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Babylon is the new television drama from Trainspotting director Danny Boyle and Peep Show creators Sam Bain and Jesse Armstrong, and it premieres on Channel 4 on this Sunday, February 9th at 9pm.
At the moment, it’s just a one-off pilot, but a full series has been ordered and it’s not yet known whether Boyle will direct more episodes.
Coppers. The Sweeney. Plods. The Old Bill. London’s police force – the oldest in the world – is in need of a public image revamp. And Chief Constable Richard Miller (James Nesbitt) has found just the woman to do it.
Introducing Liz Garvey (Brit Marling) – an American visionary from the world of new media parachuted in to revolutionise the force’s PR department. In an age of rolling news, smart phones and an information-hungry public, Liz preaches transparency and honesty. But as an outbreak of violence erupts across London — and internal back-biting begins led by overlooked colleague Finn (Bertie Carvel) – Liz’s vision for the future of the world’s oldest police service faces its greatest test…
As rolling news channels stream alarming reports of the escalating situation, Chief Commissioner Miller must make rapid decisions in the face of elusive facts. Meanwhile, the Mayor presses ahead with a poorly-timed press conference…waxing lyrical about reduced crime in the capital.
Out on the streets Territorial Support Group officers (TSGs) are tasked with keeping the peace, closely trailed by a fly-on-the-wall TV cameraman desperate for some ‘police, camera, action!’ Faced with passive protestors and a pugnacious public, TSG Robbie dreams of joining the big boys of Specialist Firearms Command — but with great guns comes great responsibility, as the trained shooters are all too aware.
Fast-paced and razor-sharp, Babylon takes a wry look at the people and politics in the command rooms and on the frontlines of a modern police force, as it attempts to uphold the peace under constant scrutiny in one of the world’s busiest capital cities.
Also starring Adam Deacon, Paterson Joseph, Daniel Kaluuya, Jill Halfpenny, Navin Chowdhry, Jaspal Badwell and Mark Womack, Babylon airs on Sunday at 9pm, and a DVD release date has yet to be set.
Check out the trailer below:
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.