The Escape Artist
Series title over the London Inns of Court
First episode titlecard
GenreDrama
Created byDavid Wolstencroft
Written byDavid Wolstencroft
Directed byBrian Welsh
Starring
ComposerNicholas Hooper
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series1
No. of episodes3 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producersDavid Wolstencroft
Matthew Read (BBC)
ProducersPaul Frift
Hilary Bevan Jones
CinematographyDavid Higgs
EditorJamie Pearson
Running time57 minutes
Production companyEndor Productions Ltd
Original release
NetworkBBC One
Release29 October (2013-10-29) 
12 November 2013 (2013-11-12)

The Escape Artist is a British drama thriller three-part series[1] starring David Tennant.[2]

The series was created and written by David Wolstencroft and directed by Brian Welsh. It premiered on 29 October 2013 at 9 p.m. on BBC One. The series was filmed between 24 January and 22 March 2013 at various locations in London, Hertfordshire, Surrey and Scotland. The interior court scenes were filmed on a set at Wimbledon Studios, in Colliers Wood and at Surrey County Hall in Kingston upon Thames. The exterior court scenes were filmed at Paisley Sheriff Court in Paisley.[3] The final court scene external shots were filmed around the Edinburgh City Chambers, Parliament Square and the Royal Mile in Edinburgh. Tennant visited the Old Bailey before filming began to do research.[4]

Plot

Barrister Will Burton (David Tennant) is known for never losing a case and getting criminals out of tight legal corners. On the verge of applying for the title of Queen's Counsel, Burton agrees to defend murder suspect Liam Foyle (Toby Kebbell) of whose innocence he is in some doubt. Having examined the evidence, he recognises a loophole and Foyle is acquitted on a technicality.

Upon winning the case, Burton declines to shake Foyle's hand and in revenge for this perceived slight, Foyle begins stalking Burton's wife Kate (Ashley Jensen) and young son Jamie (Gus Barry). Foyle then reports Burton for unprofessional behaviour, seriously delaying and perhaps even preventing him from becoming a Queens Counsel. When Burton is unable to travel with his family to their holiday home, Foyle attacks and murders Burton's wife. Burton finds her stricken body and his traumatised son hiding in a chest. When he is calling for an ambulance, the devastated Burton sees Foyle standing outside the holiday home leaving him in no doubt that Foyle is the perpetrator.

Foyle is arrested and Maggie Gardner (Sophie Okonedo), who has lived her career in Burton's shadow, decides to take up Foyle's defence. The prosecution team consists of two of Burton's colleagues but due to his proximity to the case, he is not allowed any contact with his colleagues. With little confidence in his colleagues, Burton carries out his own investigation. He discovers that the woman who has provided Foyle's alibi is also looking after Foyle's possessions in a storage unit. Surreptitiously, Burton alerts his colleagues to this potential evidence. After a search, police find the evidence. Later while driving back from the holiday home, Jamie finally describes his experience of the attack and mentions that he scratched the perpetrator. This leads to the discovery of DNA evidence.

Foyle becomes enraged at his own legal team but Gardner assures him that there are only 3 pieces of evidence that connect him to the crime: the evidence from the storage unit, Burton's eye witness testimony and the DNA evidence. She says each can be easily discredited. Gardner learns that her boyfriend oversees the lab testing the DNA evidence and manages to use information he provided to discredit him and the evidence. Gardner points out to the judge that the evidence found at the storage unit was discovered from a different unit to the one on the warrant and the judge is forced to throw it out. With only Burton's eye witness testimony remaining, Gardner manages to have the case tossed for a lack of evidence and the judge directs a verdict of not guilty.

Gardner becomes increasingly concerned when Foyle begins stalking her.

Burton follows Foyle to Scotland, confronts him and tries to trick Foyle into confessing to the murder while he records him. Foyle sees through this and a scuffle breaks out which sees Burton slash with a knife at Foyle. Foyle laughs it off but then succumbs to anaphylactic shock. Burton, seemingly repentant, calls an ambulance and administers an epipen. Despite this, Foyle dies and Burton is arrested. Facing nine years imprisonment, he decides to represent himself in court.

Throughout the trial, Burton manages to outwit the prosecution. He points out the chance meeting and shows the jury how he tried to save Foyle. When the jury head for deliberation, Gardner approaches him. She postulates how Burton could have committed the perfect murder. She identifies how he could have identified Foyle's allergy and how he could have interfered with Foyle's epipen. She finishes by asking Burton if he's not worried about Foyle being exhumed later for further medical tests. Burton acts aloof and maintains his innocence before pointing out that Foyle was cremated. The jury comes back with a verdict of not proven and Burton is released.

Cast

Episodes

Episode Title Directed by Written by Original airdate Viewers (millions)[5]
1"Episode 1"Brian WelshDavid Wolstencroft29 October 2013 (2013-10-29)[4]6.19
Will Burton is a talented barrister, known for winning defence cases against all the odds. After he secures the acquittal of Liam Foyle but declines to shake hands with him, Foyle seeks revenge.
2"Episode 2"Brian WelshDavid Wolstencroft5 November 2013 (2013-11-05)5.32
Liam Foyle is on trial for the murder of Burton's wife, this time defended by Will's long time nemesis - Maggie Gardner.
3"Episode 3"Brian WelshDavid Wolstencroft12 November 2013 (2013-11-12)5.64
Will takes the law into his own hands after the case against Foyle collapses.

Reception

The series received positive reviews. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes gave the series an 85% 'fresh' rating based on 13 critic reviews. The critical consensus reads "Its deliberate pace demands patience, but The Escape Artist benefits from David Tennant's performance, as well as an emotionally engaging, socially conscious storyline."[6] Metacritic gave it a score of 71 out of 100 based on 12 critics, indicating 'generally favorable reviews.'[7]

Nominations

Worldwide release

Country Network Premiere date
 Germany VOX 15 March 2014

References

  1. Press release (31 January 2013). "Filming Starts on New BBC One Thriller, The Escape Artist, Starring David Tennant". BBC. Retrieved 22 June 2014.
  2. Munn, Patrick (7 January 2013). "Doctor Who's David Tennant Cast as Lead in BBC One's 'The Escape Artist'". TVWise. Retrieved 22 June 2014.
  3. "David films in home town". Daily Record. 12 March 2013. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  4. 1 2 "The Escape Artist Series 1 Episode". Radio Times. 20 October 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
  5. "Top 30 Programmes". Broadcasters' Audience Research Board. 6 October 2013. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
  6. "The Escape Artist: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  7. "The Escape Artist - Season 1 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  8. "The Escape Artist Nominated in Seoul". tennantnews.blogspot.fr. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
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