North Square

2 0 0 0 (UK)
10 x 60 minute episodes

Set in Leeds (Yorkshire), this Channel 4 drama series introduced North Square Chambers, a small legal firm fighting for a major share of the criminal justice business.

Manipulative chief clerk Peter McLeish (Phil Davis) was ruthless and obsessive, with a razor-sharp mind.

Rose Fitzgerald (Helen McCrory) was a fiercely sharp and tough barrister who returned to court to take on a massive case just three days after giving birth. Her partner, Billy Guthrie (Kevin McKidd), was a talented barrister whose career was put in jeopardy early on after he punched a racist colleague.

Charismatic barrister Alex Hay (Rupert Penry-Jones) represented high-profile clients, including defending a famous football player, while Wendy De Souza (Kim Vithana), the highly capable Head of Chambers, managed the internal chaos.

The series swept major industry awards in 2001, winning the Broadcasting Press Guild Awards for Best Drama, Best Actor (Phil Davis), Best Actress (Helen McCrory), and Best Writer (Peter Moffat), alongside a BAFTA for Best Editing.

Unfortunately, its critical success did not translate into commercial ratings. Because it struggled to attract a large mainstream audience during its original broadcast, Channel 4 ultimately decided not to renew it for a second series.

Helen McCrory married actor Damian Lewis on 4 July 2007. She died of breast cancer at her home in London on 16 April 2021, aged 52.

Peter McLeish
Phil Davis
John (Bob)
James Midgley
Billy Guthrie
Kevin McKidd
Alex Hay
Rupert Penry-Jones
Tom Mitford
Dominic Rowan
Johnny Boy
James Murray
Wendy de Souza
Kim Vithana
Rose Fitzgerald
Helen McCrory
Morag Black
Ruth Millar
Helen Fernyhough
Victoria Smurfit
Stevie Goode
Sasha Behar
Michael Marlowe
Tony Monroe
Judge Martin Bould
Murray Head
Hussein Ali
Robert Mountford
Leo Wilson QC
Jack Fortune