Category: TV Drama

Date: 27.09.2004
Printable version

New Tricks, the highest rating new drama series on BBC ONE so far this year, is back next year with an extended eight-week run.

Alun Armstrong, James Bolam, Amanda Redman and Dennis Waterman return as the unlikely team of crack detectives in the Wall to Wall Television production.

Now filming in London, New Tricks follows the antics of three retired cops recruited by Superintendent Sandra Pullman (Amanda Redman) to reinvestigate unsolved crimes.

Gerry Standing (Dennis Waterman), Jack Halford (James Bolam) and Brian Lane (Alun Armstrong) have for a variety of reasons handed over their badges and accepted premature retirement.

But their hunger to right the wrongs of the past is still strong, and they're willing to resort to the most unconventional methods if it means they can close a case.

The eight one-hour episodes feature Anthony Calf as the team's boss Strickland, with guest stars including Jenny Agutter, Keith Barron, Anita Dobson, Nicholas Jones, Nigel Lindsay, David Mallinson and Richard Ridings appearing in the first two episodes.

Susan Jameson returns as Lane's long-suffering wife Esther.

The violent death of a top QC in Soho, the abduction of two boys during a fishing trip, a heist involving rare red diamonds and the gruesome find of a woman's torso in woodland are among the cases tackled by the Unsolved Crime and Open Case Squad (UCOS).

As they investigate, the detectives each battle their own problems - Standing is trying to quit smoking, Lane is obsessive compulsive and Halford needs a heart monitor.

Meanwhile Pullman struggles to rein them in and find ways to impress their demanding new boss.

Producer Tom Sherry (Murphy's Law, Burn It) says: "Each episode of New Tricks goes into a different world - from greyhound racing to celebrity chefs to the moving story of an Asian girl who has been in a coma for 10 years.

"Some are dark, others are more frivolous - our team is sent to interview a record carp and dig up a dead dog as well as interrogate murderers and interview victims - but in each one, their rule-breaking attitude brings about an interesting result."

Alex Graham, chief executive of Wall to Wall, says: "Wall to Wall has a proud record of producing award-winning drama, but it is particularly exciting to have broken through and created an authentic returning hit.

"It's a privilege for us to be working with some of the best actors, not just of this, but of any television era, and we hope New Tricks will be around for some years to come."

Gareth Neame, the BBC's Head of Drama Commissioning, adds: "New Tricks has strong, memorable characters and scripts that juxtapose poignant scenes with real humour.

"Watching our 'old dogs' getting up to no good in their determination to find the truth is a joy."

Created by Roy Mitchell and Nigel McCrery, New Tricks is written by Roy Mitchell, Nick Fisher, Karen Maclachlan, Howard Overman and Danny Miller.

The first two directors are Jon East and Martyn Friend and the executive producers are Mike Dormer and Gareth Neame.

Shooting continues until February.

Dennis Waterman is best known for his starring roles in Minder and The Sweeney and he also appeared in BBC ONE's Canterbury Tales.

Alun Armstrong's many roles include When I'm 64, David Copperfield and Between The Sheets.

James Bolam starred in BBC ONE's Born And Bred and his other roles include Shipman and The Likely Lads.

Amanda Redman is best known for At Home With The Braithwaites, Hope And Glory and Suspicion.

Wall to Wall Television's previous credits in drama include the award-winning A Rather English Marriage, Our Boy, Sex, Chips & Rock 'n' Roll and Glasgow Kiss.