TV: CROWN COURT - 1973/1982

Barrister Patrick Canty

A recurring date in TP's television career during the 70s was his appearances on the Granada lunch-time drama, Crown Court, as barrister, Patrick Canty.

'A Genuine Verdict'

This was a very popular series presenting as it did a dramatised court case across three afternoons in the fictional Fulchester Crown Court, the episodes dividing into the prosecution, the defence, and finally, the verdict.  The storylines covered the full gamut of perceived transgressions of the law whether it was a case of fraud, arson, or perhaps a crime of passion,  and each was played out before a 'jury' made up of real members of the public who would pass a genuine verdict.

'Crown Court' may have been a TV drama but every effort was made to accurately depict the court process  while

Richa

the writing, casting and direction were of the best.  In the listings below you'll see the names of the likes of Richard Wilson, Peter Jeffrey, Alison Steadman, Mitzi Rogers,David Ryall, James Grout, Colin Jeavons, Bernard Hill, Ray McAnally and director Roland Joffe.

'Hit and Miss', TP's first Crown Court

'TP in the Dock'

Before donning his wig and gown as Patrick Canty, TP made two early  court appearances from the dock when he was the week's accused.  Firstly, as Dr Paul Napier who was accused of letting his premises out for purposes of immoral earnings, and then, as businessman Henry Burnett on trial for causing death by dangerous driving in a 'hit and run' case.

As Dr Paul Napier

He was found not guilty as Dr Paul Napier but in the latter case he was declared guilty.  As TP would recall, it was hard not to take the verdicts personally.  Indeed,  this twist of realism could have some humorous outcomes such as the episode ‘Scard’ when TP was defending Ray McAnally as an unscrupulous businessman being prosecuted by another ‘Court’ regular, Richard Wilson. The jury found for the Crown, but McAnally had so convinced himself of his innocence that after recording he berated the jury for their decision and urged them to reconsider.

John Barron

Similarly, TP once appeared before John Barron as Justice Mitchenor and during a brief pause in recording when discussing a point in the script, he addressed the actor by his real name. Barron shot him back a glance so sharp that TP was quickly correcting himself … “I beg your pardon … er, m’Lud! If I might draw your attention to the bottom of page sixteen …”.

Editor's Note - Recording 'Crown Court':  While the three weekly instalments of 'Crown Court' made for ninety minutes of television, due to the static court setting, the episodes could be rehearsed, teched and recorded within a week.

Typically, TP would travel up by train to Manchester (home of Granada Television) on the Sunday evening and be ready for two days rehearsal on the Monday & Tuesday, then technical run-throughs on the Wednesday, leading into the start of recording across the Thursday and Friday.  All being well, he was often heading back to London on the Friday afternoon.

'authority figure'

In total, TP made ten appearances at the 'Crown Court', eight of them as Patrick Canty. 

The role was also probably influential in fixing the public perception of TP McKenna as the acerbic, authority figure, though it's worth pointing out that he often appeared for the defence, his brief actually being to put the establishment on the ropes.  Typical anti-hero behaviour from this always questioning actor."  SM