Justice (BBC-1 2011, Robert Pugh, Gillian Kearney)

Daytime drama series Justice takes us inside the Dovefield Public Justice Centre in Liverpool. As the series begins the centre has only just opened its doors and Judge Paddy Coburn (who is returning to his home town after 40 years away) is already finding the going tough. Not only are the public not keen on the idea of the centre neither are the media. Coburn realises though that the centre is a major leap forward and an attempt to bring a new angle to tackling the crime, drugs and anti-social behaviour that is rife in the town.

Judge Coburn can send offenders to prison like any other judge – but he also has a range of unconventional programmes at his disposal; community reparation projects, educational workshops and drug treatment. he open-plan offices force a wide-range of services to sit cheek by jowl – uniquely the Police, Crown Prosecution Service, Probation Service, Youth Offending Team sit on adjacent desks, along with drug, alcohol, housing and debt advisors. A major part of Coburn’s team is probation office Joe Gateacre meanwhile local journo Louise Scanlon is doing her best to make the centre headline news and local bad boy Jake Little also proves problematic for Coburn.

A high standard is maintained with this latest BBC Daytime offering, strong casting and scripts mean it could quite easily stand up as a prime time drama too.

production details
UK | BBC One / 5×45 minute episodes / Broadcast 4 – 8 April 2011 Weekdays @ 2.15pm

Producer: Colin McKeown

cast
ROBERT PUGH as Patrick Coburn
GILLIAN KEARNEY as Louise Scanlon
GARY MAVERS as Joe Gateacre
CHRISTINE TREMARCO as Marie
JAKE ABRAHAM as Jake Little
ELLIE PASKELL as Kaz Kenny
JODIE COMER as Sharna Mulhearne
TOM GEORGESON as Father Jim Kelly
LOUIS EMERICK as PD
TRICIA PENROSE as Haley Gosling
CHRIS MASON as Peter Catley
JOHN CONTEH as Leonard Hancock
KELLI HOLLIS as Kelly Catley
NOREEN KERSHAW as Saarah Myerson
ALICYA EYO as Angie Sparks
SHEILA REID as Alice Sparks
NICKY BELL as Darren Green

THE EPISODES
1. THIS TOWN (4 Apr 2011)
2. LIKE FATHER LIKE SON (5 Apr 2011)
3. THERE BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD…(6 Apr 2011)
4. THE SECRETS OUT (7 Apr 2011)
5. LAST CALL FOR LOVE (8 Apr 2011)