Law & Order UK Renewed For Series 8 (Press Release)

ITV Press Release
September 26, 2013

The successful and popular returning crime drama, Law & Order: UK, starring Bradley Walsh, Georgia Taylor, Paterson Joseph and Dominic Rowan has been recommissioned by ITV.

Filming of the new eight part series will begin in London next month (October 2013) for broadcast on ITV next year.

Highlights of the new series include the death of a psychiatrist who specialises in violent juveniles and a hotel-room killing without a body. DS Ronnie Brooks, played by Bradley Walsh, will meet his match in a drug dealer who repeatedly beats the justice system and In I Predict a Riot, he’ll be investigating other senior police officers.

Created by acclaimed US show runner Dick Wolf and based on the US franchise, Law & Order is one of the most successful brands in American primetime television and has become a firm favourite with the ITV audience since first broadcasting in 2009.

Series 7, which broadcast earlier this year, won its time slot on every occasion and overcame the BBC’s period drama, The White Queen. The series achieved an average audience of 5.4 million viewers and a share of 21.3% of the available audience, which was an increase on the previous series.

Dependable and experienced Detective Sergeant Ronnie Brooks (Bradley Walsh) will be joined in this series by new colleague DS Joe Hawkins played by newcomer Ben Bailey Smith (Hunted, Derek and Midsomer Murders).

Dominic Rowan, Georgia Taylor and Paterson Joseph also return in the new episodes. Both Georgia (Casualty, Lewis, Coronation Street) and Paterson (The Hollow Crown, Hustle, Peep Show) joined the cast last series. Georgia plays straight talking Crown Prosecutor Kate Barker, who is fresh from the more lucrative defence side of the courtroom. She’s messy and stubborn, which infuriates her colleague, Chief Prosecutor Jacob Thorne (Dominic Rowan).

Paterson Joseph plays DI Wes Leyton, who has been in the force since the age of 18. He is determined to get results, but often frustrated by political and budget issues.

Peter Davison returns as respected Director of the Crown Prosecution Service, Henry Sharpe.

The new series will be produced by Jane Dauncey (Stella, The Story of Tracy Beaker, Casualty) and Alison Jackson and Jane Featherstone will executive produce for Kudos. The scripts are written by Nick Hicks Beach, Tom Grieves, Richard Stokes, Matt Evans, Jamie Crichton, Louise Ironside and Noel Farragher. Mat King, Joss Agnew and Jill Robertson will direct.

ITV’s Drama team has recommissioned the series and Head of Drama Series, Jane Hudson, will oversee production from a network perspective.

“ITV is delighted to see the return of Law & Order: UK,” said Jane Hudson. “It’s a much loved drama amongst our audience and they certainly won’t be disappointed by what’s in store for them this series.”

Further details of guest casting and the stories to be depicted in the new series will be available closer to production.

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