Judge John Deed

Judge John Deed

2001
Judge John Deed
Judge John Deed

Judge John Deed

7.6 | NR | en | Drama

Judge John Deed is a British legal drama television series produced by the BBC in association with One-Eyed Dog for BBC One. It was created by G.F. Newman and stars Martin Shaw as Sir John Deed, a High Court judge who tries to seek real justice in the cases before him. It also stars Jenny Seagrove as the barrister Jo Mills, frequently the object of Deed's desire. A pilot episode was broadcast on 9 January 2001, followed by the first full series on 26 November 2001. The sixth and last series concluded on 18 January 2007. The programme then went on an indefinite break after Shaw became involved in another television programme, and he and Seagrove expressed a wish for the format of the series to change before they filmed new episodes. By 2009, the series had officially been cancelled. The six series produced make it the longest-running BBC legal drama. The factual accuracy of the series is often criticised by legal professionals and journalists; many of the decisions taken by Deed are unlikely to happen in a real court. The romanticised vision of the court system created by Newman caused a judge to issue a warning to a jury not to let the series influence their view of trials—referring to an episode where Deed flouts rules when called up for jury duty. Another episode led to complaints about biased and incorrect information about the MMR vaccine, leading the BBC to ban repeats of it in its original form. All six series have been released on DVD in the UK.

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Seasons & Episodes

6
5
4
3
2
1
0
EP4  Evidence of Harm (2)
Jan. 18,2007
Evidence of Harm (2)

Deed delves deeper into why funding for the soldier to sue the pharmaceutical company was withdrawn and makes ever more sinister discoveries. Then the forces of reaction move to stop him.

EP3  Evidence of Harm (1)
Jan. 16,2007
Evidence of Harm (1)

Deed risks a constitutional crisis in pursuit of justice for a soldier?s family. Jo Mills asks him to review the withdrawal of Legal Aid funding in the case of the soldier, who committed suicide after being made ill by vaccines given to him by the British Army. Deed is reluctant, as the case has been heard and closed by another judge. His only course is to accuse the other judge of bias. When he does so, he causes consternation in the British government.

EP2  War Crimes (2)
Jan. 11,2007
War Crimes (2)

Continuing the story of a war crimes trial in The Hague. Deed finds the defendant is a victim of the British government's attempts to develop an exit strategy out of the continuing occupation of Iraq by western forces, and he has to balance the interests of justice against the possibility of saving British lives.

EP1  War Crimes (1)
Jan. 09,2007
War Crimes (1)

Deed's involvement in the case of a far-right British National Party councilor brings him to the notice of terrorists who decide to send a woman to kill him. When the assassin meets Deed, she has a surprise in store, but she still plans to carry out her orders. Meanwhile, The Lord Chancellor sends Deed to sit on an International Tribunal in the Hague, as the British government sees him as a mischief maker at home. Deed finds himself judging the case of a British soldier accused of war crimes by killing eleven Iraqi civilians.

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7.6 | NR | en | Drama , Crime , War & Politics | More Info
Released: 2001-11-26 | Released Producted By: , Country: United Kingdom Budget: 0 Revenue: 0 Official Website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/judge
Synopsis

Judge John Deed is a British legal drama television series produced by the BBC in association with One-Eyed Dog for BBC One. It was created by G.F. Newman and stars Martin Shaw as Sir John Deed, a High Court judge who tries to seek real justice in the cases before him. It also stars Jenny Seagrove as the barrister Jo Mills, frequently the object of Deed's desire. A pilot episode was broadcast on 9 January 2001, followed by the first full series on 26 November 2001. The sixth and last series concluded on 18 January 2007. The programme then went on an indefinite break after Shaw became involved in another television programme, and he and Seagrove expressed a wish for the format of the series to change before they filmed new episodes. By 2009, the series had officially been cancelled. The six series produced make it the longest-running BBC legal drama. The factual accuracy of the series is often criticised by legal professionals and journalists; many of the decisions taken by Deed are unlikely to happen in a real court. The romanticised vision of the court system created by Newman caused a judge to issue a warning to a jury not to let the series influence their view of trials—referring to an episode where Deed flouts rules when called up for jury duty. Another episode led to complaints about biased and incorrect information about the MMR vaccine, leading the BBC to ban repeats of it in its original form. All six series have been released on DVD in the UK.

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Cast

Jenny Seagrove , Martin Shaw , Donald Sinden

Director

Mal Young

Producted By

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Reviews

PeterHerrmann Well-written and a lot of fun; just take the underlying incredibility with a grain of salt. The incredibility is largely, not entirely, from the many possible conflicts of interest (real or apparent) due to: 1) one of the barristers (for defense or prosecution) - in almost all cases over which he presides - is his on_again/off_again mistress. 2) His daughter is often junior counselor of his ex-mistress (either this season or later seasons), and at times is also his unofficial research assistant. 3) his ex-wife is sometimes a barrister appearing before him. 4) his ex-wife's father is senior judge with who he often has judiciary dealings. 5) the key Home Office figure responsible for some aspects of the judiciary is the ex-husband of his mistress (or was that a different woman he was having an affair with? I forget). 6) the new husband of his ex-wife is - in later seasons - the home secretary who is at cross-purposes with him over various cases 7) He has affairs with some of the plaintiffs, or witnesses, or experts that appear before him. Another source of incredulity is that he often appears to take sides with the apparent underdog very early in the proceedings - to the extent that he often preempts - or coaches - the litigant barristers in their questioning. Hopefully real courts are not run like this ...but good fun anyway.
PoliteP A High Court Judge torn between both several lovers (in adultery or otherwise) and the boundaries of justice. For a student of the law almost a text book of cases of likelihood of bias, undue influence, zig-zagging on the straight and narrow and kiss and tell. However, that may well be the reality of major cases. There is no way of escaping the Judge. He is at his best battling with the politicians who would like to stage convictions, mistrials and favoring the cronies of the economy. He is humbled but not humiliated by the women he can't resist. He is brought to modesty by ex-partners, daughters, best friends and those who love him as much as they hate him, without ever being brought to his knees. And the wig does become him as well.
mikeval Martin Shaw is once again excellent in an excellent production. I have never been to court, but can imagine that this is a particularly precise example of the British legal system. I have followed Martin Shaw's career over the years, since he was in The Professionals, and whether through chance or good judgement, he seems to choose roles that fit his stature. The writing in this show is excellent, the actors, almost without exception, extremely professional, and the sly humour just leavens the gravity of the courtroom proceedings.
Big Movie Fan I did actually work in the judicial sector many moons ago in an administrative role and I saw the day to day workings of the British judicial system. Judge John Deed is an extremely realistic show.Martin Shaw can play any part and is the perfect choice to play the conservative judge. Each show has focused on Deed's courtroom antics and his private life along with the politics that go hand in hand with the judicial system.Having worked for the judicial sector, I can tell you that this show is realistic on so many fronts. One thing that Deed has to put up with in this show is bureaucracy and politics from the powers that be and I know that is how the judiciary works. Deed is his own man and interested only in seeing justice served. He isn't interested in politics and advancing his career and will not compromise his principles to get ahead. In each show, he usually has to contend with Sir Ian Rochester, a squirmy little bureaucrat from the Lord Chancellors Department.The courtroom scenes are fantastic and Deed does everything he can to get to the truth. He does seem to take on the roles of the barristers from time to time but he believes in the truth only.Deed is a very conservative judge whereas a lot of real life judges in the UK are more liberal than conservative. Deed has no hesitation in punishing those who are guilty but if there are extenuating circumstances, then he will consider the options. Deed realises that the law is not black and white and that there are very grey areas in between.All in all, a realistic portrayal of life as a senior judge. Check it out.