The quite emotional and shocking end of Broadchurch last week may have left viewers bereft of appealing dramas.
ITV has announced a second series, and a reportedly unusual US remake called Gracepoint is being made, featuring David Tennant, complete with an American accent, and Anna Gunn (the excellent Skyler White in Breaking Bad) as Detective Sergeant Ellie Miller.
But until either of those arrive, viewers have the chance to see some of the (quite good, really) work of Broadchurch's poor murdered Danny Latimer's dad Mark Latimer - also known as actor Andrew Buchan.
Buchan stars in Garrow's Law, a period legal drama following the work of real-life British barrister, politician and judge Sir William Garrow.
Garrow worked in the 18th and 19th centuries, and helped usher in the adversarial court system used in most common law nations today.
Garrow is best known for his criminal defence work, and his aggressive defence of clients.
The series begins on Vibe from July 21, following cases from rape and murder to high treason and corruption, each episode beginning with the investigation of a real crime sourced from the published accounts of Old Bailey trials (available, apparently, in a fully-searchable edition online).
We meet Garrow as he looks on the Old Bailey, shocked by the process and the outcome of one case - branding of the guilty.
He learns he cannot see copies of depositions, cannot visit his client in prison, and cannot make an opening statement or closing speech.
''In fact, not only is it impermissible for counsel to make a full defence, it is barely allowable for them to win a case,'' his colleague John Southouse (Alun Armstrong) tells him.
We learn of Garrow's passion in the opening credits.
''Blast your eyes, you damned bitch'' we see him yell at someone or other (in a later episode, clearly), using the sort of language we would all like to use if we just had the chance.
Garrow is a belligerent combatant in court, but his oratorical skills are not enough to save his first client from the hangman's noose.
Not only that, but the prosecuting counsel is an Oxford educated, sarcastic prig, and the judge is mean.
But Garrow soon gets the hang of cross-examination, and uses it to good effect to badger his witnesses into the truth and save his clients from a cruel system of justice.
And his cross-examinations are a highlight of Garrow's Law, a show which is well worth a look.
Buchan wears a terrific wig, and talks all high and mighty and pompous-like.
If only we all spoke like that all the time.
What a terrific world it would be.
- Charles Loughrey
