BBC announces cast for new This Life style drama Counsels
The BBC has unveiled the cast for its upcoming drama Counsels, a contemporary series that echoes the spirit of the iconic This Life. Set in Glasgow, the show follows a close-knit group of ambitious young lawyers navigating the point in their lives when careers, relationships, and rivalries start to collide with full force.
The six central characters — Jamie (Brandon Grace, My Lady Jane, Hamlet Hail to the Thief), Bav (Ro Kumar, Traces S2, Accidental Death of an Anarchist), Nadine (Eilidh Park, Wind of Change), Alasdair (George Prentice, The Pendragon Cycle), Katie (Alyth Ross, Last Light, Dirty Angels) and Karina (Rebecca Bell, Outlander: Blood of My Blood) — are portrayed as colleagues, lovers, and sometimes adversaries. Each is striving for success in a competitive legal world: from high-profile commercial cases to underfunded criminal defence, every win and every loss takes its toll both in and out of court.
Joining them is an impressive roster of established names, including 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), Michael Nardone (Traces, The Night Manager), Sally Howitt (River City, Dinosaur), Stuart Bowman (Department Q, Only Child), Neshla Caplan (The Rig, Rebus) and Stephen Purdon (River City, Sweet Sixteen).
Series co-creator Bryan Elsley says: “I am delighted to be leading with Gillian McCormack on Counsels. We look forward to introducing a galaxy of Scottish acting, writing and directing talent to our audience. Set entirely in Glasgow, we hope to bring the city vividly to life and fill it with arresting stories and characters.”
Gillian McCormack adds: “It’s been amazing to work with Bryan and see our incredible crew and phenomenal cast come together. Developing our characters and their worlds has been a brilliant experience and I can’t wait to share their stories set against the backdrop of the dynamic, exciting and contemporary city of Glasgow, of which I am hugely proud.”
Louise Thornton, Head of Commissioning, BBC Scotland, comments: “We’re delighted to see the cameras start rolling on Counsels. Bryan and Gillian have created a wonderful world showcasing brilliant young lawyers whose professional and personal lives are as dramatic as the cases they represent. Counsels is part of the single biggest BBC investment in drama in Scotland for over a decade and we can’t wait for audiences to get to know these new exciting characters and to get caught up in their lives, loves and dramas.”
Counsels is supported by Screen Scotland and will run for eight episodes.