David Harewood Leads New Channel 4 Drama Pierre as Filming Begins in West London

Image: First look of David Harewood OBE as Pierre Jeffreys courtesy of Ch4 Press

By Jon Donnis

Cameras have started rolling on Pierre, a brand-new original drama series for Channel 4, with David Harewood OBE front and centre in the title role. Set and filmed in West London, the six-part series brings together a strong creative team and an impressive cast, with production well underway under the guidance of lead director Sarmad Masud.

Harewood plays Pierre, a duty solicitor whose sharp mind and wit are as much a part of his toolkit as his legal skills. Life is far from smooth, though. Pierre is barely staying afloat, balancing the demands of the job with his own personal struggles. That balancing act becomes even more difficult when he takes on the case of Michael, a young black man whose death is being swept under the rug. Refusing to accept the official story, Pierre digs deeper and finds himself caught in a system that doesn't want to be challenged.

Joining Harewood is Michele Austin, who takes on the role of Charlotte Manners, Pierre's joint managing partner at their solicitor's firm. Jason Flemyng plays DS Ronnie Miller, Pierre's closest friend and a key figure in the unfolding drama. Also in the cast are Dean-Charles Chapman as Danny Headman, Nikkita Chadha as Alecia Khan, Christopher Fairbank as Sean Lambert, Sara Powell as Pierre's wife Celeste Jeffreys and Cherrelle Skeete as Brenda Dean. The series also introduces newcomers Dylan Ennis and Ezrae Maye, playing Eli Jeffreys and Michael respectively.

The drama is being produced by The Lighthouse, the team behind Scoop, with Jo Johnson producing and Sarmad Masud directing. The scripts come from BAFTA-winning writer Roy Williams OBE and BAFTA-nominated writer John Donnelly. Between them, they've built a story that blends humour, pressure, moral grit and sharp commentary on justice and power.

Speaking about the series, the writers said the cast represents the best of British talent, bringing depth and life to the world of Pierre. David Harewood echoed that sense of excitement, praising the warmth of the scripts and the strong chemistry already forming among the cast. Channel 4's Gwawr Lloyd highlighted the show's potential to mix action with honest, grounded storytelling, while executive producer Hilary Salmon praised the creative team behind the camera and in front of it for making Pierre something special.

Commissioned by Ollie Madden and Gwawr Lloyd for Channel 4, Pierre is shaping up to be a gripping legal drama with plenty to say and a standout lead performance at its heart. There's no confirmed air date yet, but with filming now underway, it won't be long before audiences are introduced to Pierre and his world.