The Innocent (miniseries)

The Innocent
GenreCrime drama
Written by
  • Jan McVerry
  • Stephen Mallatratt
Directed bySarah Harding
Starring
ComposerChristopher Gunning
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series1
No. of episodes2
Production
Executive producerCarolyn Reynolds
ProducerHugh Warren
CinematographyJohn Ignatius
EditorEdward Mansell
Running time90 minutes
Production companyYorkshire Television
Original release
NetworkITV
Release7 January (2001-01-07) –
8 January 2001 (2001-01-08)

The Innocent is a two-part British television crime drama miniseries, written by Jan McVerry and Stephen Mallatratt, that first broadcast on ITV on 7 January 2001.[1] Directed by Sarah Harding, The Innocent tells the story of David Pastorov (Paul Rhys), a barrister accused of rape by one of his colleagues, Alison (Clare Holman). Although he initially denies the claims, when it later transpires that he slept with the alleged victim, his wife, Beth (Caroline Quentin), heavily pregnant with the couple's third child, struggles to believe his version of events.[2]

The two episodes of The Innocent attracted 9.87 and 9.49 million viewers respectively.[3] Despite going head-to-head with Rebel Heart, the BBC's controversial Irish War of Independence drama, which had attracted widespread criticism before its broadcast (which resulted in critics expecting it to draw a large audience), The Innocent drew nearly six million more viewers.[4] Despite this, the series has never been released on DVD.

Reception

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Gareth McLean of The Guardian was slightly more critical, writing; "On paper - or in the Radio Times, at least - The Innocent hardly seemed like brave new drama. Focusing as it did on a schism between best friends, the subjectiveness of truth, and the compromises made and little lies told to live one's life, it appeared to be another off-the-peg contemporary drama. And with the misogyny of the legal system, the choices women have to make, and the loveliness of everyone's house thrown in, you could have been forgiven for not even turning on."[5]

Cast

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References

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  1. ^ "The Innocent (2001)". The Movie Scene. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  2. ^ "The Innocent - Series 1, Episode 1". Radio Times. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  3. ^ "BARB - Weekly Top 30 Programmes". BARB. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  4. ^ "Viewers Rebel Against New BBC Drama". The Telegraph. London. 9 January 2001. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  5. ^ "Of Vice and Men". The Guardian. 9 January 2001. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
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