BBC announces new legal drama, Reputation, created and written by Anya Reiss

The BBC has commissioned Reputation, a new drama from The Forge (Just Act Normal), a Banijay UK company. The series is created and written by Anya Reiss (Becoming Elizabeth) for BBC iPlayer and BBC One.

Reputation is an audacious, glossy new drama that explores what happens when a celebrity’s legal battle spirals out of control. The six-part series centres on Elaine, a formidable lawyer who has built her career defending free expression, and gets pulled into the case of the decade representing global pop star Davina Knight.

After Davina releases a provocative new song accusing her ex-husband, Billy, of abusive behaviour, and he retaliates in kind, their private breakdown erupts into a very public libel battle. The case is fought far beyond the courtroom, as PR machines are deployed, laws are bent, and social media platforms become judge, jury and battleground – driving outrage for clicks and warping the truth.

For Elaine, the case puts her own personal life in the line of fire. How far will she go to win, and at what cost? And for Davina, how far will she go to protect her reputation?

Anya Reiss, writer of Reputation, said, “When I found out London was the global capital of high-stakes libel cases – where the rich, powerful and famous come to fight in public for their reputations – I was in. I’ve loved writing this world, and now I’m excited to get it off the page and onto the screen.”

George Ormond, Executive Producer and Joint Managing Director for The Forge, said, “We are so excited to be working with Anya again – her scripts are sharp, badly behaved, very funny and totally addictive.”

Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama, added, “Reputation is high-stakes, intoxicating and hugely entertaining, with a lot to say about the world. In Elaine and Davina, the brilliant Anya Reiss has created two lead characters for the ages, and we’re delighted to be working with her, Mahalia and the team at The Forge to bring this very public battle to BBC iPlayer and BBC One.”

Reputation was commissioned by Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama, and is produced by The Forge. Alex Kazamia (Generation Z) will produce, and BAFTA and RTS award winner Mahalia Belo (The End We Start From, The Long Song) will direct. Executive producers are George Ormond, Jade Taylor (Just Act Normal), Anya Reiss and Mahalia Belo. Alongside Anya Reiss, other writers on the series are Shyam Popat and Karla Crome. Reputation will be distributed internationally by Banijay Rights.