SHOWTRIAL: FIRST LOOK, TRAILER AND LAUNCH DATE CONFIRMED FOR SECOND SERIES OF BBC DRAMA

The BBC has announced the launch date and released the trailer alongside new artwork for Showtrial. The five-part series will be available on BBC iPlayer from 6am on Sunday 6 October and will air on BBC One on Sunday nights at 9pm.

The trailer sees BAFTA award-winner Adeel Akhtar (Fool Me Once, Sherwood, Ali & Ava) alongside Nathalie Armin (Home, Unforgotten, The Batman), Michael Socha (The Gallows Pole, Chernobyl, This Is England) and Joe Dempsie (Pieces of Her, Game of Thrones). 

Telling a brand new original story, the latest instalment in the anthology series sees climate activist Marcus Calderwood (Barney Fishwick) left for dead in a violent hit and run. He uses his dying moments to apparently identify his killer - a serving policeman. 

From Calderwood’s last breath to the jury’s final verdict, Showtrial introduces us to the charismatic and cocky police officer Justin Mitchell (Michael Socha); Sam Malik (Adeel Akhtar) an anxious defence solicitor with a reputation for winning lost causes; DI Miles Southgate (Joe Dempsie), brought in from a neighbouring force to investigate, and Leila Hassoun-Kenny (Nathalie Armin) a driven CPS lawyer leading the case against the accused.

As public outrage reaches fever-pitch, the series asks what happens when a trial is dominated by cultural divisions and if the truth is ever clear cut. Is a fair trial even possible when tensions are riding so high? 

Showtrial also stars Fisayo Akinade (Heartstopper, Dangerous Liaisons), Tom Padley (The Lost Pirate Kingdom, Silent Witness), Kerrie Hayes (Blue Jean, Tin Star) and Barney Fishwick (Living, The Buccaneers), BAFTA-winner Francesca Annis (Flesh and Blood, Home Fires), Nina Toussaint-White (Bodyguard), Zoe Telford (Men Only), Ali Khan (A Haunting in Venice).

Plus Daniel Kendrick (Inside Man), Frankie Wilson (Against the Ice), Anna Próchniak (The Tattooist of Auschwitz), Anna Wilson Jones (Victoria), John Light (Around the World in 80 Days), Aidan McArdle (Spy/Master), Daisy Badger (The Sandman), Flora Montgomery (The Crown), Pearce Quigley (Detectorists), John Marquez (Doc Martin) and Anna Healy (Mother’s Day). 

Showtrial is created and written by Ben Richards. Executive producers on the series are Simon Heath and Emma Luffingham for World Productions (an ITV Studios company), with Nawfal Faizullah and Katherine Bond for the BBC, and Ben Richards. Julia Ford (Everything I Know About Love, Safe) is Director and Ken Horn (Line of Duty, The Moorside) is Producer. 

Filmed in Belfast with additional filming in Brighton, Showtrial is produced with support from Northern Ireland Screen, in association with ITV Studios which will also handle international distribution.