08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
The Trial cast as Channel 5's new one-off drama features Derry Girls and Outnumbered stars
The Trial cast as Channel 5's new one-off drama features Derry Girls and Outnumbered stars
The Trial is a one-off legal drama set in the near future and stars the likes of Derry Girls' Saoirse-Monica Jackson and Outnumbered's Claire Skinner
Teah Sinclair is played by India Fowler
The Trial is a unique legal drama set in the not-too-distant future, following the introduction of a groundbreaking new law.
The Trial will be broadcast on Channel 5 on May 8, and this hour-long special poses disturbing questions about justice and probes the boundaries of state control. The plot revolves around a mother and father being held responsible for their daughter's actions.
They find themselves in court, potentially facing imprisonment for emotional and physical neglect. Set in the UK in 2035, The Trial tells the story of Dione and David Sinclair, a couple thrown into a terrifying legal fight when their teenage daughter, Teah, commits a grave crime.
Under an innovative new law known as Milligan's Law, parents are directly accountable for their children's misdemeanours. The parents now face relentless examination and if convicted, they could end up spending life in prison.
Channel 5 stated: "This thought-provoking special explores a chillingly plausible near-future in which parents are held legally responsible for the crimes of their children, raising unsettling questions about justice, culpability, and the limits of state control."
Here is everything you need to know about the cast for the one-hour special.
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Claire Skinner and Ben Miles join the cast
Dione Sinclair - Claire Skinner
Claire Skinner, an English actress known for her role as Sue Brockman in Outnumbered, plays Dione. As Teah's mother, she finds herself under scrutiny and the strain quickly reveals cracks in her marriage.
Skinner has also worked with director Mike Leigh on two of his films - Life is Sweet and Naked. She was previously married to director Charles Palmer, with whom she has two sons, but their marriage ended in 2016.
In 2022, she tied the knot with her Outnumbered co-star Hugh Dennis.
David Sinclair - Ben Miles
Ben Miles, a 58 year old English actor best known for playing Patrick Maitland in Coupling, portrays David. He shares a close bond with his daughter and is grappling with recent events.
Miles also starred as Montague Dartie in The Forsyte Saga and Peter Townsend in the Netflix drama The Crown. He is married to actress Emily Raymond and they have three children.
Sarah Willis is played by Saoirse-Monica Jackson
Sarah Willis - Saoirse-Monica Jackson
Saoirse-Monica Jackson, a 31 year old Northern Irish actress known for playing Erin Quinn in Derry Girls, takes on the role of Sarah Willis. A no-nonsense interrogator, Sarah makes it clear from the start that she is not there to make friends with Dione and David.
Jackson most recently played Cheryl Crawford in the BBC gangster series This City Is Ours. She is engaged to Scottish DJ Hector Barbour, known professionally as Denis Sulta.
Lieutenant Simons - Jaz Hutchins
Lieutenant Simons, a character who works closely with Sarah at the court, is portrayed by Jaz Hutchins. Hutchins has previously showcased his acting skills in The Return, Canary Black and Black Ops.
The Trial airs on Channel 5
Teah Sinclair - India Fowler
Teah Sinclair, a character who commits a serious crime, putting her parents at risk of imprisonment, is played by British actress India Fowler. Fowler is recognised for her roles as Poppy in Showtime's thriller The Agency and Young Zoe Walker in Netflix's White Lines.
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Audiences may also remember her from her TV debut in Safe, where she played Ellen Mason, or as Chloe Averill in Insomnia.
The Trial will be broadcast on Channel 5 on May 8.
