Big River “Spender” – 20th Anniversary Tribute On January 8th, 2011 it will be twenty years since Jimmy Nail’s “Spender” was first aired on BBC Television. To celebrate this milestone, this is a little tribute to what became my favourite television programme and the reason I became a fan of Jimmy Nail. Concerned about being typecast after becoming famous for his character Oz in “Auf Wiedersehen, Pet”, Jimmy wanted a change of direction and also more control over the types of roles he played. Encouraged by his friend and fellow Geordie Ian La Frenais, (who along with Dick Clement wrote” Auf Wiedersehen, Pet” and other classics such as “Porridge” and “The Likely Lads”), Jimmy came up with the idea of a maverick detective series set in his native Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Coincidently, Ian had also been keen to write a cop-show for years and so the two men created a series together with Jimmy spending time at Ian’s home in Los Angeles during 1989. The series would simply be called “Spender”.

Jimmy would play the lead role of Detective Sergeant Freddie Spender and the show would make a star of Sammy Johnson who played Spender’s criminal buddy Stick with great comedic aplomb and also Denise Welch of “Loose Women” fame who played Frances, Spender’s ex-wife. The theme tune and incidental music had been written by long-time friend Tony McAnaney who was also given the role of Spender’s musician friend Keith Moreland. The series combined a great deal of background for the main characters and the episodes dealt with Spender’s home life and circumstances as well as his professional life which made for good continuity throughout. It also helped Ford promote the Sierra Sapphire RS Cosworth as a flint grey example was used as Spender’s car, with a new one being featured each season. The series was the first to be filmed entirely on location in the North East and Jimmy himself had also changed his appearance greatly since his Oz days. Having lost a quarter of his body weight and now with long hair, Jimmy wondered if the public would accept the new character as readily. He needn’t have worried as the show became an instant hit and ran for three seasons during 1991 to 1993 with consistently high ratings.

The first season featured eight episodes, the second and third ran for six episodes with Jimmy having penned nine episodes out of the twenty and there was also a spin-off “Spender” novel in 1992. Sadly for the fans, the series came to an end on December 29th 1993 in an excellent 90-minute feature-length episode, “The French Collection”, which was filmed on location in Marseille and Newcastle and also penned by Jimmy. By the end of the series, Jimmy was not only a successful television actor, but also a writer, creator and producer and would pave the way for future successes such as “Crocodile Shoes” and the return of” Auf Wiedersehen, Pet”. For an in-depth description of each “Spender” episode, it is worth checking out Neil Potter and Eamon Rooney’s episode guide at www. epguides.com Spender (Series) - TV Tropes YMMV British cop show starring Jimmy Nail as Detective Sergeant Freddie Spender. After a case goes wrong, Spender is reassigned to his home town of Newcastle where he no longer fits in.

This show contains examples of Adult Fear : Spender's estranged preteen daughter tries to emulate her father, resulting in a barbell landing on her chest. Spender (TV Series 1991–1993) - IMDb IMDb There was an error trying to load your rating for this title. Some parts of this page won't work property. Please reload or try later. X Beta I'm Watching This! Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Error a list of 71 titles created 25 Apr 2011 a list of 48 titles created 18 Jun 2012 a list of 1023 titles created 20 Dec 2013 a list of 864 titles created 07 Dec 2014 a list of 1408 titles created 09 Sep 2015 Search for " Spender " on Amazon.com Connect with IMDb Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin.

Crocodile Shoes (TV Mini-Series 1994) Drama Jimmy Nail stars in the drama series about a Geordie factory worker who writes country songs. Looking for his big break in the music industry. Stars: Jimmy Nail, Leonard Silver, Alex Kingston The adventures of a gang of British workmen abroad. Combines black and white humour with moments of drama, poignancy and drunkenness. In series 1, the lads head to Germany seeking work, and... See full summary » Stars: Timothy Spall, Jimmy Nail, Tim Healy The adventures of two California Highway Patrol motorcycle officers. Stars: Erik Estrada, Larry Wilcox, Robert Pine This prison comedy is based on the popular British television series of the same name. Long time Slade prison inmate Fletcher is ordered by Grouty to arrange a football match between the ... See full summary » Director: Dick Clement Crocodile Shoes II (TV Mini-Series 1996) Drama The cases of an easy going ex-convict turned private investigator. Stars: James Garner, Noah Beery Jr., Joe Santos Gritty British-made police drama series set in the beautiful location of Amsterdam.

Cynical Dutch detective Commissaris "Piet" van der Valk and his colleagues investigate murders, kidnappings and political corruption. Stars: Barry Foster, Michael Latimer, Joanna Dunham Blandings Castle is dysfunction junction, the home of a chaotic family struggling to keep itself in order. Clarence Threepwood, Ninth Earl of Emsworth and master of Blandings Castle, yearns... See full summary » Stars: Timothy Spall, Jennifer Saunders, Jack Farthing Terry is divorced from his German wife and has a Finnish girlfriend Christina. At Thelma's suggestion they join her and Bob on a caravan holiday but due to a mishap the men get separated ... See full summary » Director: Michael Tuchner Ken Boon and Harry Crawford are two middle-aged ex-firemen who start out in business together, initially in Birmingham and later in Nottingham. During the seven series (1986-1992), Ken ... See full summary » Stars: Michael Elphick, David Daker, Neil Morrissey Albert Steptoe and his son Harold are junk dealers, complete with horse and cart to tour the neighbourhood. They also live amicably together at the junk yard. Always on the lookout for ways...

See full summary » Director: Peter Sykes 8 January 1991 (UK) See more » Filming Locations: Did You Know? Connections Hard-hitting Gem from the BBC 29 April 1999 | by halo80 (Bedford, NS) – See all my reviews SPENDER is the kind of gritty, intelligent cop drama that's been missing from North American television screen. The BBC produced series is a positive gem, having run for 3 consecutive seasons, and spawned one film entitled "The French Collection". Starring the excellent and multi-talented Jimmy Nail ("Still Crazy", "Evita"), it has garnered a following in Canada through re-runs on Showcase Television. The character of Spender is a tough and able cop cleaning up the streets of London with his somewhat unorthodox methods. Following a tragic incident, he's sent home, back to the North-East to his home-town of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, which had taken him 20-odd years to get out of.

Now re-united with old friends and haunting ghosts from his untamed past, the loathing he feels for the city and his new assignment drives his character to push the limits, and test the powers that be that govern his jurisdiction. But once we meet Spender's family - divorced wife Frances and his two young daughters - we witness an unexpected dimension to the character: that of a father and protector of his children, who finds it awkward to work his way back into their lives. Excellent scripts, hard-hitting drama and action accompany a wealth of talent involved in the making of this quality program. Jimmy Nail not only stars, but pens a few of those scripts. Together with his friend Tony McAnaney (who also co-stars as Keith and writes the music for the series) they combine to produce a unique and often haunting musical score which creates just the right kind of atmosphere for the program. And of course, there's the thick and sexy accents which can only come from the North-East. Spender is definitely worth a try. If the catchy theme doesn't get to you, the high-drama will! 24 of 26 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you?

Yes From The Likely Lads to Geordie Racer - 13 TV shows filmed in the North East - Chronicle Live From The Likely Lads to Geordie Racer - 13 TV shows filmed in the North East We take a look back at some of the North East's most popular television programmes Share Get what's on updates directly to your inbox + Subscribe View gallery With news that the UK’s first transgender comedy, Boy Meets Girl, is being filmed in the North East we look back at other television series from the region. Most people will have heard of Auf Wiedersehen Pet, Spender, Our Friends in the North and Byker Grove, but what about Quayside, Geordie Racer and The Paper Lads? Some of these television programmes are less well-known but equally play an important part in the North East’s history. Here are 13 series that were based and filmed in the North East. Auf Wiedersehen, Pet Auf Wiedersehen, Pet was first aired in 1983 and the comedy-drama about a group of British migrant construction workers became an instant success.

The series follows the trials and tribulations of Oz, Dennis, Neville, Barry, Moxey, Bomber and Wayne - seven British men who, faced with high unemployment and low work prospects, head for West Germany in search of construction jobs. Created By Franc Roddam and mostly written Dick Clement and Whitley Bay’s Ian La Frenais, the series’ lead roles were performed by Tim Healy, Kevin Whately, Jimmy Nail, Gary Holton, Christopher Fairbank, Pat Roach and Timothy Spall. Five series were broadcast in all between 1983 and 2004. Former cast members during the 10th Anniversary celebrations of Byker Grove in 1998 Byker Grove Hit North East children’s television drama, Byker Grove, celebrated it’s 25th anniversary last year. The Geordie youth club drama was one of the greatest children’s TV shows of the 1980s and 1990s, and played a big part of many people’s childhoods. Filmed on Tyneside, based around a local youth club, it followed the lives and relationships of the young people.

Byker Grove ran between 1989 and 2006 and launched several actors’ careers, including PJ and Duncan - now Ant and Dec, as well as Donna Air and Jill Halfpenny Geordie Racer Geordie Racer was an educational children’s television programme that aired in the late 1980s. It was a BBC Look and Read production, which was first shown on BBC Two in 1988 and used by primary schools across the country. The story is about the amateur sports of marathon running and pigeon racing, the unsavoury world of art theft, and about the Hilton family who manage to get embroiled in all three. Geordie Racer ’s main character is Spuggy Hilton, who isn’t a runner like the rest of his family, but is a keen pigeon fancier and owns Blue Flash, one of the best birds in Newcastle. The series featured Geordie actor Kevin Whately as Spuggy’s father and his real-life wife Madelaine Newton, who played his on-screen wife.

Daniel Craig, right, played Geordie Peacock in the 1996 TV drama Our Friends In The North which was filmed on Tyneside Our Friends in the North Our Friends in the North was a successful television series charting the lives of four friends from the North East over three decades, from the mid-1960s to the mid-1990s. It was an award-winning serial broadcast in nine episodes on BBC2 in early 1996. The backdrop was the real-life political situation of the times, including general elections, police and local government corruption, the UK miners’ strike (1984–1985) and the Great Storm of 1987. The series also helped to establish the careers of its four lead actors, Daniel Craig, Christopher Eccleston, Gina McKee and Mark Strong. The Paper Lads The Paper Lads was a children’s television series produced by Tyne Tees Television and broadcast from 1977 to 1979. It followed the adventures of J.G, Ian, Gog, Baz and Sam – teenagers on a paper round for their local newsagent, Jack Crawford.

Retired policeman Jack always tells the lads (and lass) to keep their eyes open as they go about their rounds; as a result they often discover the news, as well as deliver it. The Paper Lads was filmed among the terraced streets of Gateshead and ran for two series; each of seven episodes. Quayside Newcastle serial drama Quayside was based around the lives of young people living on the Quayside (the clue is in the title), and was produced by Byker Grove production company, Zenith North and aired in 1997 on Tyne Tees. It was first broadcast on January 7 and lasted only 17 episodes, with its run ending on May 6.It was billed as the Geordie contender to larger soaps such as Coronation Street and EastEnders and was directed and produced by Matthew Robinson, the man responsible for calling the shots on the aforementioned children’s BBC1 drama Byker Grove, which ran for 17 years. Quayside starred Joe Caffrey, Emma Louise Webb and other North East actors, many of whom had appeared or went on to appear in Byker Grove and other local programmes. World champion boxer Glenn McCrory also had a role.

Jimmy Nail in the TV Programme Spender Spender Spender was a BBC television drama set in Newcastle upon Tyne, which focused on the life and exploits of Detective Sergeant Freddie Spender, played by Jimmy Nail. The series was written by Ian La Frenais and Jimmy Nail, and broadcast on the BBC between 1991 and 1993 and ran for three series. A feature length special, set in France, was also filmed. DS Spender was often chosen to carry out more daring police cases along with his criminal sidekick Stick (Sammy Johnson). However, the series also dealt with Spender’s domestic life, his family and circumstances. The Likely Lads and Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? The Likely Lads, written by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, is one of Britain’s classic comedy sitcoms Terry Collier (James Bolam) and Bob Ferris (Rodney Bewes), were the two loveable ‘Geordies’ at the centre of the sitcom, which followed the friendship of the two working class young men in the mid 1960s.

The show ruled the airwaves in the mid 1960s,as people loved the friendly banter between the two friends as their conversations seemed real. The BBC, broadcast twenty episodes, in three series, between 16 December, 1964 and 24 July, 1966. Terry and Bob returned in early 1973 for the hugely popular sequel ‘Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads ?’ When the Boat Comes In This popular television series, ran on the BBC between 1976 and 1981, was filmed on location on Tyneside. It took viewers back to post-First World War Britain and starred James Bolam as Jack Ford, a First World War survivor who returns to his poverty-stricken home town in the North East of England during the 1920s. Bolam also starred opposite his real-life wife, Susan Jameson, who went on to a prominent television career. The series was set in the fictional town of Gallowshields and was created and written by South Shields-born James Mitchell.

55 Degrees North 55 Degrees North was a BBC television drama series starring Don Gilet as DS Nicky Cole, a London detective relocated to Newcastle upon Tyne after exposing police corruption. The series was broadcast between 2004 -2005 and focused on how its lead character DS Nicky Cole adapted to his new life as a Detective Sergeant in a busy CID with the fictional Tyneside Police. It also starred Dervla Kirwan as Claire Maxwell, an ambitious solicitor, and it ran for two series. Robson Green as Dr Tony Hills and Hermione Norris as DI Carol Jordan in Wire in the Blood Wire In The Blood British Crime drama, Wire in The Blood, was based on characters created by Val McDermid, including a university clinical psychologist, Dr Anthony “Tony” Valentine Hill, who is able to tap into his own dark side to get inside the heads of serial killers. Robson Green played Dr Tony Hill, who takes on tough and seemingly impenetrable cases in an attempt to track down the killers before they strike again. The series was created and produced by Coastal Productions for the ITV network, and ran from 2002 to 2008.

Hebburn BBC television comedy Hebburn was written by Jason Cook and Graham Duff and first aired on BBC Two in October 2012. The six-part series follows the Pearson family, Joe (Vic Reeves, credited under his real name, Jim Moir) and Pauline (Gina McKee) and their son Jack (Chris Ramsey), who secretly married a middle-class Jewish girl, Sarah (Kimberley Nixon), in a drunken binge in Las Vegas. Even though the show received a mixed critical reaction, including criticism from residents of the town on which it was based a Christmas special and a second series was commissioned. In March 2014, writer and comedian Jason Cook announced that a third series would not be commissioned. Vera British detective television series, Vera, is based on the work of crime author Ann Cleeves. Broadcast on ITV it stars Brenda Blethyn, who plays the central character Detective Chief Inspector (DCI) Vera Stanhope. DCI Stanhope works for the fictional Northumberland &amp; City Police and is obsessive about her work and driven by her own demons. She is known for facing the world with caustic wit, guile and courage, often with highly strung bad temper.

Her trusted and long-suffering colleague is Detective Sergeant Joe Ashworth, played by David Leon, her right-hand man and surrogate son. Like us on Facebook Most Read Most Recent Most Read Most Recent British Detectives:From Page to Screen, by Val Mansell From the Page to the Small Screen The Creation of the British Fictional Detective It could be argued that crime fiction is more than something to read to pass the time, it can be a well crafted and well written genre that offers a sharp, realistic portrait of modern life. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote and created Sherlock Holmes, one of the most recognisable and archetypal figures in literature and indeed is the most famous name in crime fiction. For many people the crime fiction genre means mystery and mystery means detectives. Avid readers of the genre love the thrill of crime and the ingenuity of the killer, it could be suggested that we as readers transport ourselves into the detectives’ world and shadow them in the fight to solve the crime. British fictional detectives tend to be working policemen as opposed to private investigators in America as this is deemed to be more believable within a British setting.

Crime fiction stories are exciting and although the mystery may be gripping, readers do want the perpetrator caught by the detective who is then hailed as a hero by those involved and yet it is all in a days work for the detective. The popular success of Sherlock Holmes encouraged other writers to emulate Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Notable characteristics of Holmes were his sharp brain, eccentric habits, his trademark clothes and his somewhat dimmer assistant who stands in for the reader by asking questions that the reader wants answered by the detective. One of the most successful detectives to follow Holmes was Sexton Blake who had a Tinker as his assistant. It could be argued that Blake was more a brand than the property of a single writer with a notable difference being his chase and fight adventures rather than the sharp tales of deduction and observation associated with Holmes. Holmes was not an amateur sleuth, he was a specialist within his field; who had a proven track record for crime solving and was a professional who worked for a fee. Most crime fiction characters tended to be intelligent and middle/upper class within comfortable settings; therefore they attracted an equally intelligent and comfortable readership, it was all very British…! Detective stories tend to fall into two camps, the mystery and the thriller.

Mystery readers tend to read the stories for the puzzle as the story unfolds. Raymond Chandler (chandlersite@comcast.net ) emphasised this, writing that ‘the puzzle addict regards the story as a contest of wits between himself and the writer; these mysteries tend to be known as ‘Country House’ or ‘Locked Room’ mysteries. Country House mysteries can be set in any closed environment where the list of suspects can feasibly be reduced to a small number of people that are all known to the reader, the queen of this form of writing is undoubtedly Agatha Christie. A Locked Room mystery extends the puzzle further, not only must readers’ guess who did it, but also how it was done. Two further type of mysteries are the ‘Inverted Mysteries’ and ‘Village Mysteries’. The conventional detective story begins with the crime, introduces the detective, and then both the reader and the detective embark on the journey together until the mystery is solved. In contrast, the Inverted Mystery begins with the crime, tells the reader who has done it and then the reader follows the detective as they put the pieces together to solve the crime.

Emphasis switches from the all knowing detective to clever perpetrator as it appears to be the perfect crime that has detectives baffled and then suddenly the plot falls apart and the detective finally gets the upper hand. Writers seeking to set their stories away from the usual high society circuit set their stories in a village. Villages unlike cities tend to be created to avoid any libel issues. A crime in a village setting makes for a pleasant trip away for the detective and can conveniently include the country house where a crime has been committed. One of the most well known of this type of mystery is Agatha Christie’s creation Miss Jane Marple who resided in the fictional village of St Mary Mead. James (2008) suggests that fictional crime writers saw the appeal of the English village as having attractions for the reader as it portrayed the crime as being displaced from everyday life and was as desirable as the high society setting of other stories. The more sordid aspects of crime and contemporary life are softened and given a rose tinted haze. Britain brought detective fiction to the world, indeed as mentioned above, it was a British writer, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle who took a prototype and remoulded it into one of fictions great genres.

His fictional detective Sherlock Holmes set a pattern that is still followed today, that of the detective as a loner, a little eccentric, driven by a moral ethic and a passion for solving puzzles. The detective lives alone but also has a less skilled, loyal companion; the detective does not seek out cases they are brought by clients requiring the detective’s expertise. Cases tend to possess an element of danger and each case requires the detective to solve the puzzle. After this variation occurs, the detective may be either gender, weak or strong, young or mature, working with or without police co-operation, clients can be either rich or poor. It was thought that the fictional police detective fitted in better with British culture, the fact that the British policeman did not carry a gun, although the criminal might was seen as an advantage as the reader did not carry a gun either and so could more easily identify with the detective. A police detective is also credible, it is his job to investigate crime, it is a battle between right and wrong in which the reader is there alongside all the time. Generations of people have utilised books in order to escape from their own lives for a while and lose themselves in the plot of a book.

In the 1940s television was in its infancy, however, in the 1950s television ownership had began to increase steadily, by the 1960s the majority of households possessed a television set and by the 1970s they had a colour one, progress in this medium continued to increase throughout the following decades. Out of the medium of television came the police detective as it was thought that they tended to translate better to screen. Private eyes appeared to be less acceptable on screen than on the page. On contemporary British television the detective is likely to be a Detective Inspector or Detective Sergeant, most of them are procedural detectives, although there are variations on this theme such as Daziel and Pascoe who are a very mismatched pair, Inspector Frost who is awkward and politically incorrect, Inspector Lynley who is a modern day aristocrat policeman and Vera Frost who is plain and over weight, single and lonely. There are also detectives who are established due to a certain location such as Detective Sergeant Jim Bergerac in the Channel Islands, Charles Wycliffe in Cornwall, John Rebus in Edinburgh, Inspector Barnaby in the fictional village of ‘Midsomer’, Inspector Morse in Oxford and Inspector Banks in Yorkshire.

Viewers also tended to watch detectives for other reasons such as, in the 1950s Dixon of Dock Green was reassuring, in the 1970s The Sweeney was realistic, and in the 1990s Cracker and Silent Witness were both scientific. Listed below is the writer’s A to Z of favourite Detectives Nikki Alexander (Emelia Fox) Silent Witness An apprentice archaeological pathologist who was introduced into the series ten years into the run, replacing the shows founding star Amanda Burton who played Dr Sam Ryan. Detective Chief Inspector Banks (Stephen Tomkinson) Book by Peter Robinson` DCI Banks Set in the Yorkshire Dales, Banks is a lonely embittered man who possesses few of the idiosyncrasies of rival police detectives which makes him more real. Tom Barnaby (John Nettles) Midsomer Murders Set in the fictional county of ‘Midsomer’ DCI Barnaby is laid back, making him suited to the semi rural setting. The pace of this programme is gentle and the scenery is pleasing to the eye, the twists in the plot are often quite bizarre.

Detective Chief Inspector Boyd (Trevor Eve) Waking the Dead Boyd is the head of a cold case squad, this concept originated from breakthroughs in forensic science. Boyd has a disturbed past which surfaces within the character and surfaces whilst he is puzzling over cases. The show is filmed in a brooding darkness which highlights the morbid nature of the cases. Detective Superintendent Ronnie Brookes (Bradley Walsh) Created by Dick Wolf Detective Sergeant Ronnie Brooks substitutes alcohol with food; he is a policeman from the East End with a tough past and a big heart. He is partnered with Detective Sergeant Sam Casey (Paul Nicholls). This is half crime drama/half legal procedure focusing on the Criminal Investigation Department (C.I.D) these detectives investigate murders involving the people on the streets of London and the Crown Prosecutors who prosecute the defendants in court. Detective Chief Inspector Matthew Burke (Alex Norton) Created by Glen Chandler The Maryhill CID investigates gruesome murders against the bleak backdrop of the city of Glasgow. They operate out of the fictional John Street police station across the street from the City Chambers. Burke rules his team with a rod of iron and likes everything just so.

Prominent members of the team include Detective Sergeant Jackie Reid She shows courage and loyalty, together with a sense of humour which is seen rarely, however, she doesn’t wear her heart on her sleeve leaving the viewer only guessing as to what she is really thinking. Detective Inspector Robbie Ross sees himself as a stud, however, he is unlucky when it comes to relationships and despite all Robbie's bravado and patter he is actually quite a sensitive soul deep down and really all he wants out of life is for someone to love him. Daziel (Warren Clarke) and Pascoe (Colin Buchanan) Book by Reginald Hill Daziel & Pascoe These two detectives are polar opposites and exist by contrast to each other. Daziel (pronounced Dee-ell) is overweight, deliberately rude and prejudiced, while his Sergeant is neat and refined, intelligent and fastidiously proper. Daziel is a rough diamond who cares a lot about justice, fairness and his job. Pascoe can be sly, manipulative and can fight where necessary. Thus, two opposing characters become one dynamic crime fighting duo.

Ray Doyle (Martin Shaw) William Bodie (Lewis Collins) Created by Brian Clemens The Professions Previously working for M15 George Cowley, set up Criminal Intelligence (C15), two top agents are partnered together, namely Ray Doyle and William Bodie. The three men would form the focus of the television series. Doyle had been a detective constable, working in the East End and Docklands areas London – two of the city's toughest beats. Bodie had a varied past having deserted the Merchant Navy, joined a band of mercenaries in Africa, enrolled with the Paras and then the SAS, where his many talents had been spotted by Cowley, who promptly invited him to join CI5. Different backgrounds meant contrasting personalities and the partners were often at odds with each other over the approach to the job in hand – Bodie would think nothing of punching a suspect to 'encourage' them to talk, whereas Doyle tended to ask questions first. These opposing attitudes led the partners to enjoy a spirited relationship while developing an awareness and respect for each other's abilities.

Sergeant Lewis (Kevin Whately) Book by Colin Dexter Morse The Morse series was set in Oxford and was played superbly by John Thaw in the lead role, his partner was the ever reliable Detective Sergeant Robbie Lewis. When Thaw died in 2007, the series was so successful that Whately took over the role and the series became ‘Lewis’ Inspector Lynley (Nathaniel Parker) Written by Elizabeth George The Inspector Lynley Mysteries Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley is a very English policeman who is himself of noble birth, he is married into nobility and they both live in Chelsea. In contrast, Lynley has a working class partner, Sergeant Barbara Havers (Sharon Small) who is sharp and has no time for the upper classes. Although the books tend to be long, they were successfully adapted for television. Inspector Morse (John Thaw) Written by Colin Dexter Morse By the time this series began the books were already a success. Morse is set in Oxford, he is an extremely intelligent man who competes with himself to complete the Times crossword in record time. Morse applies the same logic and intelligence to his cases and tends to be a little lost when it comes to human interaction.

A lot of his private life is not mentioned, however, it is known that he is a bachelor, who likes crosswords; he also likes opera and occasionally mentions this to Lewis. Sergeant Lewis is Morse’s partner who is less intellectual but they both compliment each other. Crimes tend to be disguised as puzzles, indeed the writer Colin Dexter used to work as a crossword complier. The books are a combination of police procedural and puzzle mystery. The television series makes use of the Oxford scenery with walkabouts and Morse’s driving through Oxford in his red 1960s Mark 2 Jaguar. Due to Morse’s intellect, he tends to view the cases in a more complex way and has to be bailed out by the less intellectual, but more practical partner Detective Sergeant Robbie Lewis (Kevin Whately). When John Thaw died in 2007, Whately earned a ‘Lewis’ series of his own. Detective Sergeant Tommy Murphy (James Nesbitt) Written by Colin Bateman Murphy’s Law Undercover police officer Tommy Murphy is an uncompromising, sometimes tough talking cop. He has no issues with using his charm and sense of humour to attempt to impress any woman, especially Annie, his colleague and later boss.

During his career the job interfered with his personal life with tragic consequences to which he still feels responsible. Some of the stories are quite dark and brooding, but the action is fast paced. Murphy is monitored back at base; so that back up from the rest of the team is available when needed. Detective Inspector Rebus (Ken Stott) Written by Ian Rankin Rebus Detective inspector Rebus is ex-army, an old style policeman, too old to progress any further in the police force. The stories are set in Edinburgh, readers tended to identify with him as a real policeman, with faults, working in a real city. Rankin’s description of Edinburgh is of a grim and dirty city, however, his love of the place is evident in his writing. Rebus lives in real time, as the years pass, Rebus also ages and goes from active Sergeant to retirement as his fictional life progresses. On television, Rebus has a younger colleague, Siobhan Clarke who is tough, but the long hours in the job have not been kind to her. Rebus stories are dark, complex and engaging and they have a huge following.

Detective Inspector Jack Regan (John Thaw) Created by Ian Kennedy Martin The Sweeney This British police series revolutionised crime genre on UK television in the mid 1970s. Jack Regan is a hard edged detective in the Flying Squad of London's Metropolitan police (called 'the Sweeney' from the Cockney rhyming slang 'Sweeney Todd' = 'Flying Squad’). Regan, together with his partner Detective Sergeant George Carter (Dennis Waterman) pursue villains by methods which are underhand, often illegal themselves, frequently violent and more often than not successful. Jemina Shore (Patricia Hodge) Written by Antonia Fraser Jemima Shore Investigates Despite being educated in a convent, Jemima Shore became a savvy television journalist for ‘Megalith Television’ and had her own television programme ‘Jemima Shore Investigator’. The character was televised in 1978 as part of the ‘Armchair Thriller’ series with Jemima played by Maria Aitken. In 1983 ITV ran a short series called ‘Jemima Shore Investigates’ with Patricia Hodge in the lead role.

Inspector Vera Stanhope (Brenda Blethyn) Written by Ann Cleeves Vera Inspector Stanhope is plain and overweight, single and lonely. She is a professional police woman who makes her presence felt in the North of England (Northumberland). She is tough and forthright in her opinions and has a reputation for efficiency, however, at home she is a different Vera, she is lonely and consoles herself with junk food. She can empathise with ordinary people she meets whilst investigating her cases which turn out to be far from the norm. The books were televised with Vera having a partner, Sergeant Joe Ashworth played by David Leon. Detective Sergeant Freddie Spender (Jimmy Nail) Created by Ian La Frenais Spender Freddie Spender often chose to carry out the more daring police cases with his criminal sidekick Stick (Sammy Johnson), Spender was one of the more remarkable television detectives of the 1990s. The series featured a large amount of back story for the main characters with many episodes dealing with Spender's domestic life, his family and circumstances. Some of the storylines were surprisingly dark; but were very popular with viewers of the show and was an instant hit for the BBC.

Simon Templar (Roger Moore/Ian Ogilvy) Written by Leslie Charteris The Saint The Saint was known as ‘the Robin Hood of Modern Crime’, he was identified as a stick man logo on book covers. The character was suave, carefree and witty, who tended to alternate between being a detective, a righter of wrongs, and a thief from the rich and nasty. The settings tended to alternate between London and New York, both the books and the television series tended to be light hearted and action packed. The series launched the career of Roger Moore (James Bond) who brought humour to the role. Later, in the 1970s the series was reprised with Ian Ogilvy in the title role. Detective Inspector Sam Tyler (John Simm) Created by Matthew Graham Life on Mars A present day Manchester detective suffers near fatal injuries after a car crash and awakes to find himself living in 1973; Tyler struggles to come to terms with his situation with the old-fashioned technology and attitudes of the day, when fighting crime.

His superior is Detective Chief Inspector Gene Hunt (Philip Glenister) The methodology and techniques of modern policing that Sam Tyler employs during ‘Life on Mars’ lead him into frequent clashes with other characters. Gene Hunt and the rest of the CID appear to favour brutality and corruption in order to secure convictions, preferring to physically coerce confessions and fabricate evidence. Tyler clashes with Hunt most frequently, usually because Tyler values forensic evidence whereas Hunt often resorts to traditional methods and gut instincts. Chief Inspector Wexford (George Baker) Written by Ruth Rendall Inspector Wexford Mysteries Reginald Wexford polices the fictional rural town of ‘Kinsmarkham’. He deals with fairly domestic cases and is happily married. The domestic cases that Wexford investigates are far from cosy; however, the televised programmes tend to be softer than the books. Wexford’s sidekick is Inspector Mike Burden played by Christopher Ravenscroft; he is a policeman who is distrustful of the civilian world, but someone who is solid and dependable all the same.

Chief Superintendent Wycliffe (Jack Sheppard) Written by WJ Burley Wycliffe Charles Wycliffe is a serious police detective; he patrols the wild and remote areas of Cornwall and pursues his cases with patience and diligence. Although not a native of Cornwall, he takes time to get to know its inhabitants, even if they might prefer that he didn’t. This is an exceptional idea, as the detection of crime is tracked by Wycliffe and the team; the locals tend to carry on their daily business, their lives unchanged by criminal events that are good to gossip about all the same. The locals tend to distrust the police, preferring instead to take matters into their own hands which only add to the complications and dilemmas for Wycliffe. Wycliffe is a family man, his wife accepting the long hours and turmoil of her husband’s job, they have grown up twins, all expect to see him when they see him. Here’s to British Fictional Detectives continued success In summary, the writer’s great love of British crime fiction novels has extended itself equally and just as easily to a love of British crime on television.

Many detectives started on the page before being transferred to the small screen, both mediums tend to have a great public following that has only become stronger over the years. Readers and viewers alike can bond with their favourite detective; they can solve the cases alongside their heroes with readers and viewers gaining a special insight into the mind of the criminal, the crime itself, the thought processes of the detective and the solving of the crime. British fictional detectives are amongst some of the best and their longstanding endurance is deemed inevitable as their popularity continues to increase. The crime genre will reproduce the tried and tested formula for great British detective writing and televising and out of this will evolve something new that has the potential to become even greater, creating more ardent fans, who will play their part in the genre’s continued existence and success. Biography of Jimmy Nail Jimmy Nail Agustín Magaldi, the tango singer who first introduces the young Eva Perón to Buenos Aires, is played by actor/singer/writer JIMMY NAIL. Nail first came to prominence as Oz in British television's massively successful, BAFTA-nominated Auf Wiedersehen Pet in 1981, which boasted a viewership of 15 million.

He later created another unforgettable character, the undercover detective Freddie Spender, in the hit BBC series Spender -- a series he wrote, executive-produced, and starred in, and which ran on TV for four years and earned him a BAFTA nomination for Best Drama Series, as well as a Television and Radio Industries Award. The series also led to his writing a best-selling Spender novel. The Nail-created, smash-hit TV series Crocodile Shoes, in which he starred as a low-rank country singer dreaming of the big time, won a BAFTA nomination for Best Television Music and an Ivor Novello nomination for Best Title Song. Nail's second series of Crocodile Shoes will be televised at the end of 1996. A successful recording artist for the past ten years, Nail's 1994 triple platinum album Crocodile Shoes sold 900,000 copies in the UK alone. He completed his second sell-out UK tour for this album. Jimmy Nail's film credits include Wallenberg and Danny, The Champion of the World.

The 90s Detective Ready Reckoner | Den of Geek Search The 90s Detective Ready Reckoner The gloss gives way to the grit as Spender, Cracker and others go downmarket in pursuit of their quarry... Spender (BBC 1991-93) Jimmy Nail Undercover copper Spender was an idea Jimmy Nail had while working on Auf Weidersehen Pet!. He convinced writer Ian La Frenais to flesh out the character and - using Newcastle as a backdrop - a decent midweek drama was forged. The late Sammy Johnson played Spender's sidekick Stick, who could be relied upon to provide the humourous sub-plot. Nail, keen to move away from the character of Oz, grew his hair long and Spender was given to introspection whilst looking moody. Denise Welch played Spender's wife, who was killed by a car bomb in the final series.

Jane Tennison Prime Suspect (ITV 1991-2006) Helen Mirren Loosely based on the career of Jackie Malton, a senior policewoman who rose to the top, Lynda La Plante's Jane Tennison proved herself more than a match for her chauvinistic colleagues, led by the always excellent Tom Bell as DS Otley. A superb central performance from Helen Mirren ensured Jane Tennison made her mark in an intermittent series of short serials. Tennison was a chain smoker, enjoyed a drink and possessed a ruthless ambition. Sometimes Tennison could be tactless, especially her haste to take over from DI Shefford who died of a heart attack at the start of the series. Tennison realised that to succeed in a man's world, she not only had to match them but had to be better than them. Tony Clark Between The Lines (BBC1992-4) Neil Pearson Neil Pearson had been best known for comedy before winning the part of the hot-headed, passionate and charismatic Detective Superintendent Tony Clark.

A rising star in the flying squad, Clark was seconded into CIB, the Police Complaints division under the wing of the shady John Deakin (played by Tony Doyle). Clark's team consisted of career-copper DI Harry Naylor (Tom Georgeson) and the bright and resourceful Sgt Maureen Connell (Siobhan Redmond). Tony Clark's personal life was ironically chaotic. Clark had several affairs (notably with a junior officer in the first series) and the bedroom scenes were presented in a more graphic way than the average 9pm drama, leading to the nickname "between the sheets". The series can be seen as a direct descendant of Law and Order (UK 1978). Both shows were produced by Tony Garnett, whose production company Island World is a byword for credible television with an edge of realism. Sam Sterne Sam Saturday (ITV 1992) Ivan Kaye The adventures of a divorced, Jewish detective who works on the sabbath, hence the show's title. Sterne's Golders Green-connected investigations often involved him in his entangled (and in some cases estranged) extended family.

Sterne lived in a terraced house, his sabbath work providing extra money to support his widowed mother. Unusual and fortunately not as tokenistic as it sounds. Maigret (ITV 1992-3) Michael Gambon Nearly five years after a pilot with Richard Harris, Granada recast the lead with Michael Gambon and produced a series of lavish two-hour Sunday night films. Inevitably Gambon's portrayal invited comparisons with Rupert Davies' well known version of the classic Georges Simenon sleuth from the turn of the sixties. Budapest stood in for Paris and made a convincing backdrop. Jack Frost A Touch Of Frost (ITV 1992 onwards) David Jason A straight role for the comedy king David Jason. William "Jack" Frost was a disorganised DI was a rather cumudgeonly outlook on life, and a widower with a chaotic approach to paperwork - much the chagrin of his boss, Mullet. Frost was teamed with a different sergeant for many of his cases. David Jason, having played Scullion in Porterhouse Blue, proved himself an accomplished actor in any role. Jason's real-life brother Arthur White plays PC Ernie Trigg in the series.

Anna Lee Anna Lee (ITV 1993) Imogen Stubbs Feisty, short skirt wearing, Triumph Herald-driving Anna Lee was the creation of writer Liza Cody. ITV adapted the books about the junior PI into a ten part series. Imogen Stubbs seemed to have a lot of fun playing the role. Slightly scatterbrained and chirpy enough, if a little too upmarket to be convincing. Eddie "Fitz" Fitzgerald Cracker (ITV 1993-96, 2005) Robbie Coltrane Borrowing the template set by Frost, another major comedy star turned serious. Coltrane's first major dramatic outing saw him play the hard-nosed psychology lecturer "Fitz". Robert Lindsay had been first choice. Fitz was a chain smoking, alcoholic, gambling addict whose personal life was a mess but when professionally on form, he was mesmerising.

Coltrane's excellent central performance was undoubtedly the hook for the series, but special mention should be made of Christopher Eccleston's DCI Bilborough, who was shockingly killed off in the second series, in part due to Eccleston's integrity of not doing any part too long (something with which Doctor Who fans are very familiar). Charles Wycliffe (ITV 1993-8) Jack Shepherd Good, if run-of the mill, detective series. A decent role for Jack Shepherd after several years of guesting in other shows. The thoughtful and objective Supt. Wycliffe was based in Cornwall. Places like Bodmin moor provided the scenery. Roderick Alleyn Inspector Alleyn (BBC 1993-4) Patrick Malahide Malahide, famous for his droll detective Sergeant Chisholm in Minder, adopted a cut glass accent and trilby to become Ngaio Marsh gentleman detective Inspector Alleyn. Simon Williams had played Alleyn in a pilot shown in 1990. Traditional period drama with impeccable forties accents all round. Malahide, though a great actor, looks a bit miscast here.

Charlie Resnick Resnick (BBC 1993) Tom Wilkinson DI Resnick was proud of his polish heritage, fond of a good sandwich and keen on jazz music. A pre-Full Monty Tom Wilkinson played the unusual 'tec in this short series based on the books by John Harvey. Brother Cadfael Cadfael (ITV 1994-8) Derek Jacobi Based on the stories by Ellis Peters, Jacobi played the monk whose saxon sleuthing was a touch out of the ordinary. Cadfael was a trained chemist and this often stood him in good stead in an early form of scientific detection. A young Sean Pertwee was Cadfael's sidekick. Henry Crabbe Pie In The Sky (BBC1994-6) Richard Griffiths A detective who would rather be a chef. Henry Crabbe keeps his police work going to fund his culinary ambitions and his restaurant Pie In The Sky. Sharing Frank Cannon's bulk and effectiveness at chasing villains, Richard Griffiths was much more convincing as Crabbe the chef than Crabbe the cop. Amiable Sunday night fare, the series was as worth watching for the food as the crime.

John Kelly NYPD Blue (CH4 1994-2005) David Caruso The natural successor to Hill Street Blues. This time the officers' home life was just as much a focus as their work. Detective John Kelly was an early star of the series. Coming across as brash but charismatic, red-haired Kelly was a successful, high achieving detective still possessing a soul despite 15 years of gritty police work. David Caruso, perhaps over-estimating his public profile decided to leave the series to pursue a film career. Elly Chandler Chandler &Co.(BBC 1994-95) Catherine Russell Elly Chandler and her sister-in-law set up a private investigation agency to expose her husband's infidelity. A strong series with some good female roles. Two series were made set a couple of years apart to show how the agency had developed. In the second series Susan Fleetwood played newcomer Kate Phillips. The show may well have continued but sadly Fleetwood died soon after completing her work on the series. Andy Dalziel, Peter Pascoe Dalziel and Pascoe (BBC 1996 onwards) Warren Clarke, Colin Buchanan Originally seen on ITV in A Pinch of Snuff.

Dalziel and Pascoe had been played by Gareth Hale and Norman Pace. Unimpressed by ITV'sadaptation, author Reginald Hill was reluctant to write any more Dalziel and Pascoe novels. Revived a few years later by the BBC, looking for a good vehicle for Warren Clarke. Andy Dalziel (Clarke) is gruff, abrasive and lacking in social skills. Colin Buchanan's Peter Pascoe is younger, more sensitive and better mannered. Industrial Yorkshire provided the backdrop to the cases solved by the chalk and cheese duo, who have been a successful combination for over a decade. Jeff Slade Crime Traveller (BBC 1997) Michael French Bland cop hero supported by Red Dwarf's Chloe Annett as a scientist with a secret time machine in her Maida Vale flat. A lightweight Saturday night escapist drama falling somewhere between Jonathan Creek and Doctor Who. French's plain-clothes detective weirdly always wore the same outfit and (access to a time machine aside)seemed to be devoid of the usual gimmicks associated with a TV detective. A curious idea which had it been better executed could have run longer than the one series that was made.

John Barnaby Midsomer Murders (ITV 1997 onwards) John Nettles The former star of Bergerac polices Britain's most dangerous villlage. Barnaby was very traditional compared to the problems of Jersey Jim. Cordelia Grey An Unsuitable Job For A Woman (ITV 1997-2001) Helen Baxendale Baxendale played Cordelia Gray, a rookie private eye who inherits her boss's agency when he commits suicide. Grey is clever and bookish with a strong sense of justice. She renames the agency and finds herself in very much in demand. PD James wrote this refreshing series, which raised the profile of the talented Helen Baxendale. Michael Colefield Ultraviolet (CH4 1998) Jack Davenport One of Davenport's first roles moving on from This Life saw him as Detective Sergeant Michael Colefield, faced with a particularly unusual case when asked to investigate vampires. Shot as a stylish modern noir, it compares well with the detective thrillers which surrounded it. The vampire storyline, whilst unusual, made the series all the more compelling.

Isobel De Pauli Liverpool One (1998-2000) Samantha Janus DC Isobel De Pauli, a young psychology graduate, found her new beat on the streets of Liverpool very hard going. Samantha Janus was clearly brought in to add glamour to a run-of-the-mill culture clash thriller but it was successful enough to run to three series. Maisie Raine Maisie Raine (BBC 1998-99) Pauline Quirke A rather gloomy series about a uncompromising copper played with a certain inevitability by the inexplicably popular and ubiquitous Pauline Quirke. Mrs Bradley The Mrs Bradley Mysteries (BBC 1998-2000) A witty twenties amateur sleuth, Mrs Bradley was played with a delicious lightness of touch by the doyen of leading ladies Diana Rigg. Neil Dudgeon was her faithful chauffeur George and genre veteran Peter Davison appeared in the occasional role of Detective Henry Christmas. More tecs? Check out the...

North East police drama Spender was first shown on television 25 years ago - Chronicle Live North East police drama Spender was first shown on television 25 years ago Spender, starring former Auf Wiedersehen Pet star Jimmy Nail, ran for three series between 1991 and 1993 Share Jimmy Nail as Spender and Sammy Johnson as Stick in the early-1990s TV series, Spender Share Get daily updates directly to your inbox + Subscribe Could not subscribe, try again laterInvalid Email The popular detective series Spender was first shown on BBC TV 25 years ago. Starring Geordie superstar Jimmy Nail, the show told of the exploits of Detective Sgt Freddie Spender and his sometimes unorthodox policing methods. Filmed in and around Tyneside, across three series between 1991 and 1993, Spender was a product of Longbenton-born Nail’s determination to pay homage to his native Newcastle. With the show regularly pulling in 14 million viewers, and with each episode costing upwards of £350,000 to produce, it was a quality production with Nail, not only in the starring role - but occasionally writing and directing too.

Jimmy came to Spender on the back of the huge success of the brilliant Auf Wiedersehen, Pet where he starred as the hard-drinking, loudmouthed, battling Geordie bricklayer, Oz. In 1992, at the height of his success with Spender, he recalled his early years to a Chronicle reporter. Jimmy Nail and Denise Welch filming the TV drama Spender on Newcastle Quayside, circa 1991 Nail, real name Jimmy Bradford, first gained attention in Newcastle blues band , the King Crabs, where he wore a dress on stage. “It was quite a rarity to see a guy in an R&B band in a frock,” he joked. Then looking back at his 1982 audition for Auf Wiedersehen, Pet, Jimmy added: “I went in and said ‘look guys, this is the situation. I don’t want to be here. I have nothing in common with you.

I don’t even like television, so let’s get his over and let me get out of here’.” In the event, Nail’s raw natural acting talent made him ideal to play one of the Geordie bricklayers - alongside Tim Healy and Kevin Whatley - who would work hard and play hard on a building site in Germany. By 1992, Jimmy revealed he had been off the drink for years and was down to a trim 12 stone. “People do change,” the then 38-year-old said. “Oz was a heavy reflection of my life at the time. Spender is more where I am now.” By then, Nail had lived in London for many years, but still held on to his Geordie heritage. Jimmy Nail in the TV Programme Spender “You can’t shake off your roots, and I don’t want to,” he said. “I can’t stand people who leave and then never mention the North East again.” Spender not only further boosted the star’s popularity, but gave us an early glimpse of future Benidorm star and Loose Woman Denise Welch, and Sammy Johnson who played Nail’s criminal sidekick, Stick.

Johnson would die aged just 49 in 1998 while out jogging, and lend his name to the two-yearly Sunday For Sammy all-star charity concerts at Newcastle City Hall. Perhaps the only big problem to beset Spender was the fact the tough-guy cop’s trademark black Ford Sierra Cosworth had already once been nicked on location, and was a big target for car thieves at a time when Tyneside was dubbed “the car crime capital of Britain”. We reported the £21,000 motor had its very own £100-a-day minder. But far from depicting the region in a bad light, Spender used a host of North East locations as a vibrant backdrop to the often gritty action. Jimmy Nail in Television programme "Spender" The detective’s flat overlooked the Tyne Bridge and the Quayside , while his estranged wife and family lived in leafy Jesmond; Gateshead’s Central Bar made an appearance, as did the Beehive Inn in Earsdon; the Kielder Reservoir is a stunning backdrop in one episode, while by way of contrast the car park of the Metrocentre’s Asda car park as another.

But perhaps one of the most memorable scenes saw DS Spender chasing along Newcastle’s underground track after a villain who’d jumped aboard a Metro train. The Spender sprint from Jesmond Dene to the Monument, via St James - about two miles in real life - took a mere 75 seconds. Some going! As a Metro spokesman said of the feat: “It would be extremely dangerous, and I wouldn’t even like to say it was possible.” Like us on Facebook

Question: Who  played British fictional television detective Freddie Spender?
Answer: Jimmy Nail