"Counsel for the Defence" by Jeffrey Ashford - BBC Radio Saturday Night Theatre - Drama

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"Counsel for the Defence" is a gripping courtroom thriller adapted for BBC Radio’s Saturday Night Theatre from the novel by Jeffrey Ashford, first broadcast on April 8, 1961. The drama explores the moral and emotional cost of justice when personal stakes collide with professional duty.

George Clover, a ruthless gangster, is arrested along with his crew for a violent bank robbery. As the trial looms, Clover demands that David Adams, a respected and principled barrister, serve as his defense counsel. Adams refuses—until Clover kidnaps Adams’ daughter, forcing him into a legal and ethical nightmare.

As Adams prepares the defense under duress, he must navigate:
A tense courtroom filled with intimidation and manipulation
The emotional strain of protecting his daughter while upholding the law
A cast of witnesses and officials whose loyalties and motives are anything but clear

The drama builds toward a climactic trial where Adams must decide whether to bend the truth to save his daughter—or uphold justice at a devastating cost.

Cast:
George Clover – James Kenney
David Adams – William Eedle
Detective Inspector Dreasley – Haydn Jones
Jane Adams – Anna Bentinck
Mr. Justice Leeming – Carleton Hobbs
Amelia Weston – Joan Hickson
Directed by Felix Felton

This production exemplifies the Saturday Night Theatre tradition: 90-minute dramas that blend suspense, moral complexity, and rich character work.