Doctor Who and Happy Valley stars confirmed for new "high-stakes" BBC legal drama as first look unveiled

A set of first-look images has been released for the BBC's upcoming legal drama, Counsels, while it has also been confirmed that the series will arrive on BBC iPlayer, BBC One and BBC Scotland in early 2027.

Seen in the images are the stars playing the young lawyers at the centre of the series, Brandon Grace (My Lady Jane) who plays Jamie, Ro Kumar (Traces) who plays Bav, Eilidh Park (Wind of Change) who plays Nadine and George Prentice (The Pendragon Cycle: Rise of The Merlin) who plays Alasdair.

Their number is completed by Alyth Ross (Last Light) as Katie and Rebecca Bell (Outlander: Blood of My Blood) as Karina, who are also seen in one of the images.

Other cast members seen in the images include Michelle Gomez (Doctor Who), Derek Riddell (Happy Valley), Laura Haddock (Ted Lasso), Michael Nardone (The Night Manager) and Mhairi Black, the former SNP MP.

The eight-part series, which has been co-created by Bryan Elsley (Skins) and Gillian McCormack, is said to follow "the lives of a group of twenty-something lawyers in Glasgow in the crucial moment when a few years out of university their careers finally become serious".

The synopsis for the series says: "Working across the legal landscape, whether as public prosecutors, slick representatives of glossier commercial interests or the shabby and good-hearted last resort of those with nothing left to lose, each one of them is out to win.

"They are colleagues jostling for promotion, lovers trying to hold onto one another as ambitions accelerate and pure adversaries professionally and personally. And now’s the time things are going to catch fire."

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Other confirmed cast members who have not yet been seen in the images for the series include Daniela Nardini (This Life), Sally Howitt (River City), Stuart Bowman (Dept. Q), Neshla Caplan (Rebus) and Stephen Purdon (Sweet Sixteen).

Counsels will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in 2027

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Authors

James Hibbs is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering programmes across both streaming platforms and linear channels. He previously worked in PR, first for a B2B agency and subsequently for international TV production company Fremantle. He possesses a BA in English and Theatre Studies and an NCTJ Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.