Judge John Deed

Infobox Television
show_name = Judge John Deed


caption = Series titles. The left panel shows Shaw and Seagrove's respective characters in a romantic moment
genre = Legal drama
writer = G.F. Newman
starring = Martin Shaw
Jenny Seagrove
executive_producer = Mal Young
Ruth Caleb
theme_music_composer = Debbie Wiseman
country = United Kingdom
num_series = 6
num_episodes = 29
producer = G.F. Newman
asst_producer = Richard Burrell
Alison Matthews
camera = Single-camera
network = BBC One
BBC HD (2007)
picture_format = PAL (576i) (2001–2006)
1080i HDTV (2007)
first_aired = 9 January 2001
last_aired = 18 January 2007
status = On hiatus
list_episodes = List of Judge John Deed episodes
website = http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/judge

"Judge John Deed" is a British legal drama television series produced by the BBC in association with One-Eyed Dog for BBC One. It was created by G.F. Newman and stars Martin Shaw as Sir John Deed, a High Court judge who tries to seek real justice in the cases before him. It also stars Jenny Seagrove as barrister Jo Mills, frequently the object of Deed's desire. A pilot episode was broadcast on 9 January 2001, followed by the first full series on 26 November 2001. The sixth and most recent series concluded on 18 January 2007. Shaw became involved in another television programme in 2007, and he and Seagrove expressed a wish for the format of the series to change before they filmed new episodes. As a result, the series has remained on a break since then, though it is still the longest-running BBC legal drama.

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 duty. Another episode led to complaints about biased and incorrect information about the MMR vaccine, leading the BBC to ban repeats of it in its original form. The first four series have been released on DVD in the UK.

Premise

Judge John Deed (played by Martin Shaw) is a recently-appointed High Court judge who actively seeks justice in the cases before him, while at the same time trying to rekindle an old romance with Jo Mills QC, who regularly appears in his court. Deed is described by creator and writer G.F. Newman as a character that "speaks out against all the petty rules and bureaucracy that frustrates us all but that most of us don't speak out against". Due to Deed's unorthodox actions, he is often hampered in his pursuit of justice by several more conventional-minded characters, including his ex-wife, barrister Georgina "George" Channing (played by Caroline Langrishe); her father Sir Joseph Channing (played by Sir Donald Sinden), Sir Monty Everard (played by Simon Ward), the Permanent Secretary to the Lord Chancellor's Department (LCD, later Department of Constitutional Affairs); Sir Ian Rochester (played by Simon Chandler); and later the Home Secretary Neil Haughton, MP (played by Aneirin Hughes).

Other recurring characters include Deed's rebellious, activist daughter Charlie (played by Louisa Clein), who is initially a law student but later progresses to the courts; Deed's friend, police commissioner Row Colemore (played by Christopher Cazenove); and his clerk, Rita "Coop" Cooper (played by Barbara Thorn), who is often on hand to talk him out of his more ludicrous ideas.

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 has shifted to a serialised format, with cases running over a number of episodes and a greater focus on the personal lives of characters other than Deed. As of 2007, there have been 29 episodes; the pilot, three series of four episodes, two series of six episodes and one series of two two-part serials. All episodes are written 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.cite news |first= Liz|last= Thomas|title= Sentence hangs over Judge John Deed|url= http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/newsstory.php/16073/sentence-hangs-over-judge-john-deed|work= The Stage|publisher= The Stage Newspaper Ltd|date= 2007-02-27|accessdate=2007-04-24 ] 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.cite news |first= Stephen|last= Moss|title= 'My personal life was a disaster'|url= http://arts.guardian.co.uk/theatre/drama/story/0,,2058893,00.html|work= The Guardian|publisher= Guardian News and Media|date= 2007-04-17|accessdate= 2007-04-28 ] The six years the series has been broadcast make it the longest-running BBC legal drama.cite web |first= Sergio|last= Angelini|url= http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/1206805/index.html|title= Judge John Deed (2001-)|accessdate=2007-04-24|work= Screenonline|publisher= British Film Institute ]

Production

Newman devised his new series to highlight what he believed to be an out-of-touch judiciary and show "solutions" (a style that differed from his previous work, such as his 1970s series "Law and Order", which was heavily critical of the police). [cite news |first= Paul|last= Nathanson|title= Why judges need more emotion|work= The Times|publisher= Times Newspapers |date= 2001-01-09|accessdate=2007-04-24 ] cite news |first= Simon|last= Hattenstone|title= Natural lawman|url= http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2000/dec/30/books.guardianreview5|work= The Guardian|publisher= Guardian News and Media|date= 2000-12-30|accessdate=2007-04-24 ] Newman wrote the series intending to give the audience an exploration of the law without patronising them or getting caught up in an explanation of legal proceedings.cite web |url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/crime/judge/gf_newman_interview.shtml|archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20030101140735/www.bbc.co.uk/drama/crime/judge/gf_newman_interview.shtml|title= BBC Crime Drama - Judge John Deed - GF Newman Interview|accessdate=2007-04-29 |archivedate= 2003-01-01|work= bbc.co.uk] A full series was commissioned before the pilot was broadcast. The series has been credited with renewing the "cop genre" by moving the story from a "maverick detective" to a high court judge, though as a comparison to Newman's previous work, a "Guardian" writer called it "rather soft" and doubted it would provoke questions in the House of Commons like "Law and Order" did.

Sets were constructed on the soundstages at Bushey, Hertfordshire for the courtroom, Deed's chambers and the main character's houses. [cite news|first= Brian|last= Claridge|title= Why actor Jenny Seagrove would hate to be a barrister|url= http://www.lemagazine.co.uk/features/features/display.var.1515896.0.why_actor_jenny_seagrove_would_hate_to_be_a_barrister.php|work= Le Magazine|year= 2006|accessdate= 2007-11-24] Exterior court scenes were filmed at Aylesbury Crown Court. [cite news |last= Staff writer|title= Town centre becomes film set for day|url= http://www.bucksherald.co.uk/news/Town-centre-becomes-film-set.818911.jp|work= Bucks Herald|publisher= Johnston Press|date= 2004-07-08|accessdate=2007-04-24 ] Location filming was also done at West Herts College for scenes in "My Daughter, Right or Wrong" (2006) [cite news |title= The BBC comes to West Herts College|url= http://www.westherts.ac.uk/documents/n20050411_01.htm|work= West Herts College|date= February 2005|accessdate=2007-04-24 ] and at various locations (including the International Criminal Court) in The Hague for "War Crimes" (2007). [cite news|last= Staff writer|title= BBC detective series to be filmed in The Hague|url= http://www.denhaag.com/default.asp?id=5257&ep=|work= Den Haag|year= 2006|accessdate= 2007-11-24] The robes worn by Deed in the sixth series were authentic ones from Stanley Ley, a specialist legal outfitters, and cost £7,600. [cite news |first= Martin|last= Delagado|title= Taxpayers shell out £15,000 to kit out one High Court judge|url= http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23374155-details/Taxpayers+shell+out+%C2%A315%2C000+to+kit+out+one+High+Court+judge/article.do |work= Evening Standard|publisher= Associated Newspapers|date= 2006-11-11|accessdate=2007-04-24 ] Theme music was composed for the series by Debbie Wiseman. The music, entitled "Judge John Deed", was performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and is described as a "stunning march-like theme that echoed throughout each of the programmes supplying pageantry to the Judge's sometimes-nefarious activities". [cite web |first= Andrew|last= Keetch|title= Something Here|url= http://www.musicfromthemovies.com/review.asp?ID=1104|work= Music from the Movies|accessdate= 2007-06-05 ] It was released commercially on Wiseman's compilation album, "Something Here", and as a single piece on online music retailers. Since 2005, television promotions for the series have been accompanied by the piano hook from "Sinnerman" by Nina Simone.

Reception

Analysis 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 practice law, he is firmly entrenched in the legal system that he is constantly fighting against. Deed has been accused of hypocrisy, particularly for using his connections to bail Charlie after she destroyed GM crops in "Exacting Justice". [cite news |first= Roland|last= White|title= An honest portrayal? Judge for yourself|work= The Sunday Times|publisher= Times Newspapers|date= 2001-01-14] 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. [cite news|first= Jon|last= Robins|title= Primetime drama—the verdict on TV lawyers|url= http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/law/student/article1181414.ece|work= The Times|publisher= Times Newspapers|date= 2007-01-23|accessdate=2007-04-28 ] 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. [cite news|author= Staff|title= Law diary|url= http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/law/public/article665776.ece|work= The Times|publisher= Times Newspapers|date= 2006-10-10|accessdate=2007-04-28 ]

The series' creative interpretation of the law has led to a misconception by the public of what real law is like ("cf". CSI effect); in the second Damilola Taylor trial, the residing judge warned the jury that if they copied Deed's actions in the then-recent episode "One Angry Man" (2006), in which Deed investigated a case and interviewed witnesses while sitting on a jury, they would "simply derail the whole process".cite news |last= Staff writer|title= Dami judge warns jury|url= http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/203/203565_dami_judge_warns_jury.html|work= Manchester Evening News|publisher= M.E.N. Media|date= 2006-02-07|accessdate=2007-04-24 ]

Critical reaction

The 2006 series caused controversy for the misguided information presented in "Silent Killer" (2006), which suggested a link between TETRA radio emissions and motor neurone disease. Statements were released by the TETRA Industry Group and the MND Association, the latter emphasising that while there is some evidence to suggest a link, it is not a single contributory factor. [cite web |url= http://www.tetrahealth.info/tig_public_statements_and_docume.htm|title= Judge John Deed—BBC TV drama 27 January 2006|accessdate=2007-04-24|work= TIG Public Statements and Documents ] [cite press release|title= Tetra masts and MND—what is the evidence?|publisher= MND Association|date= 2006-01-30|url= http://www.mndassociation.org/news_and_events/news_room/press_releases/tetra_masts_and.html|accessdate= 2007-04-24] "Heart of Darkness" (2006) was criticised for portraying a causal link between the MMR vaccine and autism, and the BBC received complaints on the matter. The Editorial Complaints Unit ruled that the episode had contravened the BBC's "obligation of due impartiality on matters of public controversy" and that the episode would not be repeated in its original form. [cite web|title= Editorial Complaints Unit - Quarterly Report July - September 2006|url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/text/ecu_julsep2006.html|work= BBC Complaints|date= 2006-10-20|accessdate=2008-09-27 ] The episode was cited in "From Seesaw to Wagon Wheel", an internal BBC report on impartiality in its output that was published in June 2007, a section of which highlighted that the name of the Westwake character bore more than a passing resemblance to that of Dr. Andrew Wakefield. [cite news|first= Leigh|last= Holmwood|title= BBC shows that broke the impartiality rules|url= http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2007/jun/18/broadcasting.television1|work= Media Guardian|publisher= Guardian News and Media|date= 2007-06-18|accessdate= 2007-06-30] [cite web|title= From Seesaw to Wagon Wheel|date= 2007-06-18|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/18_06_07impartialitybbc.pdf|format= PDF|work= BBC Trust|accessdate= 2007-06-30]

Television pundits have criticised the writing of the programme; Robert Hanks of "The Independent" calls the scripts "often corny, even painfully so", using Monty Everard's line "You'll come to regret crossing swords with me, sir!" from "Health Hazard" (2003) as an example.cite news|first= Robert|last= Hanks|title= This Shaw is a guilty pleasure|url= http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20031128/ai_n12733414|work=The Independent|publisher= Independent News and Media|date= 2003-11-28|accessdate= 2007-09-17] Hanks also wrote about what he called "moral oversimplification" of the storylines; the same episode featured "a wealthy and self-important businessman—who had already been banned from talking on a mobile phone while driving—ran over and killed a mother and her two small children while talking on his mobile phone to his mistress, to whom he was explaining that he had to take his wife to a function at—the icing on this shabby cake—Downing Street. He then legged it and subsequently faked mental illness to avoid a trial; a gambit that might have worked had Deed not cunningly threatened to send him to Broadmoor, at which point the man stood up and started protesting vociferously".The series is frequently lampooned for its dialogue and unlikely scenarios. Andy Hamilton called the dialogue "the funniest on TV" [cite news|last= Staff writer|title= Andy Hamilton, comedian|url= http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20070310/ai_n18711492|work= The Independent|publisher= Independent News and Media|date= 2007-03-10|accessdate= 2007-09-17] and David Mitchell selected it as his "TV hell" in the series "TV Heaven, Telly Hell".cite episode |title= Episode 6|series= TV Heaven, Telly Hell|serieslink= TV Heaven, Telly Hell|credits= David Mitchell (interviewee), Sean Lock (presenter)|network= Channel 4|airdate= 2006-04-30|season= 1|number= 6 ] Deed's "swashbuckling" persona has been satirised on the sketch series "Dead Ringers". [cite episode |title= Episode 33|series= Dead Ringers|serieslink= Dead Ringers (comedy)|credits= Jon Culshaw (performer)|network= BBC Two|airdate= 2005-05-26|season= 5|number= 3 ] Despite the often tongue-in-cheek criticism given to the programme, the series is praised as being at its best when tackling topical issues, such as the MMR vaccine, human exposure to telephone masts and incestual relationships.

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".cite news|first= Mark|last= Lawson|authorlink= Mark Lawson|title= A likely story|url= http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2001/jan/08/tvandradio.columnists|work=The Guardian|publisher= Guardian News and Media|date= 2001-01-08|accessdate= 2007-09-20] 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". [cite news|first= Nancy|last= Banks-Smith|authorlink= Nancy Banks-Smith|title= It's bad to talk|url= http://arts.guardian.co.uk/critic/feature/0,1169,1159744,00.html|work= The Guardian|date= 2003-11-28|accessdate= 2007-09-21] Banks-Smith has also drawn attention to the masculine skew the programme has; "Judge John Deed […] is catnip to the ladies. These are called Georgie, Charlie, Jo and—when Rita defies abbreviation—Coop". [cite news|first= Nancy|last= Banks-Smith|authorlink= Nancy Banks-Smith|title= Tried and tested|url= http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2001/jan/10/tvandradio.television3|work= Media Guardian|publisher= Guardian News and Media|date= 2001-01-10|accessdate= 2007-11-18]

Awards and nominations

Stephen Roach received the Award of Merit at the 2005 Guild of Television Cameramen Awards for his work on the series. [cite news|last= Staff writer|title= Cameramen awards|work= Broadcast|date= 2005-10-06|page= 7 ] The series was nominated in the Diversity in Drama Production category at the 2006 Screen Nation Awards, though lost to an episode of "Doctors". [cite web|title=Screen Nation Awards 2006|url=http://www.celebritiesworldwide.com/Award.cfm?Year=2006&ContentID=1000|work=Celebrities Worldwide|accessdate=2007-09-08]

eries information

Broadcast history

"Judge John Deed" regularly forms 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. [cite news |title= BBC announces January first showings in HD|url= http://www.hdtvuk.tv/2006/12/bbc_announces_j.html|work= HDTV UK|date= 2006-12-15|accessdate=2007-04-24 ] Occasionally, due to a clash with regional programming, "Deed" 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 first episode at 9.1 million [cite news |first= Matt|last= Wells|title= ITV admits 'commercial' BBC cannot be beaten|url= http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2001/nov/28/bbc.ITV|work= The Guardian|publisher= Guardian News and Media|date= 2001-11-28|accessdate=2007-09-16 ] but it still regularly draws in around 6 million viewers for new episodes. The series has been shown internationally by, amongst others, Canvas (Belgium), BBC America, BBC Canada and BBC Prime. In 2004, "Variety" reported an American remake was set to be produced for NBC, coincidentally by a producer known for a different "Law & Order"; Michael Chernuchin was to produce the series, which would follow a federal court judge in Washington, D.C. who would preside over terrorism and civil rights cases.cite news |first= Josef|last= Adalian|title= 'Law' man cases nets (Chernuchin adapting BBC's 'Deed' for NBC)|url= http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117911343.html|work= Variety|publisher= Reed Business Information|date= 2004-10-24|accessdate=2007-04-24 ] There have been no further developments since the announcement was made in 2004.

DVD 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. [cite web |first= Robert John|last= Shepherd|title= Region 2 Out This Week|url=http://www.dvd.reviewer.co.uk/news/news.asp?Index=11055&Section=308|work= DVD Reviewer|date= 2006-05-08|accessdate= 2007-06-12 ] [cite web |first= Robert John|last= Shepherd|title= Region 2 Out This Week|url=http://www.dvd.reviewer.co.uk/news/news.asp?Index=11601&Section=308|work= DVD Reviewer|date= 2007-02-12|accessdate= 2007-06-12 ] The third and fourth series were released on 14 January 2008 in a 5-disc set. [ [http://www.tvscoop.tv/2007/12/judge_john_deed.html TV Scoop: Judge John Deed Series 3 & 4 available to buy... soon! ] ] All DVDs are published by 2 Entertain Video.

References

External links

* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/judge/ "Judge John Deed"] at bbc.co.uk
* [http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/34875 "Judge John Deed"] at the British Film Institute
*Screenonline TV title|id=1206805|name=Judge John Deed
*imdb title|id=0302128|title=Judge John Deed