Filming is now underway on a new BBC One legal thriller starring David Tennant as barrister who specialises in spiriting people out of tight legal corners.
Created and written by David Wolstencroft (Spooks, Shooting Dogs), The Escape Artist also stars Toby Kebbell (RocknRolla, Black Mirror), Sophie Okonedo (The Slap, Criminal Justice), and Ashley Jensen (Extras, Ugly Betty).
Burton’s 100% success record of getting people off the legal hook has earned him the nickname of“The Escape Artist”. But when his talents acquit the prime suspect in a horrific murder trial, that brilliance comes back to bite him with unexpected and chilling results.
“The law often seems like an intellectual exercise”, says Wolstencroft, “But scratch under the surface, and it’s all blood and guts. I wanted to write a thriller set in the legal world that’s as much about those primal feelings as it is about the twists and turns of the case.
“David Tennant is one of the most accomplished and iconic actors of his generation. I cannot wait to see him in Will’s shoes.”
Producer, Hilary Bevan Jones, says: “The outstanding cast we have assembled, which is headed by David Tennant, Toby Kebbell, Sophie Okonedo and Ashley Jensen is a testament to David’s breathtaking and original script. Directed by Brian Welsh and produced by Paul Frift, I believe The Escape Artist will be one of the most anticipated TV drama events of 2013.”