Silk

Series creator Peter Moffat, who also wrote Criminal Justice and North Square, based Silk on his own experiences working at the Bar.

Moffat said he wanted Silk to be as much about barristers' personal lives and chambers politics as about courtroom trials, exploring pressure, ethical dilemmas, and the overlap between the personal and professional.

The series was commissioned by then-BBC One Controller Jay Hunt and BBC Controller of Drama Commissioning Ben Stephenson, with filming beginning in July 2010.

The show's title refers to the colloquial term for a barrister who becomes a King's/Queen's Counsel, entitling them to wear a silk gown in court.

Silk concluded after three series because creator Peter Moffat and lead actress Maxine Peake wanted to end the show on a high point.

Rupert Penry-Jones noted that the cast themselves were unsure whether the ambiguous ending of series 3 meant the show was truly finished or left open for more.

In March 2014, a radio spin-off titled 'Silk: The Clerks Room' was announced, running for two seasons on BBC Radio 4 from 2014 to 2015 and featuring several original cast members reprising their roles.

An American adaptation of Silk was announced for ABC, with Peter Moffat set to executive produce and Marty Scott writing the pilot.

Viewership declined gradually across the show's run, averaging 5.85 million for series 1, 5.74 million for series 2, and 5.37 million for series 3.

Critics were divided on Silk: some praised its accurate depiction of the competitive pressures of the criminal Bar, while others, including The Guardian's Lucy Mangan, called it a misfire that underused Maxine Peake's talents.