David Harewood takes the lead in brand-new legal drama Pierre, which starts on Channel 4 tonight (Monday 5 October) at 9pm. Here’s the cast, plot, writers and what you need to know about the new six-part series.
Channel 4 is getting into the courtroom drama business with Pierre, a new legal thriller starring David Harewood as a West London duty solicitor who finds himself taking on far more than his day job.
The first episode airs tonight, Monday 5 October, at 9pm on Channel 4, with the full six-part box set available to stream following the transmission.
And while Pierre has all the ingredients of a legal drama – clients in trouble, police investigations and difficult cases – there’s a much bigger story developing underneath.
What is Pierre about?
David Harewood plays Pierre Jeffreys, a West London duty solicitor who is described as a force of nature.
Pierre has built up considerable expertise fighting for clients who cannot afford representation, but his dedication comes at a cost. His work is beginning to take a toll on his marriage, health and finances, leaving him with plenty of problems outside the courtroom as well as inside it.
But things become considerably more serious when a young Black client dies.
Pierre begins questioning the circumstances surrounding the death and starts investigating what he believes may be a culture of bigotry within the police force.
The further he digs, the more dangerous things become. His investigation threatens not only his career but also his family, friendships, health and ability to continue doing the job he has devoted himself to.
Channel 4 describes the series as following Pierre as he risks his career, family and sense of self in his pursuit of the truth, with each episode also featuring individual legal cases and unexpected twists.
What happens in Pierre episode 1?
The opening episode introduces Pierre when a complicated case lands on his desk.
He meets Michael, a charismatic young man who has been arrested for stealing his aunt’s car. What initially appears to be a relatively straightforward case soon draws Pierre into a much more complicated situation.
Meanwhile, one of Pierre’s regular clients, the eccentric shoplifter Miriam, manages to turn the tables on the person accusing her.
It sets up the two sides of the series: the individual cases that bring Pierre into contact with people from all walks of life, and the much larger investigation that will increasingly consume him.
Who is in the cast of Pierre?
David Harewood leads the cast as Pierre Jeffreys.
He is joined by:
- Michele Austin as Charlotte Manners, Pierre’s joint managing partner
- Jason Flemyng as DS Ronnie Miller, Pierre’s best friend
- Dean-Charles Chapman as Danny Headman
- Nikkita Chadha as Alecia Khan
- Christopher Fairbank as Sean Lambert
- Sara Powell as Celeste Jeffreys, Pierre’s wife
- Cherrelle Skeete as Brenda Dean
- Dylan Ennis as Eli Jeffreys
- Ezrae Maye as Michael
The cast was announced by Channel 4 when filming began in West London, with Harewood describing the production as a journey he was particularly excited to be undertaking.
The series is produced by The Lighthouse, with Jo Johnson as producer.
Who wrote Pierre?
Pierre was created and written by John Donnelly and Roy Williams.
Williams is a BAFTA-winning screenwriter and playwright, while Donnelly is a BAFTA-nominated writer whose credits include Utopia and Summerwater.
The series is directed by Sarmad Masud, whose previous work includes You Don’t Know Me and Boarders.
The result is a legal drama that is interested not just in individual cases, but in the pressures surrounding Britain’s legal aid system and the institutions Pierre finds himself challenging.
What has David Harewood been in before?
If you recognise David Harewood but can’t quite remember where from, there’s a good chance you’ve seen him in one of several major television roles.
He is perhaps best known internationally for playing David Estes, the CIA counterterrorism chief, in Homeland. He appeared in the show’s first two seasons alongside Claire Danes and Damian Lewis.
Harewood then became a familiar face to superhero fans as J’onn J’onzz/Martian Manhunter in Supergirl, a role he played across all six seasons. His character also appeared in The Flash, Arrow and DC’s Legends of Tomorrow.
More recently, he has appeared in BBC crime drama Sherwood, The Night Manager, The Acolyte and The Agency.
His film credits include Blood Diamond, The Merchant of Venice, The Brothers Grimsby and Arthur’s Whisky.
For Harewood, Pierre represents something of a landmark role. Despite a career spanning almost four decades, this is his first time leading a TV series in the title role.
Is Pierre based on a true story?
Pierre is not a true-story drama. It is an original fictional legal drama created by John Donnelly and Roy Williams.
However, the series is rooted in the world of duty solicitors and the pressures they face. Channel 4 has described Pierre as a character working in a profession where lawyers are often overworked and underpaid, while his firm also struggles against the backdrop of legal aid cuts.
How many episodes of Pierre are there?
Pierre is a six-part series, with episodes running for around an hour.
The full box set will be available to stream after tonight’s Channel 4 transmission, so viewers who get hooked by the opening episode won’t necessarily have to wait a week to find out what happens next.
What time is Pierre on Channel 4 tonight?
Pierre starts tonight, Monday 5 October, at 9pm on Channel 4.
The full box set will be available to stream following the broadcast, making it possible to watch the remaining episodes after the opening instalment.
With David Harewood finally getting his first TV leading role, Pierre arrives with a strong pedigree both in front of and behind the camera – and a story that starts with one apparently straightforward legal case before opening the door to something much bigger.
Want more TV previews, entertainment news & lifestyle reviews? Subscribe for free:
Discover where to stream the best TV shows and movies. Get fresh entertainment news, streaming guides, and real-life pop culture experiences at WhereToWatch.tv.
Share this post with someone you think would like it…