‘Counsels’: BBC Reveals First Look At New Glasgow Legal Drama

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The BBC has released first-look images for ‘Counsels‘, its upcoming legal drama following six young lawyers as their careers begin to get serious. Coming to BBC iPlayer, BBC One and BBC Scotland in early 2027, the eight-part series brings together an up-and-coming ensemble and an established supporting cast, with Mhairi Black also making her acting debut.

Set in Glasgow, the drama explores that tricky point a few years after university when professional ambitions start becoming reality, and the decisions you make carry rather more weight. For this group, that means competing for promotions, facing one another across the legal divide and trying to keep their personal relationships intact while everyone is determined to win. No pressure, then.

Co-created by Scottish writers Bryan Elsley and Gillian McCormack, ‘Counsels’ follows lawyers working across very different parts of the profession. Some are public prosecutors, others represent polished law firms, while others offer a last chance for people who have run out of options. They may share a city and a profession, but their clients, circumstances and ambitions put them on very different paths.

The six central characters are Jamie, Bav, Nadine, Alasdair, Katie and Karina. They are colleagues, rivals and lovers, with professional competition spilling into personal lives as their careers gather momentum. The legal cases are only part of the story, with friendships and relationships facing their own tests along the way.

Jamie is played by Brandon Grace (‘My Lady Jane’, ‘Hamlet Hail to the Thief’), with Ro Kumar (‘Traces’, ‘Accidental Death of an Anarchist’) as Bav and Eilidh Park (‘Wind of Change’) as Nadine. George Prentice (‘The Pendragon Cycle: Rise of The Merlin’) plays Alasdair, Alyth Ross (‘Last Light’, ‘Dirty Angels’) plays Katie, and Rebecca Bell (‘Outlander: Blood of My Blood’) plays Karina.

The supporting cast includes Michelle Gomez (‘Doom Patrol’, ‘The Flight Attendant’), Derek Riddell (‘Happy Valley’, ‘Industry’), Laura Haddock (‘What It Feels Like For A Girl’, ‘The Recruit’), Daniela Nardini (‘This Life’, ‘Sunset Song’) and Michael Nardone (‘Traces’, ‘The Night Manager’).

They are joined by Sally Howitt (‘Dinosaur’, ‘River City’), Stuart Bowman (‘Department Q’, ‘Only Child’), Neshla Caplan (‘The Rig’, ‘Rebus’) and Stephen Purdon (‘River City’, ‘Sweet Sixteen’). Meanwhile, Mhairi Black takes on the role of DI Bridges, with one of the newly released images offering a first look at her character.

The pictures also introduce Edith Connelly, played by Michelle Gomez, alongside Peter, played by Michael Nardone, and show Derek Riddell and Laura Haddock as Kevin and Jan Mallam. Those images put faces to some of the drama’s supporting characters, alongside the group shot introducing the six lawyers at the centre of the story.

Behind the camera, Elsley and McCormack write and executive produce the series, with further episodes written by Maryam Hamidi and Jingan Young. Brian Kaczynski produces, while Lynsey Miller and Siri Rødnes direct.

The series consists of eight hour-long episodes and is made by Balloon Entertainment in association with Banijay Rights, in co-production with ZDFneo and with support from Screen Scotland. With its mix of legal battles, career rivalry and complicated relationships, ‘Counsels’ looks set to put its young ensemble through rather more than a difficult day at the office.

‘Counsels‘ premieres in early 2027 on BBC iPlayer, BBC One and BBC Scotland.

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