British Comedy Guide
Defending The Guilty. Image shows from L to R: Will Packham (Will Sharpe), Caroline Bratt (Katherine Parkinson). Copyright: Big Talk Productions
Defending The Guilty

Defending The Guilty

  • TV sitcom
  • BBC Two
  • 2018 - 2019
  • 7 episodes (1 series)

Comedy about a pupil barrister and the chambers he works at. Stars Will Sharpe, Katherine Parkinson, Gwyneth Keyworth, Hugh Coles, Hanako Footman and more.

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Press clippings Page 2

Review: Defending The Guilty

A smart little comedy featuring the likeable newcomer Will Sharpe.

Camilla Long, The Sunday Times, 29th September 2019

It is law and order with a heavy helping of dry sarcasm in this new comedy series from Cuckoo writer Kieron Quirke, which follows an idealistic trainee barrister as he has his career motives put to the test by his cynical pupil master Caroline (Katherine Parkinson). This week, infidelity is in the air - should Will come clean?

Ammar Kalia, The Guardian, 24th September 2019

A welcome fresh outing for Will Sharpe, now vouchsafed his own star vehicle. Defending the Guilty is, at first sight, a slightly flimsy paint-by-numbers legal comedy, with all that normally entails - gentle humour, misunderstandings, pious frettings over diversity. Its game is raised by a modicum of sharp writing and some glorious comedy performances, chiefly from Sharpe and Katherine Parkinson, and I'm a reluctant convert thanks to some decent surprises.

Euan Ferguson, The Observer, 22nd September 2019

Defending The Guilty is a sharp comedy

Defending The Guilty is a sharply written new legal comedy about an eccentric barrister, her goofy pupil, and the sorry ne'er-do-wells who form their client base.

Suzi Feay, The Financial Times, 20th September 2019

Defending the Guilty review

Legal shows tend to be either unbearably earnest or wretchedly cynical, but this sitcom embraces the silliness of a serious world - and really steps up to the bar.

Rebecca Nicholson, The Guardian, 18th September 2019

Defending the Guilty, review

Tired jokes and one-dimensional characters don't help this legal comedy win its case.

Adam Sweeting, i Newspaper, 18th September 2019

Katherine Parkinson interview

The IT Crowd and Humans star, who plays a criminal barrister in new BBC2 sitcom Defending The Guilty, talks to Charlotte Cripps about work and home life balance as a mum.

Charlotte Cripps, The Independent, 17th September 2019

TV review: Defending The Guilty

Given the Supreme Court deliberations are dominating the news today, this is either the best or worst day to launch a comedy about lawyers.

Steve Bennett, Chortle, 17th September 2019

Defending the Guilty: overstuffed with stereotypes

A new adaptation of Alex McBride's memoir is not quite as funny as it thinks it is.

Alistair McKay, Evening Standard, 17th September 2019

Defending the Guilty review

New legal comedy struggles to get off the ground.

Adam Sweeting, The Arts Desk, 17th September 2019

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