The return of the acclaimed anthology drama will once again centre around a hotly-contested murder trial that divides the nation and takes place in the full glare of the media spotlight. Made by World Productions (Vigil, Line of Duty, Anne), the five-part series is written and created by Ben Richards.

 

Showtrial stars BAFTA award-winner Adeel Akhtar (Sherwood, Ali & Ava), Nathalie Armin (Home, Unforgotten), and Michael Socha (The Gallows Pole, This Is England), Joe Dempsie (Pieces of Her, Game of Thrones), Fisayo Akinade (Heartstopper, Dangerous Liaisons), Francesca Annis (Flesh and Blood, Home Fires) and more.

 

A panel discussion with writer/creator Ben Richards, and cast members Adeel Akhtar, Nathalie Armin and Michael Socha follows the evening’s screening of episode one.

 

When high-profile climate activist Marcus Calderwood (Barney Fishwick) is left for dead in a violent hit and run, he uses his dying moments to apparently identify his killer - a serving policeman. But who is this unnamed Officer X? What does his own history reveal about the nature of trauma and revenge, and was Marcus’ death a tragic accident or pre-meditated murder?

 

From the victim'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 defense solicitor with a reputation for winning lost causes; 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?