Law & Order UK – Series 5 Introduction and Episode Details

Law & Order UK will be starting up soon on UK’s ITV. Here is some background information plus the list of episodes and cast for Series 5, which will premiere on ITV on July 10, 2011 at 9:00 PM.

Introduction

Peter Davison and Dominic Rowan join the cast of ITV's highly successful drama Law & Order: UK for the fifth series.

This time around the critically acclaimed cast, including Bradley Walsh, Jamie Bamber and Freema Agyeman have a tough, new ally in their fight for justice in the form of Senior Crown Prosecutor Jake Thorne; a gifted and uncompromising prosecutor played by Dominic Rowan (Catwalk Dogs, The Family Man).

And Peter Davison (Unforgiven, Distant Shores,The Last Detective) is Henry Sharpe taking over the job of Director of the CPS. Henry is a down to earth pragmatist and a great boss who has worked with Jake Thorne before.

This series sees prosecution team Alesha Phillips (Freema Agyeman) and Jake Thorne (Dominic Rowan) struggle to get to the truth behind a missing toddler and the brutal murder of a much loved couple asleep in their new home.

While DS Ronnie Brooks (Bradley Walsh) and DS Matt Devlin (Jamie Bamber) investigate a hospital department with more than its fair share of untimely deaths, track down a rampaging gunman and discover the events that led to an innocent woman being gunned down in her own home – events that have serious consequences for the team.

A quality array of guest stars including James Fox, Lesley Manville, Colin Salmon, Greg Wise, Sam West, Lucy Speed and Patricia Potter will join the cast for series five.

Lead writer Emilia di Girolamo says of the new characters: "Jake is unashamedly a prosecutor, never afraid to go for the jugular in the courtroom. With his working class roots, he had to fight hard to get where he is but he’s fiercely intelligent and brilliant at his job. Jake’s a bit of a player and if a gorgeous female barrister crosses his path you can bet they’ve got history! Brilliantly played by Dominic Rowan, Jake’s a dark horse who keeps his private life very much to himself and keeps Alesha guessing, but they make a great team.

"Henry Sharpe, (Peter Davison) rules his team with a firm but fair hand. Henry has a very clear understanding of the psychology of offending behaviour and the foundations, pressures and lifestyle choices that lead to a life of crime. He takes a very broad view when looking at a case but ultimately he always acts in the public interest, a voice for the victim, and does what’s best for the public, not the offender. I think Henry brings real warmth to the show and his history with Jake - as his mentor - makes him a bit of a father figure."

The series is produced by Richard Stokes, Emilia di Girolamo is co-producer and lead writer. The executive producers are Andrew Woodhead, Jane Featherstone and Stephen Garrett for Kudos and Dick Wolf, creator and executive producer of Law & Order, for Wolf Films.

A Kudos/Wolf Films/NBC Universal Production.


Regular Cast

DS Ronnie Brooks:  Bradley Walsh
DS Matt Devlin:  Jamie Bamber
DI Natalie Chandler:  Harriet Walter
Jacob Thorne:  Dominic Rowan
Alesha Phillips:  Freema Agyeman
Henry Sharpe:  Peter Davison


Episode Synopses

EPISODE ONE: THE WRONG MAN
Brought into A&E with flu-like symptoms and leaving in a body bag, Suzanne Morton’s death is treated as suspicious by DS Ronnie Brooks (Bradley Walsh) and DS Matt Devlin (Jamie Bamber) as they investigate a hospital department which has had three such untimely deaths within six months. With an extremely busy A&E ward the night Suzanne died, can our heroes find the killer before the killer finds their next victim?

Senior Crown Prosecutor, Jake Thorne (Dominic Rowan) is pulled in opposite directions when the chief suspect in the case claims to have been framed for the murder by others within his department. With a conspiracy of silence permeating the hospital staff, it’s clear that there’s more to this case than meets the eye and only by penetrating the web of professional loyalties can the truth emerge. Guest starring James Fox and Frances Tomelty.

Guest Cast:

Dr Edward Austen:  James Fox
Adrian Grant:  Hugh Skinner
Sister Logan:  Frances Tomelty
Philip Nevins:  Pip Torrens
Christine Mills:  Nadia Cameron-Blakely


EPISODE TWO: SAFE
When two year old Ryan Stark goes missing from a high street merry-go-round, his distraught mother, Kayla (Amy Strange) reports him kidnapped and a massive police hunt is launched to find the missing toddler. In spite of public appeals and additional police manpower, the search throws up more questions than answers.

The legal case uncovers a history of dealings with the social services before Ryan went missing, something which alerts our heroes to the possibility that his mother isn’t being entirely truthful. With more than one suspect and little physical evidence, will Ryan’s family ever learn the truth of what happened to their baby boy? Guest starring Patricia Potter.

Guest Cast:

Kayla Stark:  Amy Strange
Jimmy Burton:  George Rainsford
Yvette Dyer:  Patricia Potter
Gregor Browning:  John Bowler


EPISODE THREE: CRUSH
Lying in a pool of blood, call girl Katka Cizek, seems to have only one admirer capable of her murder. A man with her on the night, a man without an alibi, a man with everything to lose were his secret obsession for her revealed.

A seemingly cut and dry case, Alesha (Freema Agyeman), given the reins to lead the cross-examination, begins to suspect someone has reason to frame the accused. Dogged in her pursuit of the truth, she unearths a betrayal of such enormity proving there are no winners in this case. Guest starring Greg Wise.

Guest Cast:

Gavin Williams:  Greg Wise
Jane Williams:  Charlotte Emmerson
Rachel Matheson:  Penny Downie
Lilly:   Adjoa Andoh


EPISODE FOUR: TICK TOCK
A night club peppered with bullets. Two victims bleeding out on the floor. The start of a deadly gun rampage through the streets of London. With the media swarming all over the case and a hostage to find, DS Matt Davlin (Jamie Bamber) and DS Ronnie Brooks (Bradley Walsh) are up against the clock as they try to track down the Bonnie and Clyde duo wreaking havoc on the city streets.

Capture is far from closure when defence barrister, Phyllis Gladstone (Lesley Manville), takes the case on, arguing that one of the pair was more innocent victim than violent killer. Did the defendant act out of fear - beaten and bullied into submission by her partner-in-crime, too terrified to escape and alert the police? With two sides to every story, the team are under pressure to make sure someone is held responsible for a murderous spree that cost five lives. Guest starring Louise Brealey.

Guest Cast:

Tina:  Brooke Kinsella
Joanne:  Louise Brealey
Phyllis Gladstone:   Lesley Manville


EPISODE FIVE: INTENT
Stabbed to death while they slept, the killings of David and Elaine Lerner prove a mystery to DS Matt Davlin (Jamie Bamber) and DS Ronnie Brooks (Bradley Walsh). Universally loved, there’s not a single lead that points to grievances held or enemies made. The previous owner of the house soon emerges as a much more likely target for attack - Camilla Mallon, a banker embroiled in a hedge fund scandal. Could the brutal murders be a case of mistaken identity?

As our Crown Prosecutors navigate this seemingly senseless crime, Jake’s old mentor, Margaret Rumsfield (Jill Baker) argues the accused should face only manslaughter charges. Without motive, without intent, can our heroes make a murder charge stick? Samuel West guest stars.

Guest Cast:

Lucas Boyd:  Samuel West
Elizabeth Lerner:  Cara Hogan
Camilla Mallon:  Anna Wilson Jones
Margaret Rumsfield:  Jill Baker
Dr Hester Bligh:  Sophie Ward


The Law & Order UK Production Crew

Executive Producers:  Andrew Woodhead, Stephen Garrett, Jane Featherstone, Dick Wolf

Producer:  Richard Stokes

Lead writer/Co-Producer:  Emilia di Girolamo

Directors:  M.T. Adler, Julian Holmes, Mat King,Mark Everest, Andy Goddard

Writers: Debbie O'Malley, Nick Hicks-Beach,Richard Stokes

Director of Photography: Jean Phillippe Gossart

Production Designer: Malcolm Thornton

Hair and Make-Up Designer: Natalie Pateman

Costume Designer: Ray Holman

Editors: Phil Hookway, Mike Jones, Tim Marchant, Crispin Green

Composer: Andy Price

Casting Director: Andy Morgan

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