The Escape Artist

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