Blue Murder (UK TV series)

Blue Murder

DVD cover
Genre Crime drama
Created by Cath Staincliffe
Starring Caroline Quentin
Ian Kelsey
Paul Loughran
Nicholas Murchie
Saskia Wickham
Rhea Bailey
Belinda Everett
Theme music composer Kevin Sargeant
Country of origin United Kingdom
Original language(s) English
No. of series 5
No. of episodes 19
Production
Running time 90 minutes (series 1–4)
60 minutes (series 5)
Production company(s) ITV Studios
Release
Original network ITV, STV, UTV
Picture format 16:9 (576i SDTV)
Original release 18 May 2003 –
12 October 2009
External links
Website

Blue Murder is a British crime drama television series based in Manchester, originally broadcast on ITV from 2003 until 2009, starring Caroline Quentin as DCI Janine Lewis and Ian Kelsey as DI Richard Mayne. Five series of the programme were broadcast over the course of six years.

Blue Murder was cancelled by the network in March 2010 due to falling ratings.[1] Quentin herself said of the cancellation; "It's been axed, which is a big disappointment. The last series was the best we'd ever made. I thought it was fantastic. It took us a long time to get it right but we all felt we'd finally cracked it. It would have been nice to have the opportunity to finish the series. But I understand how it works. TV has got to move on. We did five or six years of it. That's a good innings and we had a good time. It's time for something different."[2]

Background

Blue Murder centres on a single mother of four, DCI Janine Lewis (Caroline Quentin), trying to balance a demanding career with raising her young family, whilst constantly battling with her ex-husband, who has since started a new family of his own.

The series was created by Cath Staincliffe, a novelist and radio playwright. Staincliffe pitched the idea for Blue Murder to ITV and a two-part first series was commissioned by the network. The first series began broadcasting on May 18, 2003. Due to strong ratings, a second series of four episodes was subsequently commissioned and began broadcasting in 2004. Staincliffe was principal writer for the first two series, with John Fay, Jeff Povey and Matthew Hall also contributing scripts for the second series.

The fifth and final series debuted on September 7, 2009. The series was regarded by the cast as the best series yet, and Quentin described the series as having "finally cracked it". The final series included a number of guest stars Mark Benton, Lee Boardman, Kieran O'Brien, Brendan Coyle, Heather Peace, Tina O'Brien, Sylvia Syms and Anthony Flanagan.

Cast

Series overview

Series Number of episodes First airdate Last airdate DVD release (R2) DVD release (R1)
1 2 18 May 2003 19 May 2003 18 October 2004[3] 12 June 2007[4]
2 4 6 September 2004 27 September 2004 18 October 2004[3] 12 June 2007[4]
3 4 20 October 2006 10 November 2006 20 November 2006 29 January 2008[5]
4 3 3 December 2007 17 December 2007 7 January 2008 12 August 2008[6]
5 6 7 September 2009 12 October 2009 19 October 2009[7] 30 June 2009[8]

Episode list

Series 1: 2003

Blue Murder began as two 90-minute (advertisements included) episodes[9][10] first shown in May 2003, which gained enough viewers for a full series. This two-part pilot later became known as series one and released as such on DVD in the UK.

Series
No.		 Season
No.		 Title Written by Directed by Guest artist(s) Original airdate Viewers (millions)
11"Cry Me a River: Part 1"Cath StaincliffePaul WroblewskiGillian Kearney, Sally Bretton, Bryan Dick, Lee Oakes18 May 2003 (2003-05-18)8.90
Recently promoted pregnant DCI Janine Lewis is tasked with investigated the murder of a deputy headmaster found disemboweled on his allotment. A witness comes forward and manages to identify local youth Dean Hendricks, whom he saw running from the scene shortly before the victim was found. However, Janine isn't convinced of his guilt, and still has her eye on a former pupil with whom the victim had previously battled, and the victim's wife, whose account of her movements on the morning of the murder are somewhat shaky. DCS Hackett isn't pleased with the pace of the investigation and gives Janine just 48 hours to crack the case, before bringing in her replacement.
22"Cry Me a River: Part 2"Cath StaincliffePaul WroblewskiGillian Kearney, Sally Bretton, Bryan Dick, Lee Oakes19 May 2003 (2003-05-19)8.72
DCI Lewis' suspicions' of the victim's wife increase when they find her burning a number of videotapes in her back garden. The team soon discover that the victim was running an underground porn ring, involving the headmaster of his school and his wife engaging in sexual acts filmed on camera. As Dean Hendricks finally surfaces, he claims that on the day of the murder, he was visiting the victim to provide him with his latest completed movie, but that the victim was already dead when he arrived. As Janine discovers clothing belonging to the victim's wife at the local mortuary, she realises it is just a matter of time before she has enough evidence to close the case and charge her suspect.

Series 2: 2004

Series two was first broadcast in 2004, containing four episodes, each of 90 minutes in length (including adverts). Series creator Cath Staincliffe produced and wrote episode one, with the remaining scripts penned by scriptwriters Matthew Hall, John Fay and Jeff Povey.

Series
No.		 Season
No.		 Title Written by Directed by Guest artist(s) Original airdate Viewers (millions)
31"Hit and Run"Cath StaincliffePip BroughtonVinette Robinson, Adam Kotz, Marit Velle Kile6 September 2004 (2004-09-06)7.39
DCI Lewis heads up the investigation when the mutilated body of a lap dancer is recovered from the local river. Meanwhile, a young girl is knocked down and critically injured outside her school playground. When the car is discovered burnt out on nearby wasteground, forensics reveal it was the car used to transport the body of the river victim. One of the men suspected of driving the car is then found shot dead in an underpass. It's not long before the team's prime suspect turns out to be a man whom they have already heavily interrogated, who has fooled them all by disguising his identity, but it soon becomes a race against time to prevent him from boarding the next plane back to Poland.
42"Fragile Relations"Matthew HallPip BroughtonRoshan Seth, Renu Setna, Daniel Ryan, Natalia Kills13 September 2004 (2004-09-13)6.31
DCI Lewis investigates when a well-respected mullah is killed in an arson attack on his home. Suspicion immediately falls on the local representative of the far-right One Britain party, and it isn't long before evidence linking him to the murder is discovered. However, an allegation made by the suspect, claiming he was tipped off about his arrest by an Asian man shortly before he was taken in custody, leaves Janine convinced of his innocence, and further investigations raise the alarming possibility that the real culprit could be lurking within the Muslim community. When Janine discovers the victim had secretly married, a new prime suspect and motive for the killing suddenly comes to light.
53"Up In Smoke"John FayAlex PillaiGeff Francis, Jennifer Hennessy, Lee Ingleby, Tim Barlow20 September 2004 (2004-09-20)7.57
DCI Lewis heads the investigation when the secretary of the local crematorium comes to her with suspicions that two bodies have been cremated in the same cremation. With crematorium boss Dave Moran and employee John Wheeler both missing, Janine has to work out which of them was the killer - and which of them has ended up in the ashes of the bosses' dead wife, Charlotte. As a tangled web of affairs and jealousy comes to light, crematorium owner Frank Evans is found dead inside the coffin of an elderly widow, whose body is now missing. As Janine and the team try to work out who the killer is, a witness provides some vital evidence which could lead to the discovery of a motive.
64"Lonely"Jeff PoveyAlex PillaiLiz White, Dean Andrews, Maggie O'Neill, Ralph Ineson27 September 2004 (2004-09-27)6.62
DCI Lewis leads the team as they grapple with the case of a childminder who was stabbed to death in her own flat. The only witness to the crime was a twelve-year old boy named Fergus, who is autistic and is unable to communicate with anyone. With a string of affairs and complicated relationships behind her, the list of suspects soon grows to include her creepy landlord, her ex-husband whom she left after he became violent, and the father of the young boy, whom she was supposedly romancing. However, Hackett isn't convinced of the involvement of any of the given suspects, and asks Janine to investigate the possibility that her killer may be somebody she met through speed dating.

Series 3: 2006

A third series of Blue Murder was commissioned to be shown in 2006, containing four episodes. Series creator Cath Staincliffe again contributed a single script for the series, with scripts also penned by Jeff Povey, John Fay and Colin MacDonald. Roy Mitchell also contributed to the script for episode one, "Steady Eddie".

Series
No.		 Season
No.		 Title Written by Directed by Guest artist(s) Original airdate Viewers (millions)
71"Steady Eddie"Jeff PoveySuri KrishnammaLauren Drummond, Jamie Lomas, Philip McGinley, Andrew Dunn, Jack Ellis20 October 2006 (2006-10-20)6.85
DCI Lewis and DI Mayne investigate a jewellery robbery, following which, the getaway car mowed down and killed a 14-year-old girl on her way home from her boyfriend's house, before crashing into a building site. Meanwhile, Janine catches up with an old friend, PC Eddie Carter, whom she knew from her training days at Hendon. When the driver of the car is discharged from hospital, Janine asks Eddie to accompany him into custody, but en route, Eddie is shot and killed along with the suspect. Forensics later reveal that Eddie was the intended target of the shooting, leaving the team baffled as to why anyone would have wanted to kill a long-serving officer with a clean record.
82"Make Believe"Cath StaincliffeMenhaj HudaKenny Doughty, Shelley Conn, Paul Venables, Kevin Kennedy27 October 2006 (2006-10-27)7.03
DCI Lewis leads the investigation into the disappearance of a three-year-old boy, Sammy Ray, who was taken from his local play park. When a local builder finds the body of a young child in a drainage tunnel, Janine informs the boy's grieving parents - but it's not long before the boy's father comes under suspicion after his alibi turns shaky. Janine also suspects that the man's ex-wife and daughter may have played a part in the boy's disappearance - until DNA reveals that the body is not that of Sammy Ray. Janine subsequently discovers a tragic case of misfortune when it transpires that one of the builders from the contracting firm may be hiding a very deadly secret from his wife.
93"The Spartacus Thing"John FaySuri KrishnammaTom Bell, Rachel Davies, Ace Bhatti, John McArdle, Louise Delamere3 November 2006 (2006-11-03)6.24
DCI Lewis investigates when a man recently released from prison for the murder of his wife is found strangled with a dog chain in an identical manner to the way that she was killed. When the father of the deceased claims that he murdered his son-in-law out of revenge, it appears to be an open and shut case - until several of the man's relatives individually confess to the crime. As Janine and the team attempt to work out who could and couldn't be responsible, the only relative who did not confess to the crime is found dead in his bathroom following a brutal attack. Shap puts his career on the line when he leaks privileged information to the suspect in an attempt to get him to talk.
104"In Deep"Colin MacDonaldMenhaj HudaJeremy Sheffield, Ciaran Griffiths, Danny Sapani, Jason Watkins10 November 2006 (2006-11-10)6.27
DCI Lewis tasks the team with uncovering the identity of a dead body found at the bottom of a local lake. On the corpse was an engraved hip flask belonging to successful architect Paul Cochran, who now resides in a local institution following a battle with drugs and depression. As the team discover the body to be that of Mickey Day, a local lout who disappeared after taunting a group of fisherman, they discover that one member of the fishing group has vanished off the radar completely. When Cochran and another member of the group turn up dead, the police suspect that the missing comrade may have disguised his identity in order to commit the three murders.

Series 4: 2007

Series four was first broadcast in 2007. There were only three episodes in the series, instead of the usual four, due to the series being scheduled for broadcast in amongst the Christmas schedules. Again, creator Cath Staincliffe was responsible for writing one episode, with the other scripts penned by Neil Jones and Elizabeth Anne-Wheal.

Series
No.		 Season
No.		 Title Written by Directed by Guest artist(s) Original airdate Viewers (millions)
111"Not a Matter of Life and Death"Neil JonesGraham TheakstonKate Ford, Thomas Craig, Luke Bailey, Emily Atack3 December 2007 (2007-12-03)7.24
DCI Lewis brings a night out on the tiles with the team to halt when a young boy is found stabbed in the street. When the boy subsequently dies of his injuries, the team find themselves investigating why anyone would want to kill a seemingly harmless young footballer with a promising career ahead of him. However, when a screaming woman turns up on the boy's doorstep claiming to be his girlfriend, an entire double life, including a car, apartment, drugs habit and even a rape are revealed. But would the boy really want to risk his career? Meanwhile, Janine notices that Richard hasn't been on the ball lately, and tries to plug him to find out what has been keeping his mind elsewhere.
122"Desperate Measures"Cath StaincliffeGraham TheakstonPaula Wilcox, Philip Whitchurch, Simon Williams10 December 2007 (2007-12-10)6.71
DCI Lewis investigates the death of a family doctor, Dr. Halliwell, who was fatally shot as he left his practice following afternoon surgery. Janine initially suspects that a campaign of abuse may be being directed towards the surgery when one of his colleagues subsequently disappears, but soon discovers the shooting is much more personal. When the team find the former owner of the gun whom they suspect may be involved, Lisa makes a grave error which could result in the suspect escaping prosecution. As a tangled web of revelations involving Dr. Halliwell's personal and professional life come to light, the team have varying opinions as to who could be responsible for the attack.
133"Crisis Management"Elizabeth-Anne WhealJuliet MayJill Halfpenny, Richard Fleeshman, Lucy Gaskell, Neil Fitzmaurice, Katy Cavanagh17 December 2007 (2007-12-17)6.60
Janine is called in when an army battalion is rocked by the murder of a NCO, but finds herself falling for the officer who sought her out to aid the investigation, and it falls to Richard to ensure her private and professional lives do not become too entangled.

Series 5: 2009

Series Five was broadcast in 2009, there are 6 episodes in the series. This series switched to hourly format, from one hour and half.

Series
No.		 Season
No.		 Title Written by Directed by Guest artist(s) Original airdate Viewers (millions)
141"Having It All"Steve GriffithsDavid DrurySiobhan Finneran, Chris Gascoyne7 September 2009 (2009-09-07)5.42
Janine investigates into the murder of a cheerleading coach. Initial suspicion falls on the victim's husband, whose bloodied clothes are found near the crime scene, but the discovery of an affair suggests someone else may have had a motive.
152"Inside"Neil JonesSusan TullyMark Benton, Lee Boardman, Mary Jo Randle14 September 2009 (2009-09-14)4.83
Richard puts his life at risk by going undercover in a prison to find out information about the murder of a convicted child killer. Meanwhile, Janine finds herself embroiled in a personal crisis when her son Michael causes a car crash that leaves another driver seriously injured.
163"Tooth and Claw"Cath StaincliffeSusan TullySylvia Syms, Anthony Flanagan21 September 2009 (2009-09-21)5.35
The murder of a popular vet in the hills north of Manchester leads Janine and Richard to a farming community which is reluctant to open its doors to outsiders. Slowly the dour local characters reveal the victim's complex love life and a tale of arson and murder that leaves the worldly-wise coppers amazed. Guest starring
174"This Charming Man"Sue OdoutDavid DruryTina O'Brien, Chris Coghill, Liam Garrigan28 September 2009 (2009-09-28)4.96
Jack Taylor, the charismatic young singer of a local band, is found dead in his apartment. Janine and the team soon discover that Jack had a fractious relationship with just about everyone he came into contact with. The band's manager had doubts about their new album and was trying to get an ex-member back on board, and Jack's brother was not where he claimed to be that night. And was Jack two-timing his girlfriend? The case also brings Janine into conflict with her teenage daughter Ellie – a fan of the band.
185"Private Sins: Part One"Elizabeth-Anne WhealJuliet MayBrendan Coyle, Colin Wells, Heather Peace5 October 2009 (2009-10-05)5.07
Shap's behaviour becomes increasingly erratic as the team investigates the death of a private investigator, putting his career at risk when he becomes personally involved with one of the dead man's colleagues. Meanwhile, Janine decides to take time off work to confront her son's truancy.
196"Private Sins: Part Two"Elizabeth-Anne WhealJuliet MayBrendan Coyle, Colin Wells, Heather Peace12 October 2009 (2009-10-12)4.85
Following Shap's confession that he was protecting a murder suspect, the investigation goes up a gear in pursuit of the real killer, and Janine struggles to find time to make amends with son Tom.

External links

References

  1. ↑ http://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/mar/09/itv1-blue-murder-drama-crime
  2. ↑ http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a207568/itv-axes-quentins-blue-murder.html#ixzz3mC73FAD3
  3. 1 2 http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0006466FS/
  4. 1 2 http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NVKZVK/
  5. ↑ http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000XUF6C4/
  6. ↑ http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001A33ZHQ/
  7. ↑ http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B001NGGBDU/
  8. ↑ http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001O7R772/
  9. ↑ http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/768718?view=transmission
  10. ↑ http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/768720?view=transmission
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