The Bench
GenreLegal drama
Created by
  • Catherine Treganna
  • Matthew Robinson
Written byCatherine Treganna
Directed by
  • Matthew Evans
  • Elwyn Williams
  • Keith Washington
Starring
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series2
No. of episodes20 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producerMatthew Robinson
ProducerKaren Lewis
Production locationWales
EditorWill Oswald
Running time30 minutes
Production companyBBC Wales
Original release
NetworkBBC One
Release17 October 2001 (2001-10-17) –
13 June 2002 (2002-06-13)

The Bench is a Welsh television legal drama series, co-created by Matthew Robinson and lead writer Catherine Treganna, that first broadcast on BBC One Wales from 17 October 2001.[1] The English-language series follows the daily lives of a group of the prosecutors and defenders of a busy magistrates court, including long suffering Des Davies (Mark Lewis Jones) and young whippersnapper Ranjit Singh (Phaldut Sharma).

Two series of the programme were broadcast, having been filmed back-to-back during the summer of 2001. The series was initially broadcast at 8:30pm on Fridays on BBC One Wales, before being repeated in their entirety an afternoon slot nationwide on BBC One from 27 May 2002.[2] A late night repeat on BBC Two followed in June 2008.[3] The series won three BAFTA Cymru awards in 2003,[4] with Eiry Thomas winning Best Actress, Bill Broomfield winning Best Director of Photography for a drama series and Will Oswald winning Best Editor.[5]

Neither series has been released on DVD, but in 2020, both were released in their entirety on Amazon Prime Video under a deal with Acorn TV, making them available in the United States for the first time.[6]

Cast

  • Mark Lewis Jones as Des Davies
  • Phaldut Sharma as Ranjit Singh
  • Eiry Thomas as Cheryl Cates
  • Eluned Jones as Val Sullivan
  • Philip McGough as Peter Mansell
  • Clive Willbond-Hill as Colin Francis
  • Roger Evans as Hugh Evans
  • Brian Hibbard as Ralph Jenkins
  • Lesley Vickerage as Katharine Tyrell
  • Anita Reynolds as Nita Jones
  • Martin Cole as Wayne Hayward
  • Rachel Isaac as Ange Collins
  • Siwan Morris as Leanne Phillips

Episodes

Series 1 (2001)

Episode Title Director Writer Original airdate
1TBAMatthew EvansCatherine Treganna17 October 2001 (2001-10-17)
A hungover Des expects defending a local publican to be a walkover, but has not reckoned on the skills of new prosecutor Cheryl Cates. And for some young girls, the real drama takes place outside the courtroom.
2TBAEmlyn WilliamsCatherine Treganna24 October 2001 (2001-10-24)
Leanne is trying to make a new life for herself, but her previous boyfriend has other plans. Meanwhile, Mrs Dee is determined to bring her son to justice.
3TBAEmlyn WilliamsRoger Williams31 October 2001 (2001-10-31)
A family are left devastated after the death of a daughter in a road accident.
4TBAEmlyn WilliamsRoger Williams7 November 2001 (2001-11-07)
Farmer Parry is accused of neglecting his animals, while Ange is accused of neglecting her baby.
5TBAEmlyn WilliamsJon Treganna14 November 2001 (2001-11-14)
Ranjit and Des place a bet on the outcome of a case involving a violent feud between two cockle-picking families.
6TBAEmlyn WilliamsCatherine Treganna21 November 2001 (2001-11-21)
Matrimonial issues are on the agenda – not just in court, but behind the scenes as well.
7TBAKeith WashingtonCatherine Treganna28 November 2001 (2001-11-28)
Simon and Gareth are in court to give evidence against Natalie, but find their relationship under scrutiny.
8TBAKeith WashingtonCatherine Treganna5 December 2001 (2001-12-05)
Two teenagers give Des a hard time when he tries to defend them. A young doctor has to decide whether to tell the truth when confronted by the patient who assaulted her.
9TBAKeith WashingtonCatherine Treganna12 December 2001 (2001-12-12)
Des and Ranjit fall out when Leanne and Brink re-appear in court on charge of possession. Meanwhile, Katherine is desperate for Hugh to open the box.
10TBAKeith WashingtonJon Tregenna19 December 2001 (2001-12-19)
Leanne's future hangs in the balance, forcing Des and Ranjit to examine their role in events.

Series 2 (2002)

Episode Title Director Writer Original airdate
1TBAKeith WashingtonJon Tregenna12 April 2002 (2002-04-12)
A mother and daughter are both on trial and must decide who takes the blame. Des can't resist being mean to a new rival.
2TBAMatthew EvansCatherine Treganna19 April 2002 (2002-04-19)
When two desperate parents fight to get their children out of the care of social services, the magistrates must make a tough and heartbreaking decision. Katharine faces a crisis in her personal life.
3TBAMatthew EvansCatherine Treganna26 April 2002 (2002-04-26)
When a defendant arrives drunk and disorderly for his trial, proceedings dissolve into chaos. Meanwhile, a loyal grandmother tries every trick in the book to win her grandson bail.
4TBAMatthew EvansCatherine Treganna3 May 2002 (2002-05-03)
A married man's one night stand leads to bitterness and recrimination in and out of the courtroom. Cheryl's stressful day brings her closer to one of her colleagues.
5TBAMatthew EvansCatherine Treganna10 May 2002 (2002-05-10)
Hugh faces a stark choice between his career and his personal loyalty to a defendant. Des has something to celebrate.
6TBAMatthew EvansCatherine Treganna17 May 2002 (2002-05-17)
A father faces every parent's nightmare when his teenage son appears in court. Des is on a high in his personal life, but could get out of this depth when he decides to take on a hardened criminal as a client.
7TBAMatthew EvansCatherine Treganna29 May 2002 (2002-05-29)
Ranjit realizes a client has become over-attached, and Des is compromised by his involvement with a criminal family. Work threatens to damage their personal lives.
8TBAMatthew EvansJason Sutton5 June 2002 (2002-06-05)
The magistrates are eagerly anticipating the ballot to decide the chair of Penbridge Magistrates' court. The friendship of rival candidates Val and Peter faces its greatest test.
9TBAMatthew EvansJason Sutton12 June 2002 (2002-06-12)

The press descend on the court for the sentencing of a teacher who had a relationship with a pupil. Meanwhile Des and Cheryl reach crisis point.

Featuring Ruth Jones as Mandy Jenkins
10TBAMatthew EvansCatherine Treganna13 June 2002 (2002-06-13)
When his client frames an innocent man, Des is not only compromised, but in great danger.

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ "BBC press release". BBC Press Office. Retrieved 16 December 2011.
  2. ↑ "BBC Programme Index".
  3. ↑ "BBC Two - the Bench, Series 1 - Episode guide".
  4. ↑ "Court drama scoops awards". BBC News. 27 April 2003. Retrieved 16 December 2011.
  5. ↑ "BAFTA Awards, Wales, April 26, 2003". IMDb. Retrieved 16 December 2011.
  6. ↑ "Watch the Bench | Prime Video". Amazon UK.

References

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