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Eternal Law - Wikipedia

  • ️Thu Jan 05 2012

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For the law distinguished by Thomas Aquinas, see Eternal law.

Eternal Law
Series titles on a black background
GenreFantasy drama
Created byAshley Pharoah
Matthew Graham
StarringSamuel West
Orla Brady
Ukweli Roach
ComposerBen Bartlett
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series1
No. of episodes6 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producersAshley Pharoah and Matthew Graham (Monastic)
Jane Featherstone and Alison Jackson (Kudos)
ProducerGeorgina Lowe
Production locationsYork, England
CinematographyTony Slater-Ling
Running time45–50 mins
Production companiesKudos
Monastic
Original release
NetworkITV
Release5 January –
9 February 2012

Eternal Law is a 2012 ITV fantasy drama series created by Ashley Pharoah and Matthew Graham. The show stars Samuel West, Ukweli Roach, Orla Brady, Tobias Menzies and Hattie Morahan. Set in York, it is centred on two angels sent to Earth to assist in court cases. The first episode premiered on 5 January 2012. The show was cancelled after one series due to low ratings.[1]

Mr Mountjoy (God, spoken of but never seen) sends two wing-bearing angels to Earth to help humans with their problems. Humans cannot see the angels' wings except in exceptional circumstances, such as being close to death. Zak Gist (Samuel West) is an experienced angel, 14 billion years old (episode six), who has been to Earth before. Tom Greening (Ukweli Roach) is an angel still learning the ways of humans. It is decided that the pair can best help humans as barristers in York, England. In York, they are met by Mrs Sheringham (Orla Brady), an angel who became mortal to marry Billy, a human, but, was widowed; she arranges offices and accommodation with her at The Belfry. She kept her old pair of wings in a trunk before throwing them into a river during the series. In court they cross paths with a fallen angel, Richard Pembroke (Tobias Menzies), who is also a barrister, usually prosecuting. In episode six, Richard's wings are seen: they are black. Zak also meets Hannah English, a woman with whom he is in love from one of his past visits to Earth, but who does not recognise him.

The prime rule for the angels is non-interference in the free will of humanity. The angels are allowed to guide and comfort, but have powers to influence the human mind, which they must resist the temptation to use. Mr Mountjoy, bothered by the number of angels choosing to interfere and the number of angels choosing to become mortal, may decide to remove all angelic guidance and comfort if Zak or Tom stray from the rules. Zak believes this would eventually spell doom for humans.

The series was primarily filmed in the York, mainly in and around York Minster, where the angels congregate.[2][3] The location used to portray York Hospital in the series is York Crown Court, while a former private hospital Purey-Cust Lodge provides the location for Jerusalem Chambers.[3] Mansion House serves as the location of the Crown Court in the series.[2] Other York locations include Low Petergate, Stonegate, St Helen's Square, Gray's Court and St William's College.[2][3]

Filming was also done in other areas of Yorkshire such as Leeds, Wakefield, Kirklees, Selby and Richmondshire.[2][4] Dewsbury Town Hall's foyers, corridors and court rooms were also used for filming.[4][5]

Cast and characters

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A region 2 DVD of the first series was released on 12 February 2012.[13]

  1. ^ 4.54 million on ITV1,[6] 427,000 on the ITV1 HD simulcast,[7] and 458,000 on ITV1+1.[8]
  1. ^ 'Eternal Law' axed by ITV after one series
  2. ^ a b c d Fox, Rich (5 January 2012). "Angels Descend on York in ITV's Eternal Law". Hello Yorkshire. Archived from the original on 11 January 2012. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  3. ^ a b c Liptrot, Kate (19 May 2011). "City steals the show during filming of Eternal Law TV series". The York Press. Archived from the original on 20 March 2024. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  4. ^ a b "New ITV1 series Eternal Law filmed at Dewsbury Town Hall". Yorkshire Live. 12 May 2011. Archived from the original on 30 October 2020. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  5. ^ "Dewsbury landmark to star in new ITV drama Eternal Law". Dewsbury Reporter. 24 May 2011. Archived from the original on 20 March 2024. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
  6. ^ "Weekly Top 30 Programmes: ITV1 w/e 08 January 2012". Broadcasters' Audience Research Board. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  7. ^ "Weekly Top 10 Programmes: ITV1 HD w/e 08 January 2012". Broadcasters' Audience Research Board. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  8. ^ "Weekly Top 10 Programmes: ITV1+1 w/e 08 January 2012". Broadcasters' Audience Research Board. Retrieved 16 January 2012.
  9. ^ Consolidated figures: 9-15 Jan 2012"
  10. ^ Consolidated figures: 16-22 Jan 2012"
  11. ^ Consolidated figures: 23-29 Jan 2012"
  12. ^ Lee, Ben (13 January 2012). "BBC One's 'Inside Men' begins with 4.5m"
  13. ^ Retrieved 7 January 2012