Judge John Deed
Judge John Deed | |
---|---|
G.F. Newman | |
Starring | Martin Shaw Jenny Seagrove Barbara Thorn Louisa Clein Simon Ward |
Theme music composer | Debbie Wiseman |
Country of origin | United Kingdom |
Original language | English |
No. of series | 6 |
No. of episodes | 29 (list of episodes) |
Production | |
Executive producers | Mal Young Ruth Caleb |
Producer | G.F. Newman |
Original release | |
Network | BBC One BBC HD (2007) |
Release | 9 January 2001 18 January 2007 | –
Judge John Deed is a British
The factual accuracy of the series is often criticised by legal professionals and journalists; many of the decisions taken by Deed are unlikely to happen in a real court. The romanticised vision of the court system created by Newman caused a judge to issue a warning to a jury not to let the series influence their view of trials—referring to an episode where Deed flouts rules when called up for jury service. A complaint was made by a viewer about one episode claiming biased and incorrect information about the MMR vaccine, leading the BBC to unilaterally ban repeats of it in its original form.[1] All six series (with the exception of the two banned episodes from Series Five) have been released on DVD in the UK.
Premise
Sir John Deed (played by
Other recurring characters include Deed's rebellious, animal rights activist daughter Charlie (played by Louisa Clein), who is initially a law student but later progresses to the courts; Deed's police friend, deputy assistant commissioner Row Colemore (played by Christopher Cazenove); and his clerk, Rita "Coop" Cooper (played by Barbara Thorn), who is often on hand to temper some of his more radical ideas. Rita "Coop" was involved in many scenes of the show and was shown frequently in Judge John Deed advertisements. The first three series of the programme have a self-contained structure, with a trial reaching its conclusion by the end of an episode. In later years, the series added a serialised format, with stories running over a number of episodes and a greater focus on the personal lives of characters other than Deed, with the main case concluding in each episode.[3]
Production
Newman devised his new series to highlight what he believed to be an out-of-touch judiciary and show "solutions" (a style that is different from, yet paradoxically similar to his previous work, such as his 1970s series
Sets were constructed on the soundstages at
29 episodes were produced; the pilot, three series of four episodes, two series of six episodes and one series of two two-part serials. All episodes were written and produced, and occasionally directed, by Newman. At the time the sixth series concluded, the future of the series was in doubt; the BBC had announced an intention to use Martin Shaw in a range of new projects and it was apparent that the one-off adaption of Alan Hunter's Inspector Gently novels (starring Shaw as the eponymous inspector) would be commissioned for a full series.[13] Jenny Seagrove clarified the situation, stating that the producers wanted to continue but she and Shaw were "taking a sabbatical" until the formula of the series was changed, implying that its future lay in the multi-part format introduced in series six.[14] In April 2009, Shaw told BBC Breakfast that the series had been officially cancelled by the BBC because of financial cutbacks across the corporation.[15][16] The six years the series was broadcast makes it the longest-running BBC legal drama.[3]
Broadcast
Judge John Deed regularly formed the backbone of the BBC One winter schedule. The pilot and first series were broadcast on Tuesday evenings at 8 p.m., with the second, third and fourth series moving to Thursday evenings (8:30 p.m. for the first two and 8 p.m. for the latter, though one episode in series three was postponed for over a month). The fifth series moved to Friday nights, and the sixth was shown two nights a week, with the first part of the story on Tuesday nights and concluding the following Thursday. This series was also the first to be simulcast on BBC HD.[17] Occasionally, due to a clash with regional programming, it has aired at different times on BBC One Scotland; series two was delayed for sometimes over a week while series three began a half-hour earlier. Series five had a six-day delay.
Ratings for the series peaked with its
Reception
Depiction of law
Judge John Deed presents a fictionalised version of the English legal system. The British Film Institute's Screenonline notes that "Almost every week, Deed is seen presiding over cases being prosecuted by his ex-wife or defended by his on-off girlfriend (with occasionally help from his daughter)", highlighting how unlikely it would be for a real judge to have so many conflicts of interest in his court. It also notes that Deed's faults, such as his affairs with his therapist and with Francesca Rochester, prevent him from being "a completely idealised heroic figure", and the fact that because all of his family and friends practise law, he is firmly entrenched in the legal system that he is constantly fighting against.[3] Deed has been accused of hypocrisy, particularly for using his connections to bail Charlie after she destroyed GM crops in "Exacting Justice".[20] There is a belief in some legal circles that, although Judge John Deed is arguably the most unrealistic of contemporary legal dramas, viewers see Deed as an aspirational character taking on a corrupt establishment.[21] Despite being picked apart by legal professionals, the cast and Newman were invited to the annual dinner of the Association of Women Barristers in 2006 as part of a drive to raise the profile and attract new members to the group.[22]
The series' creative interpretation of the law has led to a misconception by the public of what real law is like (cf.
Critical reaction
The 2006 series caused controversy for the misguided information presented in "
"It would be all right if there was a programme about a maverick judge and how awful that is and why he's a twat and it shouldn't be allowed. But it's not about that, it's about how brilliant he is and how all judges, by implication, should be like that."
David Mitchell's rant about the programme's "maverick judge" premise.[28]
Television pundits have criticised the writing of the programme; Robert Hanks of
The production style also rates highly; writing in The Guardian, Mark Lawson called the pilot "glossier and more populist than Newman's earlier work". Wry reference is made to Deed and Jo's relationship, with Lawson writing that Deed "is desperate to conduct his own forensic investigation of the body fluids of the attractive defence QC".[6] Writing on the programme's accessibility to an audience, Nancy Banks-Smith of The Guardian calls it "talkative in the way television plays used to be when they had something to say. But it is notable that, in a profession famous for obfuscation, Deed uses only the most pellucid English".[32] Banks-Smith has also drawn attention to the masculine skew the programme has; "Judge John Deed […] is catnip to the ladies. These are chappishly called Georgie, Charlie, Jo and—when Rita defies abbreviation—Coop".[33]
Awards and nominations
Stephen Roach received the Award of Merit at the 2005 Guild of Television Cameramen Awards for his work on the series.
Home release
The first series was released as a 3-disc set on 8 May 2006 and the second series as a 2-disc set on 12 February 2007.[36][37] The third and fourth series were released on 14 January 2008 in a 5-disc set.[38] All the DVDs were published by 2 Entertain Video. A series 5 DVD was released on 8 February 2010, omitting the controversial fifth and sixth episodes.[39] A Series 6 DVD was released on 21 February 2011, which contained two double length episodes.
The pilot and first series received a North American release on 9 March 2010.[40]
References
- ^ a b "Editorial Complaints Unit - Quarterly Report, July - September 2006" (PDF). bbc.co.uk. BBC. p. 2. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
- ^ bbc.co.uk. Archived from the originalon 1 January 2003. Retrieved 29 April 2007.
- ^ a b c d Angelini, Sergio. "Judge John Deed (2001-)". Screenonline (British Film Institute). Retrieved 24 April 2007.
- ^ Nathanson, Paul (9 January 2001). "Why judges need more emotion". The Times. Times Newspapers.
- ^ a b c Hattenstone, Simon (30 December 2000). "Natural lawman". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media. Retrieved 24 April 2007.
- ^ a b Lawson, Mark (8 January 2001). "A likely story". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media. Retrieved 20 September 2007.
- ^ Claridge, Brian (2006). "Why actor Jenny Seagrove would hate to be a barrister". Le Magazine. Archived from the original on 8 February 2008. Retrieved 24 November 2007.
- ^ Staff writer (8 July 2004). "Town centre becomes film set for day". Bucks Herald. Johnston Press. Archived from the original on 7 May 2009. Retrieved 24 April 2007.
- ^ "The BBC comes to West Herts College". West Herts College. February 2005. Archived from the original on 26 September 2006. Retrieved 24 April 2007.
- ^ Staff (2006). "BBC detective series to be filmed in The Hague". Den Haag. Archived from the original on 12 February 2008. Retrieved 24 November 2007.
- ^ Delagado, Martin (11 November 2006). "Taxpayers shell out £15,000 to kit out one High Court judge". Evening Standard. Associated Newspapers. Archived from the original on 8 February 2008. Retrieved 24 April 2007.
- ^ Keetch, Andrew. "Something Here". Music from the Movies. Archived from the original on 16 November 2006. Retrieved 5 June 2007.
- ^ Thomas, Liz (27 February 2007). "Sentence hangs over Judge John Deed". The Stage. The Stage Newspaper Ltd. Retrieved 24 April 2007.
- ^ Moss, Stephen (17 April 2007). "My personal life was a disaster". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media. Retrieved 28 April 2007.
- ^ Jeffries, Mark (30 April 2009). "Martin's TV judge Deed and buried". Daily Mirror. MGN. Retrieved 1 May 2009.
- ^ Shaw, Martin (29 April 2009). "Bill Turnbull interview of Martin Shaw on BBC Breakfast". BBC Breakfast (Interview). Interviewed by Bill Turnbull. BBC.
- ^ "BBC announces January first showings in HD". HDTV UK. 15 December 2006. Archived from the original on 4 January 2007. Retrieved 24 April 2007.
- ^ Wells, Matt (28 November 2001). "ITV admits 'commercial' BBC cannot be beaten". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media. Retrieved 16 September 2007.
- ^ Adalian, Josef (24 October 2004). "'Law' man cases nets (Chernuchin adapting BBC's 'Deed' for NBC)". Variety. Reed Business Information. Retrieved 24 April 2007.
- ^ White, Roland (14 January 2001). "An honest portrayal? Judge for yourself". The Sunday Times. Times Newspapers.
- ^ Robins, Jon (23 January 2007). "Primetime drama—the verdict on TV lawyers". The Times. London: Times Newspapers. Retrieved 28 April 2007.
- ^ Staff (10 October 2006). "Law diary". The Times. London: Times Newspapers. Retrieved 28 April 2007.
- ^ Staff writer (7 February 2006). "Dami judge warns jury". Manchester Evening News. M.E.N. Media. Retrieved 24 April 2007.
- ^ "Judge John Deed—BBC TV drama 27 January 2006". TIG Public Statements and Documents. Archived from the original on 12 August 2006. Retrieved 24 April 2007.
- ^ "Tetra masts and MND—what is the evidence?" (Press release). MND Association. 30 January 2006. Archived from the original on 13 August 2006. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
{{cite press release}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - Media Guardian(Guardian News and Media). Retrieved 30 June 2007.
- ^ "From Seesaw to Wagon Wheel" (.pdf). BBC Trust. 18 June 2007. Retrieved 30 June 2007.
- ^ a b David Mitchell (interviewee), Sean Lock (presenter) (30 April 2006). "Episode 6". TV Heaven, Telly Hell. Series 1. Episode 6. Channel 4.
- ^ a b Hanks, Robert (28 November 2003). "This Shaw is a guilty pleasure". The Independent. Independent News and Media.
- ^ Staff (10 March 2007). "Andy Hamilton, comedian". The Independent. Independent News and Media.
- Dead Ringers. Series 5. Episode 3. BBC Two.
- ^ Banks-Smith, Nancy (28 November 2003). "It's bad to talk". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 September 2007.
- Media Guardian(Guardian News and Media). Retrieved 18 November 2007.
- ^ Staff writer (6 October 2005). "Cameramen awards". Broadcast. p. 7.
- ^ "Screen Nation Awards 2006". Celebrities Worldwide. Archived from the original on 8 February 2008. Retrieved 8 September 2007.
- ^ Shepherd, Robert John (8 May 2006). "Region 2 Out This Week". DVD Reviewer. Retrieved 12 June 2007.
- ^ Shepherd, Robert John (12 February 2007). "Region 2 Out This Week". DVD Reviewer. Retrieved 12 June 2007.
- ^ TV Scoop: Judge John Deed Series 3 & 4 available to buy... soon!
- ^ "Judge John Deed: Series 5 (DVD)". BBC Shop.
- ^ Judge John Deed Season 1; Amazon
External links
- Judge John Deed at BBC Online
- Judge John Deed at the British Film Institute
- Judge John Deed at the BFI's Screenonline
- Judge John Deed at IMDb
- Judge John Deed at epguides.com