Studio Lambert to bring Nicola Williams’ legal thriller novel Without Prejudice to TV

The scripted team at All3Media-owned Studio Lambert has acquired the rights to adapt Nicola Williams’ legal thriller novel Without Prejudice as a TV series.

Nicola Williams

The book follows a 30-year-old barrister from a working-class Caribbean background as she takes on the biggest case of her career.

Originally published in 1997, it was republished this year as part of Bernardine Evaristo’s Black Britain: Writing Back series, celebrating pioneering books depicting black Britain.

Susan Hogg, head of drama for Studio Lambert, said: “Having served for many years as a criminal barrister and currently as a Crown Court judge, Nicola Williams is uniquely placed to bring a thrilling authenticity to her observations of the criminal justice system.

“The quality of her storytelling and brilliant characterisation give us a fresh legal thriller in Without Prejudice. We will bring it to the screen in a bold, entertaining series that will speak to a contemporary audience.”

Two new books in the series have been acquired by publishing house Hamish Hamilton. The new stories pull Lee into further challenging and complex cases, drawing on aspects of Williams’ experience as a barrister.

The first, The Advocate’s Devil, will be published in spring 2023. It follows Lee as she is forced to defend a racist police officer when he’s charged with shooting the 15-year-old son of a pastor in South London.