{"id":6529,"date":"2021-10-31T23:05:20","date_gmt":"2021-10-31T22:05:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1483122"},"modified":"2021-10-31T23:33:28","modified_gmt":"2021-10-31T22:33:28","slug":"is-talitha-guilty-in-showtrial-5-questions-we-have-after-episode-1","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/is-talitha-guilty-in-showtrial-5-questions-we-have-after-episode-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Talitha guilty in Showtrial? 5 questions we have after episode 1"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>

By David Craig\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Sunday, 31 October 2021 at 12:00 am<\/p>

\n\n

Part of the fun of watching a good whodunnit is coming up with your own theories on what actually happened, but often you have to make snap judgements about the characters in the show in order to do that.<\/p>\n

This tendency is what BBC One\u2019s Showtrial<\/a> aims to subvert, presenting prime suspect Talitha Campbell (Celine Buckens) as someone who initially appears a perfect fit to be the culprit in classmate Hannah Ellis\u2019 disappearance.<\/p>\n

But while there\u2019s plenty of evidence stacked against her, there are several moments in this first episode which make us wonder whether she could really be capable of murder, as well as casting doubt on other members of the Showtrial cast<\/a>.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ll get more information in the second episode next weekend, but for now, here are the biggest questions we have after Showtrial\u2019s series premiere on BBC One.<\/p>\n

Is Talitha guilty?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Celine\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Celine Buckens in Showtrial<\/span><\/figcaption> BBC<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Of course, this is the big question that we expect will dominate discussion until the Showtrial series finale \u2013 whether spoilt university student Talitha Campbell is responsible for the murder of classmate Hannah Ellis.<\/p>\n

When the character is introduced, it\u2019s clear that writer Ben Richards wants us to be suspicious towards her, giving her a rude and disrespectful attitude that makes her a rather unsympathetic figure.<\/p>\n

Soon after, we learn that she had been sending threatening text messages to Hannah before her disappearance, one of which alludes to paying someone to harm her \u2013 it doesn\u2019t look good.<\/p>\n

But just when this seems to be an open-and-shut case, cracks in Talitha\u2019s facade start to appear.<\/p>\n

We see video footage that suggests she and Hannah were genuinely good friends (see next question for more on that), while her demeanour changes radically when she is alone in her cell, letting out her vulnerable side as she sings herself a tearful lullaby.<\/p>\n

Those could well be tears of remorse if Talitha is revealed to be guilty, or they could simply be those of a frightened teenager being wrongfully targeted for something she had nothing to do with.<\/p>\n

Another twist comes in the final moments as the murder weapon used to kill Hannah is discovered to be the green scarf that Talitha was wearing on the night she vanished.<\/p>\n

DI Cassidy sees this as the final nail in the coffin for Talitha\u2019s defence case, but of course, it\u2019s anything but \u2013 she could have lost that scarf halfway through the night only for it to be picked up by the actual culprit.<\/p>

What was the nature of Talitha and Hannah\u2019s relationship?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Showtrial\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Showtrial cast (L-R) Abra Thompson, Celine Buckens, Joseph Payne<\/span><\/figcaption> BBC<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

When Talitha is brought into police custody and questioned, she is quick to downplay her connection to Hannah Ellis, describing her as someone she knew slightly, found to be \u201cannoying\u201d and ultimately had a falling out with.<\/p>\n

However, this appears to be untrue, as video footage on Dhillon\u2019s phone sees the three of them hanging out together on a sunny afternoon and seemingly having a lovely time.<\/p>\n

It appears that, at one point, Talitha and Hannah were very good friends, but there\u2019s also the possibility that their relationship may have gone further than that.<\/p>\n

If a romance had developed between them, it might explain why Talitha felt the need to make up a lie about them not really knowing each other, as she might feel nervous about her friends and family finding out.<\/p>\n

How is Dhillon involved?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Joseph\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Joseph Payne in Showtrial<\/span><\/figcaption> BBC<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

As his mother reminds him after getting word of the arrest, whenever Talitha would get into trouble at school, Dhillon would often be drawn into it \u2013 and that seems to be the case here.<\/p>\n

The opening scene reveals that Talitha and Dhillon will stand a joint trial, meaning they will both be implicated in whichever version of events the police decide to pursue.<\/p>\n

While he insists to his mother that he doesn\u2019t know anything about what happened, he also makes out like he barely knew Hannah \u2013 and we know that not to be true.<\/p>\n

Something is clearly troubling him throughout this first episode, but it\u2019s open to speculation whether he played a direct role in Hannah\u2019s tragic fate, or has simply been dragged into more trouble by his reckless friend.<\/p>\n

When will the media explosion happen?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Lolita\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Lolita Chakrabarti in Showtrial<\/span><\/figcaption> BBC<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

The synopsis for Showtrial says that the series will explore how media bias can undermine a fair trial, but this is an aspect we are yet to see come into play.<\/p>\n

We hear a report that the police has arrested someone in connection with Hannah\u2019s disappearance, but Talitha\u2019s identity is never revealed, which is likely why the press is yet to sensationalise the proceedings across their front pages.<\/p>\n

We\u2019re speculating that things will kick up a gear when police come knocking on the door of Meera Harwood, a member of Parliament and Shadow Minister for the Environment, to speak to son Dhillon.<\/p>\n

It could very easily be argued that extensive reporting on a court case in which the defendant is the son of an MP is in the public interest, while it\u2019s a scandal that many would surely be fascinated by.<\/p>\n

In the opening montage at the start of the episode, we see protestors outside the courthouse, one of which is holding a placard that reads \u201cminister for murder\u201d, suggesting this will indeed be a plot point in future episodes.<\/p>\n

What will the jury decide?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Tracy\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Tracy Ifeachor in Showtrial<\/span><\/figcaption> BBC<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

The interesting thing about Showtrial is that it has been implied the jury in Talitha\u2019s case could potentially come to the wrong verdict, due to a potent mix of factors including \u201cprejudice, politics and the media\u201d.<\/p>\n

If she is guilty, her powerful father might be able to pull some strings to keep from justice being served, while if she is innocent, the jury may be influenced by mounting pressure to convict her from protestors and the media.<\/p>\n

One thing she does have in her favour is the backing of ace solicitor Cleo Roberts, who has shown that she isn\u2019t afraid of taking on tough cases and facing off with intimidating individuals.<\/p>\n

The trial continues next weekend.<\/p>\n

Showtrial continues on BBC One at 9pm on Sunday 7th November. Check out more of our Drama<\/a> coverage or visit our TV Guide<\/a> to see what\u2019s on tonight.<\/strong><\/p><\/body><\/html>\n

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