion.”

Jane Tranter says: “The first series of Judge John Deed proved extremely popular with audiences when it was shown last autumn, and provoked a considerable reaction from the public, the legal profession and the critics.

“This new series follows in the wake of re-commissions for the third series of both Merseybeat and Waking The Dead – exceptionally, before the second series of each have even been transmitted – as well as new series of In Deep, Dalziel & Pascoe and Down to Earth.”

Mr Justice Deed is not an average high court judge. An idealist at heart, the judge’s more traditional colleagues regard him as something of a renegade to the old school tie.

He’s made it to the top of his profession on his own terms, armed with a sharp intellect, a rakish charm, keen wit and passionate belief in justice. Fearless and independent, he is sworn to serve state and sovereign, not the government hacks who constantly try to influence his decisions.

In the first episode, Deed must deal with corruption within the jury and the suspected murder of a QC. A body of a call girl is discovered dumped in a skip, and a high profile diplomat’s car is witnessed at the scene.

The case is further complicated when it is revealed that the British government is engaged in a deal to secure a huge aircraft order from the diplomat’s country.

Away from the courtroom, Deed continues his tempestuous relationship with prosecution barrister Jo Mills (Jenny Seagrove).

His ex-wife Georgina Channing QC (Caroline Langrishe) is now engaged to Cabinet Minister Neil Haughton (Nick Reding). Deed and Haughton are destined not to see eye to eye.

GF Newman, whose previous credits include the ground-breaking BBC series Law and Order and the Channel 4 series The Nation’s Health, says: “Drama is about stretching cosy assumptions to breaking point and finding something worthwhile with which to replace them.”

An all-star cast also features John Sessions, Christopher Cazenove, and Donald Sinden.

Judge John Deed is written and produced by G F Newman and made by One-Eyed Dog Ltd for BBC ONE. Executive Producers for the BBC are Mal Young and Ruth Caleb.

Source: BBC Media Release