All rise for Will Sharpe & Katherine Parkinson

COURTROOM dramas may be a mainstay on TV – but what happens when you add comedy into the mix? All rise for Defending The Guilty, a new BBC2 sitcom written by Cuckoo’s Kieron Quirke and based on Alex McBride’s book, Defending The Guilty: Truth And Lies In The Criminal Courtroom.

The six-part series follows idealistic young barrister, Will Packham (Will Sharpe), as he’s shown the ropes by his cynical, worldly-wise pupilmaster Caroline, played by Bafta winner Katherine Parkinson.

Will must not only navigate his way through a criminal justice system seemingly designed to be as confusing as possible, but he’s also required to deal with his fellow pupils, each after the same job at the end of their training and more than happy to stab each other in the back to get it.

“It certainly raises questions about the legal system and moral questions,” Will, 32, says.

“(My) character believes he is a good guy and he seems to be a good guy, but the series gradually puts that theory under strain.”

“As Will knows, I really enjoyed playing somebody ostensibly with no redeeming qualities,” laughs Katherine, 41. “Quite often I have played supposedly quite lovable characters and it turns out it comes quite easily to me to be utterly horrific.”

So where does the comedy come in?

“Kieron really prioritises the plot,” says Katherine, who’s well accustomed to making us laugh, thanks to her role as Jen Barber in The IT Crowd. “But it’s a really clever thing to wrap up a case in half an hour and make it funny and have an ensemble playing.

“He makes that seem quite effortless, but it’s doing a lot, and that’s why I hope people will enjoy it.”

“What I liked about it was that Tom George, the director, has very good taste,” offers Will, who earned his comedy stripes with such shows as the darkly comic Flowers, which he wrote and starred in. “He gave us boundaries within which to work and it meant that we could feel quite mischievous, which is a really good atmosphere.”

As for getting into character, the distinctive court dress certainly helped the London duo.

“I loved the gowns,” reveals Katherine. “I found it very useful because it gave you an immediate status. Running down the stairs with it flowing behind you, it really does give you a sense of misplaced self-importance.”

“I weirdly felt like it was quite a funny outfit, it’s quite ridiculous in a way,” Will asserts.

“I mean the wigs are ridiculous and uncomfortable,” Katherine adds. “I just think some people look incredibly noble in a wig, and other people – me – just look really silly.”

But the legal framework is there to service the characters and their stories, says Will.

“These are messy, human, flawed people in a messy, flawed system that was built by people, and that’s what makes it funny, and that’s what makes it interesting.”

■ DEFENDING The Guilty is on BBC2, Tuesdays at 10pm.