Showtrial cast: who stars in BBC series with Sinead Keenan and Tracy Ifeachor, trailer, and when is it on TV?

Following on from the success of crime series Vigil and Time, BBC One will debut courtroom drama Showtrial, this autumn.

The series is set to be another captivating watch, with the BBC choosing to air the five part series weekly rather than opting for a boxset release.

Showtrial’s cast is also packed with well-known faces from across the BBC and leads with Bridgerton star Celine Buckens.

So, who else is in the cast and when is it on TV? This is what you need to know.

What is Showtrial about?

Showtrial is a five part series for BBC One, about a missing student and the ensuing case as detectives attempt to understand what happened to her.

When working-class student Hannah Ellis disappears, detectives plead with the public to come forward with any information. Then an arrest is made, one which no one saw coming.

Talitha Campbell, the heir of one of Britain’s richest families and a student at the same university as Hannah, is arrested in connection with her disappearance and lead detective, DI Paula Cassidy, is certain she was involved.

Talitha has a stinking attitude and complete lack of empathy for Hannah’s whereabouts of the police’s attempts to locate her. DI Cassidy tries to convince Crown Prosecutor James Thornley, who is determined that this case needs to be done by the book, given the keen public interest.

Talitha relies on the capabilities of her defence solicitor, Cleo Roberts, who was the on call lawyer the night Talitha was brought in for questioning.

Cleo must steer Talitha through her intensive and combative police interviews and evade Cassidy’s questions.

Her job proves increasingly difficult, as Talitha’s attitude continues to escalate and new evidence comes to light that changes the nature of the case entirely.

The missing girl’s case proves to be a case which will divide the country.

Showtrial cast

The cast has stars of Bridgerton, Doctor Who and Three Families, with Celine Buckens leading as the suspiciously rude prime suspect in the case of Hannah’s disappearance.

Celine Buckens as Talitha Campbell

Belgian-British actress Campbell is best known for her role as Mia MacDonald in the Netflix series Free Rein. She also appeared in Netflix as Kitty Langham.

In 2020, the 25-year-old took on the role of Sophie Mercer in the Cinemax series Warrior.

For Showtrial, she is portrayed as spoiled student and prime suspect, Talitha Campbell.

Tracey Ifeachor as Cleo Roberts

British-Nigerian screen and stage actress Ifeachor is best known for her role as Abigail Naismith in both parts of the Doctor Who Christmas specials The End of Time.

The 36-year-old has most recently starred as Aya Al-Rashid in The CW vampire series The Originals and US network ABC’s Quantico thriller series.

In Showtrial, she plays the role of defence solicitor Cleo Roberts, who fights to prove a bad attitude does not prove criminality.

Kerr Logan as Prosecutor James Thronley

Irish born actor Kerr Logan made his television debut as Matthos Seaworth in HBO Emmy award winning series, Game of Thrones.

He also starred in ITV’s periodic drama, Victoria, as well as taking on supporting roles in Alias Grace (2016), the screen adaptation of Margaret Attwood’s novel by the same name.

In his upcoming appearance in Showtrial, he stars as Crown Prosecutor James Thornley, who must preside over the trial of Talitha and determine whether she was involved in the disappearance of Hannah.

Lolita Chakrabarti as Meera Hardwood MP

Lolita Chakrabarti OBE is a British actress and writer who has starred in a number of crime series, such as BBC’s Death in Paradise, Channel 4’s Born to Kill and Sky One’s Thorne.

In 2021, she starred as a Lieutenant Commander in Vigil, as well as being cast as Marin al’Vere in an adaptation of The Wheel of Time series, for Amazon Prime. She was also awarded an OBE in the Queen’s birthday honours, for services to drama.

In Showtrial, she features as a senior politician and family friend of Talitha’s, not much more is known about her role in the series but it is expected that she will feature more so throughout the trial phase of the plot.

Sinead Keenan as DI Paula Cassidy

Keenan has racked up various TV credits in her career, in both Irish and British series.

The Dublin born actress is best known for roles such as Melanie Jones in 2017 docu-drama Little Boy Blue, as well as starring as Roz in ITV drama Deep Water, as Patricia Campbell in BBC comedy series My Left Nut.

In 2021, she starred in the BBC’s recent Irish-based docu-drama series, Three Families, as Theresa Ryan.

In Showtrial, she stars as lead detective DI Paula Cassidy, who takes an immediate dislike to Talitha and becomes suspicious of the young student.

Abra Thompson as Hannah Ellis

Thompson is relatively new to TV acting and recently starred in HBO Max’s Emmy-nominated period drama The Nevers (2021).

She made her Tv debut in BBC comedy series This Country (2017) and has also starred in Apple TV’s comedy drama, Trying (2020).

In Showtrial, she plays the role of missing working-class university student, Hannah Ellis.

Also featured in supporting roles are Christopher Hatherall (Britannia), Joseph Payne (The Third Day) and Sharon D Clarke (Doctor Who).

When is Showtrial on TV?

Showtrial will premiere on BBC One and BBC iPlayer at 9pm on Sunday 31st October 2021.

Episodes will air weekly across five successive Sundays, with the finale set to arrive on Sunday 28th November.