Showtrial cast revealed for new BBC One drama series

Showtrial has arrived on BBC One – here’s a full run down of who’s on the cast.

Showtrial is a five part drama written by Ben Richards (Cobra, The Tunnel, Strike) and directed by Zara Hayes (Poms, Dian Fossey: Secrets In The Mist) which explores how prejudice, politics and the media distort the legal process, in a timely drama full of dark humour.

A teaser shares: “When Talitha Campbell, the estranged daughter of a wealthy property developer, is charged with conspiring to murder fellow university student Hannah Ellis, the trial that follows places victim and accused – and their families – in the eye of a media storm. Into that storm enters Cleo Roberts, the duty solicitor on the night of Talitha’s arrest.

“Refusing her father’s help, Talitha wants Cleo to lead her defence against a prosecution weaponising Talitha’s gender and social privilege against her. From arrest to verdict, Cleo and the defence team vie with the prosecution to convince us of the truth about Talitha: Damaged scapegoat? Or cold-blooded killer?”

Showtrial 2021 cast

Here’s a full rundown of who’s on the cast of Showtrial:

Tracy Ifeachor plays Cleo Roberts
Celine Buckens plays Talitha Campbell
James Frain plays Damian Campbell
Sinéad Keenan plays DI Paula Cassidy

Kerr Logan plays James Thornley
Abra Thompson plays Hannah Ellis
Christopher Hatherall plays Andy Lowel
Joseph Payne plays Dhillon Harwood

Sharon D Clarke plays Virginia Hoult
Lolita Chakrabarti plays Meera Harwood

Creator and writer Ben Richards said: “I am delighted with the cast that has been assembled for Showtrial. It is a brilliant ensemble of talented actors that feels modern, energetic, and perfectly suited for the complex characters and storylines.”

Watch Showtrial on TV and online

Showtrial airs on BBC One on Sunday nights at 9PM. The series has five episodes with the final airing on 28 November.

The full series is currently available to watch online and catch up via BBC iPlayer here.

A full synopsis of the opening episode shares: “Talitha Campbell, the daughter of one of Britain’s wealthiest families and a fellow student at Hannah’s university, is arrested in connection to her disappearance.

“DI Paula Cassidy, the lead officer on the case, is convinced Talitha had something to do with the missing girl, and Talitha’s total lack of empathy for Hannah is only raising Cassidy’s suspicions further. But before she can charge Talitha with anything, she has to convince the Crown Prosecutor James Thornley, who is determined that this case needs to be done by the book, given the keen public interest.

“In Talitha’s corner, however, is Cleo Roberts – the duty solicitor on call that night. It falls to Cleo to steer Talitha through her intensive and combative police interviews and evade Cassidy’s questions. As Cleo desperately tries to get Talitha’s attitude under control, new evidence comes to light that changes the nature of the case entirely, and sets the stage for a court case that will divide the nation.”

Picture: (L-R) Cleo Roberts (TRACY IFEACHOR), Talitha Campbell (CELINE BUCKENS) – (C) World Productions – Photographer: Joss Barratt