DOCTOR WHO - DOCTOR WHO STAR TO PRACTICE LAW & ORDER: UK FOR ITV1

DOCTOR WHO STAR TO PRACTICE LAW & ORDER: UK FOR ITV1

Doctor Who actress Freema Agyeman is among the stars of Law & Order: UK, a new ITV1 series based on the hit US show.

Commencing production this month, the 13-part drama is based on the long-running NBC show, the most successful brand in primetime US television.

As well as winning the 1997 Emmy for outstanding drama series, the US version holds the record for the most consecutive nominations for a drama (11) and has spawned spin-off shows Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Law & Order: Criminal Intent.

Now Kudos Film and Television, together with Wolf Films and NBC Universal, are readying for production for a British Law and Order, with Agyeman playing strong-willed young prosecutor Alesha Phillips.

Bradley Walsh and Jamie Bamber star as detectives Ronnie Brooks and Matt Devlin with Atonement actress Harriet Walter as their boss, DI Natalie Chandler.

Alongside Agyeman in the crown prosecution service (CPS) side of matters are Ben Daniels as senior prosecutor James Steel and veteran Scottish actor Bill Paterson as CPS director George Castle.

"Kudos have put together the perfect cast to deliver a quintessentially modern British take on a highly successful crime format," said ITV director of drama Laura Mackie.

"The breadth of the acting talent involved will build on the strength of Chris Chibnall's lively and complex scripts."

Law & Order: UK is to play a central role in ITV1's drama programming for 2009.