Kavanagh QC (ITV 1995-1999, John Thaw, Lisa Harrow)

Memorable TV favourite John Thaw stars as James Kavanagh, one of the best legal minds in Britain for whom law is supreme. Despite his lofty position he has a natural sympathy with the underdog and often takes difficult cases for little reward. Can he rise to the top without his relationships with teenage children and aristocratic wife suffering?

Memorable moments:
Look out for guest appearances from heavyweight actors such as Alison Steadman, Tom Courtenay, Kenneth Cranham, Virginia McKenna and Michael Williams.

Trivia:
Thaw had always resisted doing a court-based drama because he hated wearing hats: “So the last thing I wanted to do as have this grey horse-hair thing stuck on my head.” The actor had been mauled by the critics after starring in A Year In Provence and Kavanagh was specially commissioned for him by ITV executive Ted Childs. It was an instant success getting 13 million viewers for series one.

Kavanagh QC was produced by Chris Kelly. Genial Kelly is well known to millions of thirty and fortysomethings as the former host of the popular movie show Clapperboard.

Despite ending it’s run in 1999 a rogue episode aired in 2001.

production detail
UK / ITV – Central / 27×90 minute episodes / Broadcast 3 January 1995 – 29 March 1999and one episode 25 April 2001

Creators: Susan Rogers, Ted Childs / Music: John Keane / Legal Consultant: David Etherington / Script Editor: Liza Marshall / Executive Producer: Ted Childs

cast
JOHN THAW as James Kavanagh QC
LISA HARROW as Lizzie Kavanagh
OLIVER FORD DAVIES as Peter Foxcott QC
ANNA CHANCELLOR as Julia Piper
DAISY BATES as Kate Kavanagh
TOM BRODIE as Matt Kavanagh