Season 5 • Episode 4
LatestKavanagh finds himself fighting prejudice and corruption when he acts for a client who is appealing against a murder conviction, can he find out the truth and overcomes all the odds that are against his client.
John Thaw dons the silks as barrister James Kavanagh Q.C., one of the most highly respected criminal advocates in London, commanding admiration from colleagues and opponents alike. However, all this has come at a price as his dedication to work has taken its toll on his private life… Going beyond traditional courtroom dramas, “Kavanagh Q.C.” uncovers the pressures of legal battles and the problems of defining the truth, providing a compelling representation of the euphoric ups and costly downs of success and failure in the legal world.
Acting
John Thaw's eyes alone deserve a BAFTA.
Writing
Cases that actually respect viewer intelligence.
Production
That 90s BBC gravitas—no notes.
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
John Thaw demanded zero makeup to show Kavanagh's exhaustion; those bags are authentic.
This helped shape the 'flawed professional' template later perfected by The Crown and Sherwood. Thaw was doing it first.
GB
