Jenny Seagrove - Jo Mills QC
Judge John Deed describes Jo Mills as the “romantic love of his life”. They had an affair some years before when Jo was Deed’s pupil, in the days before he was made up to High Court Judge. Now their relationship is platonic, although they occasionally talk about the possibility of rekindling their love affair. But the truth is they make better friends than lovers.
Besides, as Jo knows only too well, Deed is not a one man woman, and though there’s no doubting the genuine nature of his feelings for her, it’s unlikely that he’d stay faithful for long.
Jo is Deed’s protégé and, as a barrister, she’s a chip off the old block. Like Deed, she follows her heart and makes judgements according to her own conscience.
Jo has a sharp intellect and a huge social conscience, which, for an advocate, isn’t always a useful faculty. Jo is brilliant when it comes to prosecuting cases that she feels passionately about - such as the corporate manslaughter case in episode two - but she’s less good on cases that require her to disassociate emotionally. In the courtroom, unlike most barristers, Jo’s pretty straight.
What she does do, however, is to be nice to people she’s about to attack, to lull them into a false sense of security. The fact that Jo is led so much by her heart makes her technically a bad barrister,” says Jenny Seagrove. “Barristers have to be interested in the legalities of a case and not get involved on a personal level. The ones that do, often end up having nervous breakdowns. Perhaps she will finally realise that she can’t always take on the world’s problems.”
To research for the role Jenny spent time talking to barristers in chambers and visiting the Old Bailey. Does she fancy herself as a barrister in real life? “Absolutely not,” she laughs, “they’re far too clever for me. I don’t mind learning the lines, but to actually think up the arguments myself, dear me! I’m a bit like Jo in that I will always fight for the underdog. I will shout for people and animals who have no voice. I have a great sense of justice, so if somebody needs help I will try and support them. Like Jo, I worry that society is losing its heart.”
Does Jenny think that Jo and Deed will ever come together again romantically? “They love each other but Jo realises that he’s a serial womaniser. If she was to make it happen, she knows that he’ll probably be good for a year or two and then he’ll be back where he started. He can’t help it, some men are like that and you can’t change them.
There are times when she’s really tempted to go into the sack with him and often, when she’s about to give in, she sees him with another woman and it reminds her that she’s doing the right thing by resisting him. At the end of the day their friendship is the most important thing.”
Jenny found her role in Judge John Deed rewarding on many levels: “Firstly, Gordon Newman is a wonderful writer and I got to work on some really good scripts, which makes a huge change these days. Secondly, Martin Shaw is a wonderful actor and also a friend, so I got to work with a pal. Thirdly, the subject matter touched my heart on many occasions and, lastly, I was able to take my spaniel to work with me every day! Gordon took his two dogs and the make-up lady took hers, so it was a very ‘doggy’ set.”
Jo is Deed’s protégé and, as a barrister, she’s a chip off the old block. Like Deed, she follows her heart and makes judgements according to her own conscience.
Jo has a sharp intellect and a huge social conscience, which, for an advocate, isn’t always a useful faculty. Jo is brilliant when it comes to prosecuting cases that she feels passionately about - such as the corporate manslaughter case in episode two - but she’s less good on cases that require her to disassociate emotionally. In the courtroom, unlike most barristers, Jo’s pretty straight.
What she does do, however, is to be nice to people she’s about to attack, to lull them into a false sense of security. The fact that Jo is led so much by her heart makes her technically a bad barrister,” says Jenny Seagrove. “Barristers have to be interested in the legalities of a case and not get involved on a personal level. The ones that do, often end up having nervous breakdowns. Perhaps she will finally realise that she can’t always take on the world’s problems.”
To research for the role Jenny spent time talking to barristers in chambers and visiting the Old Bailey. Does she fancy herself as a barrister in real life? “Absolutely not,” she laughs, “they’re far too clever for me. I don’t mind learning the lines, but to actually think up the arguments myself, dear me! I’m a bit like Jo in that I will always fight for the underdog. I will shout for people and animals who have no voice. I have a great sense of justice, so if somebody needs help I will try and support them. Like Jo, I worry that society is losing its heart.”
Does Jenny think that Jo and Deed will ever come together again romantically? “They love each other but Jo realises that he’s a serial womaniser. If she was to make it happen, she knows that he’ll probably be good for a year or two and then he’ll be back where he started. He can’t help it, some men are like that and you can’t change them.
There are times when she’s really tempted to go into the sack with him and often, when she’s about to give in, she sees him with another woman and it reminds her that she’s doing the right thing by resisting him. At the end of the day their friendship is the most important thing.”
Jenny found her role in Judge John Deed rewarding on many levels: “Firstly, Gordon Newman is a wonderful writer and I got to work on some really good scripts, which makes a huge change these days. Secondly, Martin Shaw is a wonderful actor and also a friend, so I got to work with a pal. Thirdly, the subject matter touched my heart on many occasions and, lastly, I was able to take my spaniel to work with me every day! Gordon took his two dogs and the make-up lady took hers, so it was a very ‘doggy’ set.”
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