Close and True is a legal drama first broadcast on ITV from 23 November to 28 December 2000, starring Robson Green and James Bolam as the eponymous characters, John Close and Graham True respectively. The series follows Close (Green) as he takes over a run-down legal practice in Newcastle owned by True (Bolam), who now resides in a mental institution. During his first days in charge of the practice, he is thrown into the midst of a murder trial, despite having no previous criminal trial experience.[1]

Close and True
GenreLegal drama
Written byTony Etchells
Directed byPip Broughton
Renny Rye
Christoph Rohl
StarringRobson Green
James Bolam
Susan Jameson
Kerry Ann Christiansen
Jamie Bell
Nicola Grier
ComposerPaul Pritchard
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series1
No. of episodes6 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producersDamien Timmer
Michele Buck
Sandra Jobling
ProducerRebecca Keane
Running time50 minutes
Production companyCoastal Productions for Meridian
Original release
NetworkITV
Release23 November (2000-11-23) –
28 December 2000 (2000-12-28)

This programme was produced by Costal Productions in association with Meridian Broadcasting for the ITV network, with just six episodes of the drama were produced, before it was axed by ITV in 2001. The series was released on VHS on 29 January 2001,[2] but has never been issued on DVD in the United Kingdom. The series was released on Region 4 DVD in Australia in 2008.[3]

Cast

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Episodes

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No. Title Directed by Written by Ratings (in millions)[4]
Sourced by BARB.
Original airdate
1"Miss Newcastle"Pip BroughtonTony Etchells8.5623 November 2000 (2000-11-23)
While on a diving holiday, John Close receives a call from his old Newcastle friend Steve Sheedy, who has been remanded in jail on an attempted murder charge. Steve begs John to help him, and although his background isn't criminal law, decides to give it a go and finds himself in over his head. John becomes involved with mismanaged legal firm Simons and True in Newcastle, run by Colin Simons. He allows John to use the firm's services for a few days leading to Steve's trial. The alleged victim is Steve's ex-wife Paula's boyfriend, David. When David later dies, the charges rise to murder. Although he confesses that he didn't do it, and evidence points to Sinclair over monetary matters, it is Steve and Paula's son, Mark, who holds the key to what really happened.
2"Town and Gown"Pip BroughtonTony Etchells7.4330 November 2000 (2000-11-30)
Close visits Graham True after Simons takes some of the firm's money and runs to Darwin, Australia. Close wants to rebuild the practice but True is not so enthusiastic. Meanwhile, John begins to take over Simons's cases, one of them being an assault on a woman at a nightclub.
3"A Lie for a Lie"Renny RyeTony Etchells7.767 December 2000 (2000-12-07)
After working for two months in criminal law, John gets himself on the duty solicitor roster. Eileen Jakes is charged with threatening her ex-pimp Terry Morgan and is fearful of losing her daughter Annie. She asks John to handle her custody case. Meanwhile, John asks to move in with Paula at Mark's request. Kim says the office is haunted.
4"Hurry Up and Wait"Renny RyeTony Etchells6.7014 December 2000 (2000-12-14)
Jessica accepts John's proposal.
5"Wide Awake"Christoph RohlTony Etchells6.7921 December 2000 (2000-12-21)
John's relationship with Paula develops.
6"Gotcha!"Christoph RohlTony Etchells6.6228 December 2000 (2000-12-28)
Steve Sheedy is out on bail awaiting a retrial, and John comes up against his old foe, Peter Heart.

References

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  1. ^ "Close and True (ITV 2000, Robson Green, James Bolam)". 9 October 2016.
  2. ^ "Close and True: The Complete First Series". Amazon UK. 29 January 2001.
  3. ^ "Close and True: The Complete Series". Amazon UK.
  4. ^ "Weekly top 30 programmes on TV sets (July 1998 – Sept 2018) | BARB".
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