Kavanagh is called upon to defend an alleged rapist, David Armstrong, a young labourer accused of attacking the housewife he works for in her home.

Nothing But the Truth

Kavanagh is asked to prosecute an ex-police officer turned vigilante when he is the driver of a car which hits a teenager.

Heartland

Kavanagh represents a determined father in a bitter custody battle, but finds himself having to persuade the eager dad not to take matters into his own hands after learning of his previous kidnappings.

A Family Affair

Kavanagh defends a prostitute accused of murdering a wealthy and prominent businessman who was also a client. Everything points to her guilt except her own passionate protestations of innocence. Meanwhile, Kavanagh's daughter, Lizzie, has an interview for her dream job in Brussels, and Kavanagh's junior, Julia, takes part in a cricket match.

The Sweetest Thing

The daughter of a wealthy Jewish businessman and her boyfriend plan to murder a member of the neo-Nazi opposition. They are successful in killing a 17-year-old skinhead at a demonstration, yet when Mark, the boyfriend, is arrested, he claims the killing was an accident. Meanwhile, the Kavanagh's home life is abruptly ruffled by the news that Kate, an undergraduate at Cambridge, is having an affair with her married tutor.

True Commitment

Kavanagh is forced to replace the prosecutor who suffers a heart attack while on a Customs case involving the importation of drugs from Holland.

Men of Substance

Kavanagh represents the son of a Vice Admiral charged with arson. Despite his best efforts, the court finds Kavanagh's client guilty. The truth of the matter, however, turns out to be more complex. Meanwhile, the Kavanagh children organize a surprise anniversary party for their parents

The Burning Deck

What appears to be a open and shut case in the murder of a young policewoman turns out not to be what it initially seems under cross examination.

A Sense of Loss

Even though he has not done a personal injury case for 20 years, Kavanagh is chosen as the leader in a case against a Thames River Recycling Centre, whose employee sustained spinal and brain damage from being struck by a swinging container. Meanwhile at home, Kavanagh's son besieges him with a plot to buy him a car.

A Stranger in the Family

The son and daughter of a prosperous farmer are charged with the murder of their father and stepmother. A planted shotgun seems to provide the only evidence linking them to the gruesome killings. Kavanagh represents the daughter and loses the case, but in the appeal Kavanagh convinces the court that judicial errors were made in the original trial and his client is released.

Job Satisfaction

Kavanagh defends a client who has become mute after announcing that he has killed his brother.

Mute of Malice

When surgeon Hilary Jameson successfully operates on a computer tycoon involved in a car accident, she has every reason to suppose he'll survive. Within a matter of minutes, however, the patient's wife learns that he is dead. What happened in that brief period? This is the problem Kavanagh must solve when he prosecutes on behalf of the widow.

Blood Money

Kavanagh prosecutes an apparently blameless family doctor in an unprecedented war crime trial. The court hears devastating testimony as victims of Nazi atrocities re-live their experiences in concentration camps, but it's left to a witness for the defence to reveal the final truth.

Ancient History

Kavanagh discovers how dark the corridors of power can be when he defends the daughter of a British ambassador on a charge of murdering an Austrian journalist. Meanwhile, Kavanagh's son moves into a squat.

Diplomatic Baggage

Kavanagh fights for justice on behalf of a young man brutally killed, in a rare private prosecution for murder. The odds, however, are against him, since there are powerful reasons for the truth to be kept hidden.

The Ties That Bind

Driven by a desire for justice, and to help his former colleague Julia Piper, now married to an American lawyer, Kavanagh flies to the US to assist with the appeal of a convicted murderer on Florida's death row.

In God We Trust

Kavanagh defends a doctor accused of murdering his wife. Although the prosecution has several witnesses who provide evidence, the accused maintains his innocence. After the verdict, however, Kavanagh learns of an ironic twist.

Memento Mori

Kavanagh heads to his hometown of Bolton to defend a man who, together with his partner, is accused of murdering their 14-month-old daughter. Kavanagh's tactics have to change however when it becomes clear that the young couple are telling quite different stories.

Care in the Community

Kavanagh defends a woman accused of killing her husband. Although she admits to killing him for repeatedly beating her, Kavanagh urges her not to admit it in court. Meanwhile,a colleague of Kavanagh's asks him to represent him before the Conduct Committee when he's accused of looking at the wrong brief.

Briefs Trooping Gaily

Kavanagh represents a Jehovah's Witness mother when a hospital wants her 13-year-old son to have a blood transfusion that will save his life. When the mother refuses, Luke is made a ward of court and the hospital seeks judicial permission to go ahead with the transfusion. The hospital wins its action, and Luke is given a transfusion.

Bearing Witness

Kavanagh is asked to defend a Reverend accused of sexual harassment by a recently widowed parishioner. When Kavanagh begins to make inquiries regarding the death of the victim's husband, she mysteriously withdraws her complaint against the Reverend and the case collapses. Later Kavanagh discovers that she has become engaged to the vicar and finds himself defending her against charges that she murdered her husband.

The Innocency of Life

When a trawler sinks off the coast of North Yorkshire, taking the lives of five people, an enquiry establishes that the boat was in disrepair. Kavanagh is on the team prosecuting the boat owner and father of one of the victims, charged with five counts of manslaughter. He must counter the owner's defence that a Royal Navy submarine surfaced near the trawler and capsized her.

Dead Reckoning

Twenty-two bystanders at a motor-cross race are killed when an RAF plane crashes into the crowd, and Kavanagh defends the radicalized young woman responsible.

Previous Convictions

Kavanagh defends a convicted arsonist and former heroin junkie for blowing up his apartment and killing his addicted, pregnant girlfriend.

The More Loving One

A junior minister at the Home Office decides to bring a case of malicious prosecution after she is cleared of indecent assault on a juvenile. But Kavanagh discovers that the truth is more extraordinary than he could ever have imagined and we will find out what really happen.

Time of Need

Kavanagh 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.

End Games

James Kavanagh QC is one of the top flight barristers in Britain. Each episode has him handling challenging cases and defendants which put his skills to the test regularly.

All Episodes of Kavanagh Q.C.

Browse all episodes of Kavanagh Q.C.

Season 1

Nothing But the Truth

Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 1/3/1995

Heartland

Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 1/10/1995

A Family Affair

Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 1/17/1995

The Sweetest Thing

Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 1/24/1995