Book of the Week - Defending the Guilty - Episode 1

Every day, like every criminal barrister in this country, Alex McBride stands up in court and, with nothing but quick thinking, sharp talking and his hard-won legal expertise, attempts to save people from criminal conviction, prison, even a lifetime behind bars. In this amusing and revealing series, he takes us behind the scenes of Britain's criminal justice system - in barristers' chambers, in the courtroom, in the cells and on the streets - introducing us to its outlandish personalities, arcane eccentricities and stories of triumph and defeat. Whether he's defending hapless teenagers at Harlow Youth Court or prosecuting gold bullion robbers at the Bailey, his tales reveal all the secrets of courtroom success and what it takes to survive in this chaotic world of fluked escapes and crushed hopes. In this first episode, Alex has his first experience of a client accused of murder in the cells at the Old Bailey, and explains the grind of his year as a pupil barrister. The producer is David Roper, and this is a Heavy Entertainment production for BBC Radio 4.