David Farnor | On 02, Apr 2019

“He killed my son. I’m not the criminal.” That’s Kelly Macdonald in the new BBC series The Victim.

The BBC One drama created by Rob Williams (Killing Eve, The Man In The High Castle), is told through the eyes of the plaintiff and the accused. Set within Scotland’s unique legal system, the show, a STV Production for BBC One, asks, who is really ‘the victim’?

The four-part drama stars Macdonald as Anna Dean, whose nine year old son was murdered 15 years ago. She is accused of revealing her son’s killer’s new identity online and conspiring to have him murdered. Has the anger of a grieving mother turned her into a criminal too? What is she capable of doing in her son’s name?

The State of Play star is joined by James Harkness and John Hannah as the victim of a vicious attack, after being identified online as a notorious child murderer and an experienced detective investigating the attack. Opening on day one of a criminal trial in Edinburgh’s High Court, The Victim follows the legal proceedings, while also covering the events leading up to the trial. Craig and Anna are pitted against each other, but sympathies will be divided…

Here’s the trailer:

 

First look: Kelly Macdonald stars in BBC One’s The Victim

13th March 2019

Kelly Macdonald will star in BBC One’s new legal thriller, The Victim.

The four-part drama, created by Rob Williams (Killing Eve, The Man In The High Castle), is told through the eyes of the plaintiff and the accused. Set within Scotland’s unique legal system, the show, a STV Production for BBC One, asks, who is really ‘the victim’?

Macdonald is joined by James Harkness and John Hannah, and now, we’ve got our first look at them in character. Macdonald plays Anna Dean, whose nine year old son was murdered 15 years ago. She is accused of revealing her son’s killer’s new identity online and conspiring to have him murdered. Has the anger of a grieving mother turned her into a criminal too? What is she capable of doing in her son’s name?

Hard working family man Craig Myers, played by Harkness, is the victim of a vicious attack, after being identified online as a notorious child murderer. Should Craig keep his head down or try to prove his innocence? Is he simply the tragic victim of mistaken identity; or the dangerous killer he is suspected of being?

Hannah plays DI Grover, an experienced detective investigating the attack on Craig and trying to discover who made the online accusation against him. Grover’s approach is clear: whatever Anna has suffered is immaterial – she has no right to interfere with the law. Somebody assaulted an innocent man and all those responsible must pay; mob rule is abhorrent to him – the police deliver justice, that’s what they’re there for. And, as we discover, he has a particular personal reason for pursuing this case – a reason that will also explain why he has recently been seconded to a different police force.

Opening on day one of a criminal trial in Edinburgh’s High Court, The Victim follows the legal proceedings, while also covering the events leading up to the trial. Craig and Anna are pitted against each other, but our sympathies will be divided…

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