Trial run New BBC One courtroom drama puts city locations on show
AHUGE range of Bristol locations can be spotted in the new BBC One drama, Showtrial.
Coming hot on the heels of Stephen Merchant’s new comedydrama, The Outlaws, Showtrail is the second series filmed in Bristol to premiere on BBC One in less than a week.
With the first episode airing last weekend, the drama is made by the producers of smash hits Vigil, Line of Duty, and Bodyguard, and follows the trial of a privileged university student accused of conspiring to murder a fellow student.
A BBC press release says the show “explores how prejudice, politics and the media distort the legal process, in a timely drama full of dark humour.”
At least 14 separate Bristol locations feature in the series.
St George’s Hall off Park Street was the location for the courtrooms scenes in the series, while a police station exterior was built near The Fleece pub in Redcliffe.
A student ball was filmed on the Bristol University campus in April 2021 in the Ivy Gate area near Royal Fort House.
There was a fairground set built at the campus, and a security guard told student news outlet The Bristol Tab at the time that the scene being filmed was a flashback scene.
Other locations include Bristol Cathedral, Berkeley Square, the Corn Street area, and Gloucester Road.
Ashton Court also features, along with Cambridge Road, just off Gloucester Road.
Production used multiple locations at the Harbourside and nearby, including Avon Crescent, Nova Scotia Place, Cottage Inn landing and Brunel Lock.
Showtrial producer Christoper
Hall praised Bristol for being so open to filmmakers.
Mr Hall said: “Showtrial was shot in its entirety in and around Bristol. We benefited from the huge variety of available locations in and in close proximity to this very photogenic city.
“Bristol is extremely film friendly; terrific crews, a great production base at The Bottle Yard Studios, a thriving technical and creative community and easy access to a wide range of locations.
“It is no wonder that so many productions are finding their way to Bristol. I for one want to return as soon as possible.”
Laura Aviles, senior Bristol film manager, said: “Bristol continues to attract the highest calibre of highend TV dramas like this to its studio facilities at The Bottle Yard and versatile locations supported by our specialist Film Office team.”
Showtrial’s all-star cast includes Tracy Ifeachor (Quantico, Treadstone, The Originals), James Frain (Star Trek: Discovery, True Detective, Gotham), Sharon D Clarke (Rocks, Doctor Who, Kiri), Sinead Keenan (Little Boy Blue, Care, Three Families), Celine Buckens (Warrior, Bridgerton), Kerr Logan (Strike, Alias Grace, Game of Thrones) and Lolita Chakrabarti (Vigil, Criminal: UK).
Showtrial continues on Sunday at 9pm on BBC One and all episodes are available now to watch on iPlayer.