Law & Order UK Episode Information for “Care,” “Unloved,” “Vice,” and ‘Unsafe”

A nice shot of the London skyline

The UK’s ITV has released the episode information for the first four episodes of Law & Order UK, set to premier in the UK on February 23, 2009. The show is being co-produced by Kudos Film and Television, Wolf Films and NBC Universal.

The UK version is based on stories already told in the US. The first episode, “Care” is based on the US episode of Law & Order titled “Cradle to Grave,” a season two episode that starred Dann Florek, Chris Noth, Paul Sorvino, Michael Moriarty, Richard Brooks and Steven Hill. “Cradle to Grave” is coincidentally scheduled to re-air in the US on February 15 at 4:00 AM ET on TNT, in case you want to refresh your memory.


Here is the UK episode information:

Episode one: “Care”
When the evacuation of a central London hospital leads to the discovery of a tragic death, DS Ronnie Brooks (Bradley Walsh) and DS Matt Devlin (Jamie Bamber) investigate. The trail leads them to Kings Cross, where the redevelopment and gentrification of the area is affecting a number of local residents. But has this led someone to commit murder? Could the seemingly vulnerable single mother Dionne Farrah (Venetia Campbell) or her sister Leona be involved? Are caretaker Daniel Matoukou (Babou Ceesay) or local resident Mike Turner (Tony Maudsley) connected to events surrounding the death? And how has the case affected landlady Maureen Walters (Lorraine Ashbourne)? As DI Natalie Chandler (Harriet Walter) pressurises Matt and Ronnie to untangle the case, a disturbing pattern emerges.

When a suspect is arrested, Crown Prosecutors James Steel (Ben Daniels) and Alesha Phillips (Freema Agyeman) face an uphill struggle convincing the head of the Crown Prosecution Service, London, George Castle (Bill Paterson) that their case is strong enough. Complicating matters further is their sharp-suited, mercury-minded opponent Robert Ridley QC (Patrick Malahide). Devious and without the burden of principles, Ridley uses every trick in the book to get his client off. With an Old Bailey trial on the verge of collapse, and pressure increasing from their boss, James and Alesha must team up with Matt and Ronnie to gain enough evidence, get the better of Robert Ridley QC and convict the person responsible for this emotionally-charged death.

My recap and review of Law & Order UK “ Care“ can be found here.





Episode Two: “Unloved”
When a 13-year-old boy is found kicked to death at Euston Station, DS Ronnie Brooks (Bradley Walsh) and DS Matt Devlin (Jamie Bamber) have nothing to go on. Frustrated when they can’t find any leads – not even his parents - they turn to DI Natalie Chandler (Harriet Walter). Her press conference identifies the victim as Danny Jackson.

Matt and Ronnie discover Danny’s mother, Mandy (Nicola Stephenson), is an ex-junkie whose boyfriend Stevie is suspected of physically abusing Danny. As the case begins to affect Matt and Ronnie emotionally, suspicions fall on Danny’s foster home, run by Phoebe Baxter (Joanna Hole). But who is responsible for Danny’s death? The parents who abandoned him, a foster mother who gave him too much freedom or the friends who were last to see him?

Crown Prosecutors James Steel (Ben Daniels) and Alesha Phillips (Freema Agyeman) face Beatrice McArdle (Dervla Kirwan) an old flame from James’ defence days. She believes James is prosecuting the wrong person. James’ suspicions of this simplistic defence prove to be well founded - Beatrice is stalling for time to gather evidence for an audacious defence strategy, that the accused was genetically predisposed towards murder; a defence that would change the whole nature of the British legal system.

As the legal system hangs by a thread, James must fight harder than ever to achieve justice for the victim, Danny Jackson, but at what cost for all concerned?


My recap and review of Law & Order UK “ Unloved “ can be found here.




Episode Three: “Vice”
The body of ex-vice cop, Frank McCallum, is found beaten to death in an underpass in Paddington. The murder has all the symptoms of a prostitute killing, but DS Ronnie Brooks (Bradley Walsh) and DS Matt Devlin (Jamie Bamber) soon realise they have to broaden their search. Their investigation forces them to look deeper into Frank McCallum’s life – could his boss, Josh Pritchard (Sean Pertwee), know more about Frank’s death than he’s letting on. And what secrets is Frank’s wife, Annie, hiding? As forensic clues provide surprises, the trail leads the police to a respectable children’s clothes shop in Barnes, run by Emma Sandbrook (Juliet Aubrey) and Kate Barton (Deborah Cornelius). As the police struggle to piece together the events surrounding Frank McCallum’s murder, who can they believe?

Crown Prosecutors James Steel (Ben Daniels) and Alesha Phillips (Freema Agyeman) of the CPS find themselves in a battle with formidable defence barrister, Phyllis Gladstone (Lesley Manville), an old foil of their boss, George Castle (Bill Paterson). But when the accused claim they acted in self-defence against Frank McCallum, James and Alesha are left questioning the dead man’s character. Did Frank McCallum instigate the attack which cost him his life, or is the defendant attempting to preserve their own fate by slurring a man now unable to defend himself? What really happened that night? James and Alesha face a struggle to deliver justice for Frank McCallum’s widow as they fight to establish the truth.


My recap and review of “ Vice “ can be found Law & Order UK “ Vice “ can be found here.


Episode Four: “Unsafe”
When a metal-detecting pensioner unearths a shallow grave by the side of the Thames, DS Ronnie Brooks (Bradley Walsh) and DS Matt Devlin (Jamie Bamber) are forced to reopen a contentious murder case. Their investigations into the case of Luke Slade (Iain Glen) threaten to unravel a conviction made by James Steel eight years ago.

After Luke Slade is given leave to appeal, Senior Crown Prosecutor James Steel (Ben Daniels) must revisit his past and one of his first cases for the CPS. But when Luke Slade represents himself in court, the case becomes more than a legal appeal – it soon becomes a personal vendetta between Slade and Steel. Luke Slade has been studying law during his time in prison – and he’s determined not to lose to James again.

As Slade begins to get the better of James in court, Crown Prosecutor Alesha Phillips (Freema Agyeman) and Director of CPS, London, George Castle (Bill Paterson) begin to question whether James was overzealous in his initial prosecution. And when the prosecution case comes under threat, personal and professional loyalties are tested to the limit. Is Luke Slade guilty of murder? And why is he taking so much pleasure from this legal game of cat and mouse with James Steel? James’ career is on the line – and the murders are not yet over.

My recap and review of Law & Order UK “Unsafe” can be found here.


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