The BBC has released the first images from Counsels, a new eight-part legal drama set in Glasgow and following a group of young lawyers as their careers begin to get serious. Created by Scottish writers Bryan Elsley, whose credits include The Crow Road and Skins, and Gillian McCormack, the series will arrive on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and BBC Scotland in early 2027. Set across Glasgow’s legal world, Counsels follows Jamie, Bav, Nadine, Alasdair, Katie and Karina as they work in different areas of the profession while dealing with competition, relationships and growing pressure outside the courtroom too.

What Is Counsels About?

The official synopsis reads: “Counsels follows the lives of a group of twentysomething lawyers in Glasgow in the crucial moment when, a few years out of university, their careers finally become serious. Working across the legal landscape, whether as public prosecutors, slick representatives of glossier law firms or the shabby and good-hearted last resort of those with nothing left to lose, each one of them is out to win. They are colleagues jostling for promotion, adversaries professionally and personally and lovers trying to hold onto one another as ambitions accelerate. And now’s the time things are going to catch fire.”

The series is also set firmly in Glasgow, adding another new Scottish drama to the BBC’s growing slate alongside Vigil, The Young Team, Sutherland, Shetland and Rebus.

Who Is in the Counsels Cast?

Brandon Grace plays Jamie, with Ro Kumar as Bav, Eilidh Park as Nadine, George Prentice as Alasdair, Alyth Ross as Katie and Rebecca Bell as Karina. The group forms the younger ensemble at the centre of the series as their careers and relationships develop across the eight episodes.

They are joined by Michelle Gomez as Edith Connelly, Derek Riddell as Kevin Mallam, Laura Haddock as Jan Mallam and Michael Nardone as Peter. Daniela Nardini, Sally Howitt, Stuart Bowman, Neshla Caplan and Stephen Purdon are also part of the cast. The series will also feature Mhairi Black in her acting debut, playing DI Bridges, with the first image showing her in character for the new drama.

Who Created Counsels?

Counsels was co-created by Bryan Elsley and Gillian McCormack, who also serve as writers and executive producers. Maryam Hamidi, whose credits include Vigil, and Red Eye writer Jingan Young have written additional episodes.

Lynsey Miller, known for Surface and The Turkish Detective, directs alongside Siri Rødnes, whose credits include Shetland and River City. Brian Kaczynski serves as producer, with the series made by Balloon Entertainment in association with Banijay Rights and as a co-production with ZDFneo.

When Is Counsels on BBC One?

Counsels will be available to watch in early 2027 on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and BBC Scotland, although an exact release date has not yet been announced. The series will consist of eight hour-long episodes, with the newly released images giving the first proper look at the cast and Glasgow setting ahead of its launch next year.

For CultureCues, we’ve been looking forward to Counsels since it was first announced, so getting this first proper look has made us even more excited to see it. We love that it is another major Scottish drama being made and set in Glasgow, and following a group of young lawyers at the point where their careers are really starting to take off gives the series plenty to explore both professionally and personally. There are some brilliant Scottish names in the cast too, with Michelle Gomez, Derek Riddell, Daniela Nardini and Michael Nardone among the excellent supporting line-up, while Mhairi Black making her acting debut will definitely get people talking. We’ll be keeping an eye out for that exact BBC release date.

Counsels will air on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and BBC Scotland in early 2027.

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