Former Scottish National Party MP Mhairi Black has been cast as a detective in the upcoming BBC legal drama Counsels, marking her first television acting role. The eight-part series, set and filmed in Glasgow, follows young lawyers navigating their careers and personal lives. Black, who left politics in recent years, expressed excitement about the opportunity to perform in her hometown.
Casting Announcement
Mhairi Black, who served as the SNP's deputy leader at Westminster and was elected as the youngest MP since 1832 at age 20 in 2015, will portray Detective Inspector Bridges in Counsels. Elected for Paisley and Renfrewshire South, she stepped down ahead of the 2024 general election due to safety concerns, social media abuse, and unsociable hours. Since leaving politics, Black has explored performance, debuting her one-woman show Politics Isn't For Me at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and featuring in the BBC documentary Mhairi Black: Being Me Again. She announced her departure from the SNP in July 2025, citing disagreements over issues like trans rights and Palestine. Earlier, she shared a life-changing ADHD diagnosis that helped her regain control of her life.
Black commented on her new role: "I've been relishing trying different things since politics, this is my first TV acting role and I really enjoyed auditioning for the part. To work on a series which is set and filmed in Glasgow is an amazing opportunity - what a brilliant show to be a part of."
Series Details
Counsels, created by Scottish writers Bryan Elsley—known for co-creating E4's Skins and adapting Iain Banks' The Crow Road—and Gillian McCormack, a BBC Writers' Drama Room graduate, explores the lives of young lawyers from an elite law school who face each other in court. The main cast includes Brandon Grace, Ro Kumar, Eilidh Park, George Prentice, Alyth Ross, and Rebecca Bell as the protagonists. They are joined by established actors such as Michelle Gomez (Doom Patrol), Derek Riddell (Happy Valley), Laura Haddock (The Recruit), Daniela Nardini (This Life), Michael Nardone (Traces), Sally Howitt (River City), Stuart Bowman (Department Q), Neshla Caplan (The Rig), and Stephen Purdon (River City).
Elsley expressed delight in leading the series with McCormack. Produced by Balloon Entertainment, Counsels will air on BBC iPlayer, BBC One, and BBC Scotland. The main cast was announced in September 2025.