jeffrey archer back in court. . .

Stevie H · December 12, 2006

Archer back in court

http://media.guardian.co.uk/site/story/0,,1970302,00.html

Watch the trailer for The Verdict

Leigh Holmwood

Tuesday December 12, 2006

MediaGuardian.co.uk

Disgraced politician Jeffrey Archer's rehabilitation via reality television continues, with the confirmation he will take part in a new BBC2 show in which 12 celebrities act as the jury in a fictitious court case.

Archer has already agreed to take part in new ITV1 show Fortune, in which he will give away his own money to members of the public.

The latest television outing is a further re-entry back into the public eye following his four-year jail sentence in 2001 for perjury and perverting the course of justice.

In The Verdict, Archer will join 11 other famous faces, including Blur bass player Alex James, actress Honor Blackman and Sara Payne, the mother of murdered schoolgirl Sarah, as the jury in a mock case featuring a footballer charged with rape.

The BBC2 controller, Roly Keating, said the series, which will air over four nights early next year, will show the inner workings of the jury system.

"This is a hugely ambitious project which brings the law to life in a completely new way," he said.

The show, made by independent production company RDF Television, is one of the highlights of BBC2's winter and spring 2007 schedule, which was unveiled today.

Other new shows include new Jennifer Saunder's comic creation The Life and Times of Vivienne Vyle, which will satirise confessional television shows; while new drama Party Animals, from the makers of This Life, World Productions, will be set in the world of politics and lobbyists.

Graham Norton will present his next BBC series on the channel, with The Graham Norton Show billed as a late-night chatshow taking a "distinctly irreverent" take on trends, stories and celebrity culture.

The Conspiracy Files threatens to reopen the controversy over the death of government scientist Dr David Kelly, when it looks at alternative stories as to how he died. The series will also feature 9/11 and the Oklahoma bombing.

Top Gear will also return, as will presenter Richard Hammond who was injured while filming for the show, although Mr Keating said no decision had yet been taken as to whether footage of his crash will be included in the new run.

Mr Keating added that he also wanted to introduce new faces to the channel, and has given Coast presenter Dr Alice Roberts her own show, Dr Alice, in which she will attempt to help people live longer by "loving our internal organs".

Herbie von Smalls · December 12, 2006

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