The Escape Artist 

A junior barrister specializes in spiriting people out of tight legal corners.

Stars:

David Tennant, Toby Kebbell, Sophie Okonedo

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
David Tennant	...	Will Burton 3 episodes, 2013
Toby Kebbell	...	Liam Foyle 3 episodes, 2013
Sophie Okonedo	...	Maggie Gardner 3 episodes, 2013
Ashley Jensen	...	Kate Burton 3 episodes, 2013
Brid Brennan	...	Mary 3 episodes, 2013
Tony Gardner	...	Trevor Harris 3 episodes, 2013
Anton Lesser	...	Richard Mayfield, QC / ... 3 episodes, 2013
Roy Marsden	...	Peter Simpkins / ... 3 episodes, 2013
Stephen Wight	...	Danny Monk 3 episodes, 2013
Gus Barry	...	Jamie Burton 3 episodes, 2013
Nicholas Woodeson	...	George Balfour, QC / ... 3 episodes, 2013
Jeany Spark	...	Tara 3 episodes, 2013
Kate Dickie	...	Jenny 2 episodes, 2013
Patrick Ryecart	...	Gavin De Souza QC / ... 2 episodes, 2013
Jessica Ransom	...	Helen 2 episodes, 2013
Faton Gerbeshi	...	Vadim / ... 2 episodes, 2013
Michael Cochrane	...	Judge 2 episodes, 2013
Monica Dolan	...	Eileen Morris 2 episodes, 2013
Robert A. Foster	...	Classroom Kid 1 / ... 2 episodes, 2013
Roxanne Gregory	...	Sandra Mullins 2 episodes, 2013
Aaron Niles	...	Alfie 2 episodes, 2013

Storyline

Revolves around Will Burton, a talented junior barrister of peerless intellect and winning charm who specialises in spiriting people out of tight legal corners. He is in high demand as he has never lost a case. But when his talents acquit the notorious prime suspect in an horrific murder trial, that brilliance comes back to bite him with unexpected and chilling results, not to mention a shocking twist in the tale.

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Plot Keywords:

murder | barrister | punched in the stomach | cell phone | boy | 

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Taglines:

There is a line between law and justice.

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

2013 (UK)

Also Known As:

A szabadítóművész

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Endor Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

180 min (3 parts)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Michael Cochrane appeared in the Peter Davison Doctor Who episode "Black Orchid"

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Connections

Remade as La main du mal (2016)

User Reviews

Law makers and law breakers

This BBC mini-series was short on credibility but pretty long on tension and suspense, helped by convincing acting and pacey direction. David Tennent, who appears to be everywhere on TV at the moment, is a hot-shot young city barrister who gets a sadistic murderer off on a technicality, but who by snubbing him after the trial wreaks a terrible fate for his family. Although an eye-witness to the horrific crime perpetrated on his wife in their holiday cottage, Tennent finds himself the biter-bit as the perpetrator turns to his chief rival in the "Young Lawyer of The Year" stakes, Sophie Okinedo, who also appears to be everywhere on TV at the moment, as his defence solicitor, her character's detachment and ambition now ironically reflecting Tennent's own character earlier.

Like I said, the plot was unbelievable but once you cottoned onto this and surrendered to it as a sort of UK-based John Grisham entertainment, it was an engaging enough production. The acting helped to paper over the plot holes, Tennent as the high-flier brought to earth with a crash, Toby Kebbell as the clinical but devious psychopath Liam Foyle and Okinedo as Tennent's young legal rival, her ambition clouding her judgement in taking on the case of such a brutal killer.

Spread over three nights you could see the padding and as I indicated earlier the sensationalist story-line probably belonged more in a Stateside rather than London-based setting, over the top final confrontation and all.

I personally prefer my thriller dramas when they're a bit more grounded in reality but as escapist nonsense I suppose it just about justified three hours of my time.