Penry Jones, Peake join BBC legal drama

Rupert Penry Jones and Maxine Peake have signed up to appear in a new BBC legal drama.

Silk has been written by former barrister Peter Moffat, who previously penned Criminal Justice.

Peake will play defence barrister Martha Costello whose passionate belief in 'innocent until proven guilty' and faith in the criminal justice system will be challenged over the series.

Meanwhile, Penry Jones will star as Clive Reader, who was called to the Bar at the same time as Martha. Both of the barristers are applying for 'silk', which means that they want to be made a QC.

"Silk is based on my experience at the Bar," Moffat said. "I want to tell it as it really is. The extreme pressure, the hard choices, the ethical dilemmas, the overlap between the personal and the professional, principles fought for and principles sacrificed, the whole Machiavellian politics, the sex, the drinking, the whole story - life at the Bar is the richest possible drama territory."

The six-part series also stars Natalie Dormer, Tom Hughes and Neil Stuke. Filming will begin this month.