List of Heartbeat episodes
Heartbeat is a British police drama series set in 1960s North Riding of Yorkshire based on the "Constable" series of novels written by ex-policeman Peter N Walker, under the pseudonym Nicholas Rhea, and broadcast on ITV between 1992 and 2010. Heartbeat first aired on Friday 10 April 1992 and the final episode aired on Sunday 12 September 2010. During the course of the programme, 372 episodes of Heartbeat aired, including nine specials over 18 series.
Series overview
| Series | Episodes | Originally aired | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First aired | Last aired | ||||
| 1 | 10 | 10 April 1992 | 12 June 1992 | ||
| 2 | 10 | 18 April 1993 | 20 June 1993 | ||
| 3 | 10 | 3 October 1993 | 5 December 1993 | ||
| 4 | 16 | 4 September 1994 | 25 December 1994 | ||
| 5 | 15 | 3 September 1995 | 10 December 1995 | ||
| 6 | 17 | 1 September 1996 | 25 December 1996 | ||
| 7 | 24 | 31 August 1997 | 22 February 1998 | ||
| 8 | 24 | 6 September 1998 | 28 February 1999 | ||
| 9 | 24 | 26 September 1999 | 5 March 2000 | ||
| 10 | 24 | 22 October 2000 | 8 April 2001 | ||
| 11 | 24 | 28 October 2001 | 14 April 2002 | ||
| 12 | 25 | 6 October 2002 | 18 May 2003 | ||
| 13 | 25 | 7 September 2003 | 6 June 2004 | ||
| 14 | 26 | 5 September 2004 | 5 June 2005 | ||
| 15 | 26 | 11 September 2005 | 2 July 2006 | ||
| 16 | 24 | 29 October 2006 | 5 August 2007 | ||
| 17 | 24 | 11 November 2007 | 28 September 2008 | ||
| 18 | 24 | 12 October 2008 | 12 September 2010 | ||
Episodes
Series 1 (1992)
| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "Changing Places" | Roger Cheveley | Johnny Byrne | 10 April 1992 |
| The village's new PC Rowan drives into town with his wife and immediately runs into trouble with the local bikers. Greengrass's dog does not make a good start between Sergeant Blaketon and PC Rowan. Dr. Rowan tries to look for work helping the local doctor. | |||||
| 2 | 2 | "Fruits of the Earth" | Tim Dowd | Johnny Byrne | 17 April 1992 |
| The police have a missing man to look for. Whilst Sergeant Blaketon says "all flashers should be locked up before they get worse" the mystery flasher helps the police station. | |||||
| 3 | 3 | "Rumours" | Ken Horn | David Lane | 24 April 1992 |
| Ugly rumours leads to lots of other problems. Dr. Rowan tries to help a family against the village doctor's morals. | |||||
| 4 | 4 | "Playing with Fire" | Eric Wendell | Rob Gittins | 1 May 1992 |
| A lady who cannot control her horse keeps PC Rowan busy. Teenagers and salmon poachers keep the police busy. Does Greengrass help the police? Trouble after a teenage girl is seen with Dr. Rowan. Claude gets left out of pocket by a couple he is trying to help. | |||||
| 5 | 5 | "Nowt but a Prank" | James Ormerod | Barry Woodward | 8 May 1992 |
| This episode starts with a short behind-the-scenes introduction. Three young boys have nothing better to do but to have fun, which does not go down well for those on the receiving end, then it gets mistaken in a neighbourly dispute. | |||||
| 6 | 6 | "Old, New, Borrowed and Blue" | Tim Dowd | Alan Whiting | 15 May 1992 |
| A tidy burglar does his rounds in the village. A caregiver is on a good thing borrowing things from patients. Dr. Rowan finds a job. | |||||
| 7 | 7 | "Face Value" | Terry Iland | David Lane | 22 May 1992 |
| The peace anti-bomb movement comes to the village and starts the locals fighting. Greengrass runs into trouble after adding local events together. | |||||
| 8 | 8 | "Outsiders" | Tim Dowd | Peter Barwood | 29 May 1992 |
| Gypsy-like people turn up in town. The vicar falls out with his daughter. | |||||
| 9 | 9 | "Primal Instinct" | Ken Horn | Brian Finch | 5 June 1992 |
| An ex-policeman getting shot starts a lot of back-stabbing in the police force. | |||||
| 10 | 10 | "Keep on Running" | Gavan Theoditis | Johnny Byrne | 12 June 1992 |
| Sheep rustling leads to a pack of lies in court. PC Rowan goes to London to try and chase a new job but finds a bent copper. | |||||
Series 2 (1993)
| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 1 | "Secrets" | Bob Mahoney | Adele Rose | 18 April 1993 |
| When a market trader is held at gunpoint and his van is stolen, Nick suspects Lord Ashfordly's spoiled and erratic son Rupert has something to do with it. But the youngster is using his position at Ashfordly Hall to make life difficult for the officers, and even Blaketon is powerless against him. Kate befriends a pregnant teenage girl and discovers the father of her baby is in fact Rupert Ashfordly. | |||||
| 12 | 2 | "End of the Line" | Bob Mahoney | David Martin | 25 April 1993 |
| Nick's past comes back to haunt him when Frank Milner arrives in Aidensfield. Frank blames Nick for the death of his beloved granddaughter years ago. Full of rage and revenge, Frank plots to show Nick how it feels to lose someone close – and targets Kate. As his wife's life hangs in the balance, Nick must confront his past to save her. Meanwhile, Greengrass is asked to clear an old barn and discovers the parts of a car. However, he is not happy when he discovers he has sold them at a knockdown price. | |||||
| 13 | 3 | "Manhunt" | Ken Horn | David Lane | 2 May 1993 |
| A quiet night at the Aidensfield Arms turns into a life or death situation when the pub is targeted by armed robbers, and Nick, Greengrass and George find themselves held at gunpoint in the cellar. One of the robbers, Alec Robinson, appears to be well acquainted with Greengrass, leaving Nick convinced that the old rogue has something to do with it, whilst Blaketon and Kate join forces to investigate the robbers. | |||||
| 14 | 4 | "Bitter Harvest" | Ken Horn | Jane Hollowood | 9 May 1993 |
| When a local farmer discovers his cow has been infected with foot and mouth disease, Aidensfield is put on red alert and the team must act fast to contain it. Meanwhile, Gina Ward, George's wayward niece from Liverpool, is sent to Aidensfield to help George at the Aidensfield Arms whilst he is ill, and she soon becomes a big hit with the male residents. | |||||
| 15 | 5 | "Over the Hill" | Tim Dowd | Johnny Byrne | 16 May 1993 |
| When black soldier Ken Marston reports his racist sergeant to his superiors, Sgt. Nichols plans to kill Ken up on the cliff. However, in a twisted turn of events, it's Nichols who falls to his death. Desperate and running for his life, Ken seeks solace in an old friend in Aidensfield, but when Nick is called in to investigate a break-in at a farm, Ken discovers he can never run from his troubles. Meanwhile, Kate is caught up in the Sandford family's problems: Tom Sandford has died, and social services are convinced his wife, Helen, is unstable to take care of their young son, Daniel. Can Kate keep the fractured family together? | |||||
| 16 | 6 | "Bang to Rights" | Tim Dowd | Brian Finch | 23 May 1993 |
| When Rosie Tinniswood tries to commit suicide, Nick and Kate take in her children. When she recovers, Rosie tells Nick that her husband is in prison for a crime he did not commit, and Nick offers to help clear his name by re-investigating the case. But Blaketon is against it, especially when it becomes apparent that his predecessor, PC Rowley Carson, is somehow connected to the wrongful imprisonment, and retired soon after. Nick is determined to find out what secrets the former sergeant was hiding. Meanwhile, PC Phil Bellamy is getting married. But on his stag night, he is assaulted outside the Aidensfield Arms. Luckily, Gina and Greengrass are well acquainted with his attacker. | |||||
| 17 | 7 | "A Talent for Deception" | Terry Marcel | Jonathan Critchely | 30 May 1993 |
| Nick and Kate's marriage comes under threat when one of Kate's old boyfriends becomes a prime suspect in a hit-and-run accident. Kate is certain of his innocence, leaving Nick fearful that she may still harbour feelings for him. However, Nick's attentions are soon turned to a spate of bank robberies, and crime writer Amanda Younge. Meanwhile, Greengrass comes into some money and decides to buy a flashy car, whilst Bellamy organises a talent contest for the local football team. | |||||
| 18 | 8 | "Baby Blues" | Catherine Morshead | Veronica Henry | 6 June 1993 |
| Marjorie Doubleday is convinced that her daughter-in-law, Rita, is neglecting her young grandson, which causes a rift in the family which gets a lot worse when the baby is abducted from outside the shop. Nick and the team are forced to investigate the possibility that Marjorie may have kidnapped her own grandson. But the residents of Aidensfield think a gang of hippies are to blame, and the case becomes more complicated when Sarah Collins, a patient of Kate's who is unable to have children, is reported missing. Meanwhile, Greengrass buys a racehorse and begins training it up. But he once again incurs the wrath of Blaketon when the horse runs wild around the village. | |||||
| 19 | 9 | "Wall of Silence" | Terry Marcel | Jane Hollowood | 13 June 1993 |
| A series of break-ins across Aidensfield is the last thing Blaketon wants, especially whilst the chief constable is staying at Ashfordly Hall. Things get worse when the latest crime-spree hits the Ashfordly estate, leaving Nick caught in the middle of a feud between Lord Ashfordly and his former gamekeeper. Meanwhile, Kate discovers Susan Rawling is having an illegal abortion, and tries to convince her of the dangers that she may face. Susan ignores her advice and resorts to stealing from Greengrass to pay for it. However, when Susan is rushed to hospital, Kate makes a sickening discovery about the paternity of Susan's baby, leaving her questioning whether abortion may be the best option. | |||||
| 20 | 10 | "Missing" | Terry Marcel | Adele Rose | 20 June 1993 |
| The fair is visiting Aidensfield and caravan site owner Edna Plummer uses the fair as a meeting place for her criminal brother, who receives some stolen paintings that have been transported from Holland. One of the paintings falls into the hands of Greengrass, who attempts to get himself out of trouble by offloading them to Dr Ferrenby. However, Ferrenby forces him to tell Nick what is going on, and the unlikely pair join forces to nail Edna and her smuggler associates. Meanwhile, Claire Mercer, one of Kate's patients, tells her that she suspects her son, Michael, is connected to the disappearance of two five-year-old boys. | |||||
Series 3 (1993)
| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | 1 | "Speed Kills" | Terry Marcel | David Martin | 3 October 1993 |
| When a stash of drugs is stolen from the surgery and Dr. Ferrenby is left critically injured, Nick discovers drug problems are at an increase in Aidensfield when one of Gina's friends suffers an overdose, and the case unexpectedly reunites Blaketon with his estranged son, Graham. Meanwhile, Kate grows concerned when Mavis Briggs, a sufferer of multiple miscarriages, announces she is pregnant once again. Greengrass is not happy when his car is stolen by the men who robbed the surgery. | |||||
| 22 | 2 | "Riders of the Storm" | Tim Dowd | Brian Finch | 10 October 1993 |
| Blaketon asks Nick to keep an eye on Stevie Walsh, recently released from prison after ten years for armed robbery. But Stevie is the least of their troubles when a thunderstorm causes a train to crash, leaving many of its passengers injured, including Gina's brother and Stevie himself. As Nick, Greengrass and George attempt to rescue everyone, Stevie elopes and discovers his wife is pregnant by another man and goes looking for revenge. But when his wife goes into labour, Kate finds herself trapped, and in the middle of a violent confrontation. | |||||
| 23 | 3 | "Dead Ringer" | Tim Dowd | Johnny Byrne | 17 October 1993 |
| When a pawnbrokers is robbed in Ashfordly, Nick discovers Bellamy was supposed to be on the beat, but neglected his duty to go on a date. Investigating further, Nick finds the stolen items at a lock-up that is rented in Bellamy's name, and comes to the conclusion that someone is trying to frame his colleague. Blaketon is forced to suspend Bellamy, whilst Nick recruits Bellamy's date to help him clear the young officer's name. Meanwhile, Greengrass gets involved in a betting scam with ruthless businessman Jack Scarman, and spots a way to make money out of Scarman's greyhound. | |||||
| 24 | 4 | "Going Home" | Bob Mahoney | Johnny Byrne | 24 October 1993 |
| A German called Victor Kellerman arrives in Aidensfield with the intention of making life miserable for local landowner Mr Lessor. When he attacks Lessor, Nick intervenes and finds himself in the middle of a feud dating back to WWII. As Nick attempts to stop Kellerman from turning into a murderer, he unearths horrifying secrets about both men's involvement in the war that makes him question who the real villain is. Meanwhile, Dr Ferrenby dies whilst fishing, sending shockwaves through the village, and turning Kate's world upside down. Greengrass helps gypsies organise a bare-fist fight. | |||||
| 25 | 5 | "A Chilly Reception" | Catherine Morshead | Eric Wendell | 31 October 1993 |
| Nick and the team discover someone is out to sabotage a young woman's wedding, and when her ex-boyfriend makes a surprise return to Aidensfield declaring his love for her, suspicion falls on him. But Nick thinks otherwise. On the day of the wedding, the church is sabotaged, threatening the lives of everyone inside. Meanwhile, Kate receives a visit from her aunt Eileen and discovers she has inherited some money from her Uncle Henry. However, she refuses to take it. A suspicious Nick wonders what his wife is hiding. But Kate is unable to reveal her secret, knowing it would devastate her aunt, whilst an old friend of Greengrass's sells him stolen seafood which gives the villagers food poisoning. | |||||
| 26 | 6 | "The Frighteners" | Alan Grint | Brian Finch | 7 November 1993 |
| An elderly woman called Jane Thompson is receiving threatening phone calls and reports that someone is lurking outside her house at night. Nick suspects landowner Raymond Walker, who is desperate to get his hands on Jane's cottage. But Blaketon is certain Jane's ruthless, money-driven son-in-law, Eric, is the culprit. When Jane's cottage is sold and she is placed in a nursing home, Nick becomes personally involved in the case and sets out to nail Eric. Meanwhile, Greengrass takes the law into his own hands when he is nearly killed by a farmer whilst walking his dog on the moors. Ventress develops a strong bond with a kitten and hides it at the police station. | |||||
| 27 | 7 | "Father's Day" | Terry Marcel | Brian Finch | 14 November 1993 |
| When a DJ is assaulted at the village hall dance, Nick suspects drugs were being used. However, a witness claims that Blaketon's estranged son Graham is the attacker. Graham claims that he was trying to prevent the DJ for dealing drugs to youngsters. As Nick investigates Graham's claims and attempts to flush out any drug dealers in the village, Blaketon is finally forced to confront his mistakes with his ex-wife. Meanwhile, Greengrass delivers a note to Betty Such from her late husband, and discovers he has left her a large amount of money. The trouble is, it was buried along with his coffin, so Greengrass, Betty and Betty's son plot to retrieve the fortune. | |||||
| 28 | 8 | "Endangered Species" | Tim Dowd | Michael Russell | 21 November 1993 |
| When David Stockwell reports an illegal badger digging ring in the woods, his mother is involved in a hit-and-run accident. When Nick questions Mrs Stockwell, she insists that she fell, leaving Nick wondering if she is covering up for someone. Suspecting Mrs Stockwell's friend, Harry Capshaw, is up to no good, Blaketon is forced to allow David to work with the team to bring him down. Meanwhile, Greengrass sells shares of a racehorse to George, but he lands both of them in trouble with the other shareholders. Ventress is revising for his Sergeant's exam, and uses it to get out of working. | |||||
| 29 | 9 | "An American in Aidensfield" | Catherine Morshead | Peter Palliser | 28 November 1993 |
| An American motorcyclist called Charlie arrives in Aidensfield. He causes friction in the village when people express their views on outsiders. One of the residents who wants Charlie out of Aidensfield is a Korean war veteran called Laski. Charlie makes it clear he's going nowhere by starting a relationship with Gina. But it seems Laski has a very personal vendetta against Charlie, and with Nick struck down with flu, Blaketon and Bellamy must investigate this strange rivalry and put a stop to it. Meanwhile, Greengrass buys a couple of classic English motor bikes, and hopes to make a quick deal with Charlie's contacts, whilst Gina considers a life away from Aidensfield. | |||||
| 30 | 10 | "Bringing It All Back Home" | Bob Mahoney | Michael Russell | 5 December 1993 |
| Inspector Crossley arrives in Aidensfield and is not impressed when he discovers Nick is using the police house as a surgery, and Blaketon has taken leave to be with his son Graham before his trial. At the same time, the villagers head off to Whitby, where Gina hopes to boost her singing career. On the beach, Nick comes to the aid of a young girl, setting off a tragic chain of events. Meanwhile, Kate fears for her job as Crossley demands that she close the surgery at the house. However, she receives a job offer from Dr James Radcliff. But the job is in Whitby, and Nick makes it clear that he has no plans on leaving Aidensfield. Greengrass gets into trouble with the Inland Revenue, and Kate grows worried for his health. | |||||
Series 4 (1994)
| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | 1 | "Wild Thing" | Ken Horn | Michael Russell | 4 September 1994 |
| Inspector Crossley thinks that there is a wild animal that has escaped from a zoo (far away) and is attacking the local sheep; the joke is they blame a harmless dog. Dr Rowan finds a new job but runs into a problem with the receptionist. | |||||
| 32 | 2 | "Witch Hunt" | Catherine Morshead | Brian Finch | 11 September 1994 |
| Dr Rowan solves a case that the police inspector Crossley thought he was doing a good job with. | |||||
| 33 | 3 | "Mid Day Sun" | Baz Taylor | Jonathan Critchely | 18 September 1994 |
| A dog causes all the problems that could have been avoided if it had gone through quarantine after it came from another country. | |||||
| 34 | 4 | "Turn of the Tide" | Tim Dowd | Johnny Byrne | 25 September 1994 |
| PC Rowan goes undercover to catch some smugglers, leaving sergeant Blaketon on the beat breathing down Greengrass' neck trying to find what he is up to. Dr Rowan tries to help a teenage girl. | |||||
| 35 | 5 | "Love Child" | Ken Horn | Brian Finch | 2 October 1994 |
| A mother who gave up her child for adoption runs into problems. | |||||
| 36 | 6 | "Nice Girls Don't" | Baz Taylor | Jane Hollowood | 9 October 1994 |
| Gina gets followed home by another car, and the female police inspector makes it looks like she started it. | |||||
| 37 | 7 | "Trouble in Mind" | Tim Dowd | Johnny Byrne | 16 October 1994 |
| A man who lost his memory for eight years turns up in town. Greengrass is bothered by someone who got carried away with the plot of an Alfred Hitchcock movie. | |||||
| 38 | 8 | "Fair Game" | Matthew Evans | Veronica Henry | 23 October 1994 |
| A wife runs into trouble by having a lover. Greengrass is keen to get his hands on the belongings of someone who just died. | |||||
| 39 | 9 | "Red Herrings" | Ken Horn | Michael Russell | 30 October 1994 |
| A Russian sailor wants political asylum. Two children from a school class outing think they are doing good to stalk him. | |||||
| 40 | 10 | "Arms and the Man" | Tim Dowd | Jonathan Critchely | 6 November 1994 |
| A Second World War army officer has an old shed of old army surplus stock to make the show go off with a bang, but not before some children have a bit of fun. Greengrass shows how to fish with a hand grenade to get some quick money. Lord Ashfordly is not pleased the next morning with his fast-depleted stock level of trout. | |||||
| 41 | 11 | "Treading Carefully" | Catherine Morshead | Lizzie Mickery | 13 November 1994 |
| Roof lead is disappearing from around the village. Dr Rowan tells Nick she is pregnant. | |||||
| 42 | 12 | "Bad Blood" | Matthew Evans | Steve Trafford | 20 November 1994 |
| A man and his brother are always fighting, so his wife runs away. Gina gets a visit from a old friend. | |||||
| 43 | 13 | "Assault and Battery" | Tim Dowd | Freda Kelsall | 27 November 1994 |
| The night time painter has a hatred towards factory poultry farming. Greengrass gets egg on his face with his latest money earning scheme. | |||||
| 44 | 14 | "Lost and Found" | Ken Horn | Johnny Byrnes | 11 December 1994 |
| A man arrives in the village to find he's taken the wrong suitcase from the train, which uncovers a family secret. Greengrass dog race training for Alfred at the fair does not go to plan. | |||||
| 45 | 15 | "A Bird in the Hand" | Matthew Evans | Jonathan Critchely | 18 December 1994 |
| Greengrass sets out to trace a relative with Gina's help. A farmer has his sheep set loose. | |||||
| 46 | 16 | "A Winter's Tale" | Tim Dowd | Brian Finch | 25 December 1994 |
| A sick little boy would be best treated overseas, trees disappear and someone uses Greengrass's truck. | |||||
Series 5 (1995)
| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 47 | 1 | "Wishing Well" | Alister Halum | Johnny Byrne | 3 September 1995 |
| It is silly season for the bikies. Nurse Maggie Bolton appears and seems to be well known. The case of most of the missing gold bars is solved. | |||||
| 48 | 2 | "Expectations" | Tim Dowd | Lizzie Mickery | 10 September 1995 |
| Three boys get up to mischief. A Gipsy woman comes to town and puts a hex on Greengrass. | |||||
| 49 | 3 | "Thief in the Night" | Tim Dowd | Jane Hollowood | 17 September 1995 |
| Petrol disappears from cars. PC Rowan has to attend to his wife after they get a daughter. | |||||
| 50 | 4 | "Domestic" | Allister Halum | Brian Finch | 24 September 1995 |
| It's about six weeks later. Ruby Rowan is back. Two neighbors get a peace plan thanks to PC Rowan. Greengrass is out of pocket again thanks to his nephew. | |||||
| 51 | 5 | "Vacant Possession" | Tom Cotter | John Stevenson | 1 October 1995 |
| A house is for sale that was promised to someone else. Ruby tries to light up Sgt Blaketon, but he is too slow to rush in. Eileen is back. | |||||
| 52 | 6 | "We're All Allies Really" | Ngozi Unwurah | Peter Tinniswood | 8 October 1995 |
| A German visits and ignites hatred. A couple make their 50th visit for their wedding anniversary, but the husband has had enough of the same thing every year. | |||||
| 53 | 7 | "Sophie's Choice" | David Innes Edwards | Rob Gittins | 15 October 1995 |
| A wife takes the car out on a joyride but her problems are far worse than that. Gina gets into pigeon racing. The father and daughter staying at the Aidensfield Arms make another worry. | |||||
| 54 | 8 | "Gone Tomorrow" | Graeme Harper | Freda Kelsall | 22 October 1995 |
| A electrical storm runs past the town and PC Alf Ventress sees a UFO that gets the police worried. | |||||
| 55 | 9 | "Toss Up" | David Innes Edward | James Robson | 29 October 1995 |
| A strange person with a bag over their head causes havoc in the town residences. A road accident causes an unneeded problem. | |||||
| 56 | 10 | "It's All in the Game" | Tom Cotter | Ron Rose | 5 November 1995 |
| The horse fixing game is what is on someone's mind. A past friend of PC Rowan comes to visit him. | |||||
| 57 | 11 | "Vigilante" | Graeme Harper | Brian Finch | 12 November 1995 |
| A house gets robbed, then, soon after, the husband has a heart attack. | |||||
| 58 | 12 | "Unfinished Business" | Tom Cotter | Jane Hollowood | 19 November 1995 |
| As Greengrass and David are digging the foundations for PC PC Alf Ventress' new home, a bomb is discovered. | |||||
| 59 | 13 | "Saint Columba's Treasure" | Gerry Mill | Jonathan Critchely | 26 November 1995 |
| Sergeant Blaketon follows Greengrass into a cave, who is looking for lost history. There is a cave-in; they both get out, but then Blaketon has the bed next to Greengrass in hospital. | |||||
| 60 | 14 | "Sitting off the Dock of the Bay" | John Darnell | Rob Gittins | 3 December 1995 |
| PC Rowan becomes a DJ with the local pirate radio station. Greengrass runs into problems making his own whiskey. | |||||
| 61 | 15 | "Blood Sport" | Gerry Mill | Brian Finch | 10 December 1995 |
| Sergeant Blaketon is more interested in the activities of the football club he is president of. A boy gets admitted to hospital; his father should have listened to Nurse Maggie Bolton. | |||||
Series 6 (1996)
| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 62 | 1 | "Kids" | TBA | TBA | 1 September 1996 |
| The police arrest a lout who beat up three officers at the pub.He manages to escape, and when his girlfriend is attacked in their home, he is the immediate suspect.But all isn't as it seems. Meanwhile, Greengrass angers a man who has friends in high places, and Nick's admiration for the local schoolteacher grows. | |||||
| 63 | 2 | "Old Colonials" | TBA | TBA | 8 September 1996 |
| The police try to get to the bottom of a spate of burglaries. Nick would like to see more of schoolteacher Jo, but their timing always seems to be off. Meanwhile, Greengrass' shady nephew comes visiting, along with an American 'business associate'. Greengrass can't resist the temptation to make a bit of money, but things soon go wrong. | |||||
| 64 | 3 | "Forget Me Not" | TBA | TBA | 15 September 1996 |
| A taciturn, brooding stranger moves into the village. Soon afterwards, his neighbour is the victim of a campaign of harassment that escalates into something sinister. | |||||
| 65 | 4 | "A Long Shot" | TBA | TBA | 22 September 1996 |
| Schoolteacher Jo suspects child abuse when one of her pupils begins misbehaving, and turning up with bruises.Greengrass' latest moneymaking scheme involves "borrowing" a stud horse, without its owner's permission. Meanwhile, PC Ventress has a run of bad luck while gambling, and finds himself short of money. | |||||
| 66 | 5 | "Something of Value" | TBA | TBA | 29 September 1996 |
| Ventress' gambling debts land him in serious trouble, when one of his associates is the prime suspect in the robbery of expensive wines. Lord Ashfordly catches Greengrass red-handed, with a sack full of poached game. | |||||
| 67 | 6 | "Frail Mortality" | TBA | TBA | 6 October 1996 |
| A love triangle leads to tragic consequences for the young lady caught in the middle. | |||||
| 68 | 7 | "Snapped" | TBA | TBA | 13 October 1996 |
| A fashion photographer brings a touch of glamour to Aidensfield, while the police officers have to deal with a hostage situation. Meanwhile, the path of true love is not running smoothly for Nick and Jo. | |||||
| 69 | 8 | "Catch Us If You Can" | TBA | TBA | 20 October 1996 |
| Two thugs are terrorising pubs and cafes around the district. Nick suspects that the vicious attacks might have something to do with rivalries in the jukebox provision business. The Aidensfield Arms lease a new jukebox and are soon a victim of the vandalism. | |||||
| 70 | 9 | "Giving the Game Away" | TBA | TBA | 27 October 1996 |
| A black man turns up in Aidensfield and is immediately suspected when a local farmer is assaulted and robbed.Meanwhile, Greengrass finds himself mixed up in the illegal sale of banned and dangerous pesticides.Nick's mother turns up unexpectedly, and is determined to get to the bottom of what went wrong between Nick and Jo. | |||||
| 71 | 10 | "The Championship" | TBA | TBA | 3 November 1996 |
| Nick meets Jo's parents, but their evening is interrupted when Nick is called out in an emergency. | |||||
| 72 | 11 | "Who Needs Enemies?" | TBA | TBA | 10 November 1996 |
| A young boy is assaulted, and Nick's investigation leads him to step on some very influential toes. Blaketon is worried that his job might be on the line due to a shakeup in the district police force. Meanwhile, Greengrass has a very bad day. | |||||
| 73 | 12 | "Thanks to Alfred" | TBA | TBA | 17 November 1996 |
| The police investigate when a woman estranged from her husband and children turns up dead.Greengrass lends his services to a boxing promoter. | |||||
| 74 | 13 | "Obsessions" | TBA | TBA | 1 December 1996 |
| Nick saves an attractive young woman from a fire, but she soon develops an unhealthy and dangerous obsession for him.Greengrass tries his hand at the tourism business, but things do not go according to plan. | |||||
| 75 | 14 | "The Best Laid Plans" | TBA | TBA | 8 December 1996 |
| An ex-convict returns to Aidensfield and tries to get her life back on track.However, she is soon visited by an unwelcome part of her prison past. Greengrass tries to turn a fast buck on some items he bought from a deceased old war hero. Nick and Jo take their relationship to the next level, but she is worried that Eileen doesn't approve. | |||||
| 76 | 15 | "Bygones Be Bygones" | TBA | TBA | 15 December 1996 |
| A suave businessman tries to convince several Ashfordly residents to invest their money with him, but Nick smells a rat.Several people receive anonymous letters revealing embarrassing secrets from their past. | |||||
| 77 | 16 | "Old Friends" | TBA | TBA | 22 December 1996 |
| PC Rowan & PC Bellamy go undercover to catch an escaped prisoner.An old friend of Eileen shows up to bring happy memories.Greengrass runs into problems with his fish suppliers. | |||||
| 78 | 17 | "Charity Begins at Home" | TBA | TBA | 25 December 1996 |
| Heavy snow threatens Ventress's debut as Father Christmas. Meanwhile, Nick and Jo witness a plane crash, but when they investigate, the pilot has gone. | |||||
Series 7 (1997–1998)
| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 79 | 1 | "Bad Apple" | TBA | TBA | 31 August 1997 |
| Nick and Jo announce their engagement and Greengrass enrages Sergeant Blaketon by standing bail for a notorious burglar. | |||||
| 80 | 2 | "Pig in the Middle" | TBA | TBA | 7 September 1997 |
| Macabre rumours circulate around Aidensfield when a constable disappears after a row with a pig farmer. | |||||
| 81 | 3 | "Small Beer" | TBA | TBA | 14 September 1997 |
| Jo's concern about an absentee schoolboy leads to a shocking discovery. | |||||
| 82 | 4 | "Closing Ranks" | TBA | TBA | 21 September 1997 |
| A series of violent muggings frustrates the force and poses an ethical dilemma for Nick. | |||||
| 83 | 5 | "Leaving Home" | TBA | TBA | 28 September 1997 |
| Wartime memories are stirred when an ex-soldier comes to the area for a holiday. | |||||
| 84 | 6 | "Fool for Love" | TBA | TBA | 5 October 1997 |
| Nick discovers the complicated history behind a well-dressed woman and her romance with a member of the community.Greengrass tries to help an Australian couple. | |||||
| 85 | 7 | "The Family Way" | TBA | TBA | 12 October 1997 |
| The repercussions of a car accident leave Nick struggling to keep the peace. | |||||
| 86 | 8 | "Friendly Fire" | TBA | TBA | 19 October 1997 |
| Nick suspects foul play when a lay preacher is injured in a shooting posse. | |||||
| 87 | 9 | "Sons and Lovers" | TBA | TBA | 26 October 1997 |
| Nick is plagued by an alcoholic aristocrat and Greengrass has plans for Ashfordly Hall. | |||||
| 88 | 10 | "Playing with Trains" | TBA | TBA | 2 November 1997 |
| The police investigate thefts from a fur factory and trespassers on a railway line. | |||||
| 89 | 11 | "What the Butler Saw" | TBA | TBA | 9 November 1997 |
| A schoolgirl witness a shooting on the moor and Greengrass sets up a pool competition. | |||||
| 90 | 12 | "Affairs of the Heart" | TBA | TBA | 16 November 1997 |
| Nick and Jo's Wedding day finally arrives, but the groom is stranded on the moors. Sergeant Blaketon's day of retirement is approaching, but he applies for a years extension of service. | |||||
| 91 | 13 | "Peace and Quiet" | TBA | TBA | 23 November 1997 |
| A new constable arrives, and Greengrass & Gina get caught up in an armed raid.Sergeant Blaketon struggles to come to terms with his impending retirement and receives bad news from his medical exam.He goes into hospital for more tests but has to wait another week for the results.Meanwhile, PCs Bradley, Bellamy and Ventress deal with the robbery at the pipeline compound, with the latter calling in support from Division after being unable to contact Blaketon.Once back in the loop, Blaketon intercepts the armed robbers, whose car crashes down an embankment and sets on fire. Greengrass is only seconds behind, and comes to his aid when he collapses and is rushed to hospital. | |||||
| 92 | 14 | "Substitute" | TBA | TBA | 30 November 1997 |
| Ventress faces up to some old enemies.Blaketon is recovering in hospital when Dr.Bolton informs him his days on the police force are over due to the risk of another heart attack. | |||||
| 93 | 15 | "In on the Act" | TBA | TBA | 7 December 1997 |
| A motorbike stunt rider becomes a target of sabotage, and Greengrass vows revenge when his beloved dog Alfred is dosed with rat poison. | |||||
| 94 | 16 | "The Queen's Message" | TBA | TBA | 21 December 1997 |
| When a TV repair man is beaten up, Nick finds no shortage of suspects. | |||||
| 95 | 17 | "Brainstorm" | TBA | TBA | 4 January 1998 |
| A death in custody puts Mike's career on the line. Meanwhile, Greengrass and Bernie move into the taxi business. | |||||
| 96 | 18 | "Bad Penny" | TBA | TBA | 11 January 1998 |
| An old flame of Mike's turns up in Aidensfield, and Greengrass loses his heart to an aristocratic lady poacher. | |||||
| 97 | 19 | "Appearances" | TBA | TBA | 18 January 1998 |
| A spate of burglaries results in a young woman being hospitalised.Meanwhile, Greengrass and Bernie try their hand at modern art. | |||||
| 98 | 20 | "Local Knowledge" | TBA | TBA | 25 January 1998 |
| The return of a notorious felon has Blaketon longing for his old job.Nick, Jo and Katie leave Aidensfield and go toCanada. | |||||
| 99 | 21 | "The Enemy Within" | TBA | TBA | 1 February 1998 |
| An old army friend of Blaketon causes havoc in the village and Greengrass gets into trouble when he innocently buys some stolen sheep. | |||||
| 100 | 22 | "Unconsidered Trifles" | TBA | TBA | 8 February 1998 |
| Blaketon finds himself at the wrong end of the law.Greengrass tries to cash in with some scrap motorcycles. | |||||
| 101 | 23 | "Heroes and Villains" | TBA | TBA | 15 February 1998 |
| A dog taking balls from a golf course for two boys leads onto worse things.A home birth makes Maggie and Neil reconcile their differences. | |||||
| 102 | 24 | "Love Me Do" | TBA | TBA | 22 February 1998 |
| A teenage girl goes missing after the local village dance. | |||||
Series 8 (1998–1999)
| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 103 | 1 | "Snake in the Grass" | TBA | TBA | 6 September 1998 |
| Gina returns to Aidensfield after her Uncle George's funeral. PC Mike Bradley investigates a mysterious case of food poisoning after a neighbourly dispute. Greengrass recovers a debt and finds himself the owner of a python. Gina's Aunt Mary arrives and tells Gina that George's last wish was for Gina to not be alone in the pub. | |||||
| 104 | 2 | "Fall Out" | TBA | TBA | 13 September 1998 |
| Mike has to make a dramatic rescue after a dangerous radioactive isotope goes missing.Greengrass turns babysitter — for a champion greyhound. | |||||
| 105 | 3 | "For Better or Worse" | TBA | TBA | 20 September 1998 |
| The Aidensfield police investigate a car accident that is not as simple as it seems.Neil and Maggie make a commitment. | |||||
| 106 | 4 | "Past Crimes" | TBA | TBA | 27 September 1998 |
| Respectable bank manager Tim McDonald mysteriously finds all the clocks in his home wound back by two hours(such that he was late for work by two hours). The Police find it was Carl Southall, but Carl's campaign of harassment against Tim escalates, and culminates in a bank robbery and an astonishing admission from Tim, from many years ago. Greengrass wants membership of the local golf club, and he gets in after a battle of wills with the Secretary about having "standards". But he regrets it less than a minute after being admitted. | |||||
| 107 | 5 | "Spellbound" | TBA | TBA | 4 October 1998 |
| The Aidensfield police investigate a series of mysterious events that appear to be a result of witchcraft. | |||||
| 108 | 6 | "Baby Love" | TBA | TBA | 11 October 1998 |
| Emotions run high as the police investigate the kidnap of a baby.Greengrass turns to inexperienced hands to help him concrete a drive. | |||||
| 109 | 7 | "Give a Dog a Bad Name" | TBA | TBA | 18 October 1998 |
| A new addition to the Police station leaves Bellamy feeling lovesick. | |||||
| 110 | 8 | "Hello, Goodbye" | TBA | TBA | 25 October 1998 |
| Mike uncovers a complex blackmail case. | |||||
| 111 | 9 | "Pat-a-Cake" | TBA | TBA | 1 November 1998 |
| A secret obsession is uncovered as the police investigate the kidnapping of a teenage girl which has an unexpected result. | |||||
| 112 | 10 | "Easy Rider" | TBA | TBA | 8 November 1998 |
| UFO sightings are linked to the mysterious death of a cyclist on the moors. | |||||
| 113 | 11 | "Hot Rocks" | TBA | TBA | 15 November 1998 |
| A series of jewellery robberies coincide with the return of Lord Ashfordly's sister and her new fiancé. | |||||
| 114 | 12 | "Shadows and Substances" | TBA | TBA | 22 November 1998 |
| Greengrass hatches a plan to save the village from nuclear annihilation. | |||||
| 115 | 13 | "Forbidden Fruit" | TBA | TBA | 29 November 1998 |
| Mike finds himself compromised by a romantic liaison. | |||||
| 116 | 14 | "Where There's a Will" | TBA | TBA | 6 December 1998 |
| Mike meets his match in feisty new solicitor Jackie Lambert, and Greengrass becomes a landlord. | |||||
| 117 | 15 | "Taking Sides" | TBA | TBA | 13 December 1998 |
| Maggie questions her marriage when Neil is accused of indecent conduct.Meanwhile, Greengrass organises a Civil War battle. | |||||
| 118 | 16 | "Echoes of the Past" | TBA | TBA | 24 December 1998 |
| A pregnant woman fears for her baby after a series of events lead her to believe that her house is haunted. | |||||
| 119 | 17 | "Twist of Fate" | TBA | TBA | 10 January 1999 |
| Accusations fly as Maggie is revealed to be the main beneficiary of a patient's will, and Greengrass has a talented visitor who can predict horse race results in his sleep. | |||||
| 120 | 18 | "The Angry Brigade" | TBA | TBA | 17 January 1999 |
| Lord Ashfordly underestimates the strength of local feeling about access to a footpath across his land. | |||||
| 121 | 19 | "Fire and Ashes" | TBA | TBA | 24 January 1999 |
| Tragedy strikes Aidensfield following a series of arson attacks.Meanwhile, Greengrass goes into the leisure business.Gina and Maggie take a short break away from Aidensfield, but Maggie gets a devastating shock when she returns. | |||||
| 122 | 20 | "All in the Mind" | TBA | TBA | 31 January 1999 |
| An eccentric old woman reports an abduction, and Greengrass meets an old friend with an unusual proposal. | |||||
| 123 | 21 | "Friends Like You" | TBA | TBA | 7 February 1999 |
| Gina finds herself accused of taking drugs as she attempts to rekindle her singing career. | |||||
| 124 | 22 | "Old Ties" | TBA | TBA | 14 February 1999 |
| A new restaurant is the target of sabotage and an old friend of Gina's comes to stay. Meanwhile, Greengrass thinks he has unearthed his fortune. | |||||
| 125 | 23 | "David Stockwell's Ghost" | TBA | TBA | 21 February 1999 |
| A snobbish couple recently returned from Africa find it hard to settle in the village, and David sees a car that appears to be driving by itself with no one at the wheel. | |||||
| 126 | 24 | "Testament" | TBA | TBA | 28 February 1999 |
| Mike and Jackie's future looks uncertain when Jackie's Uncle becomes a suspect in a hit-and-run accident. | |||||
Series 9 (1999–2000)
| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 127 | 1 | "Manoeuvres in the Dark" | TBA | TBA | 26 September 1999 |
| An army deserter goes on the run in Aidensfield and takes a hostage.Claude organises a dinner party which goes disastrously wrong and Oscar buys the Aidensfield Arms. | |||||
| 128 | 2 | "Tricks of the Trade" | TBA | TBA | 3 October 1999 |
| A flu epidemic causes havoc in Aidensfield, and Maggie has to make tough decisions when her baby Sam is put at risk. | |||||
| 129 | 3 | "Intuition" | TBA | TBA | 10 October 1999 |
| A mysterious house becomes the setting for a murder enquiry when an old woman is found dead.Mary decides to leave Aidensfield for a job as a hotel manager in Sidmouth. | |||||
| 130 | 4 | "Puppet on a String" | TBA | TBA | 17 October 1999 |
| Maggie worries that a young girl is about to have an illegal abortion, and Greengrass makes a promise to a dying friend. | |||||
| 131 | 5 | "Honour Among Thieves" | TBA | TBA | 24 October 1999 |
| Tom Drabble and Oscar Blaketon face off in a council election.But Tom is a friend of Greengrass, and Oscar has an old score to settle with Tom.Honor Gable moves in to write a book, but she has her sights set on Mike Bradley.A group of criminals on Community Service is ordered to clean up the river, but one of them keeps going missing. | |||||
| 132 | 6 | "Shotgun Wedding" | TBA | TBA | 31 October 1999 |
| Mike Bradley and Jackie Lambert get married, but one of the robbers from a train robbery almost scuttles the wedding ceremony.Greengrass's sister visits unexpectedly after her famous cricketer husband passes away. | |||||
| 133 | 7 | "Always a Copper" | TBA | TBA | 7 November 1999 |
| Greengrass rewrites local history in a bid to turn Aidensfield into a tourist mecca. | |||||
| 134 | 8 | "Negative Vibes" | TBA | TBA | 14 November 1999 |
| Greengrass arranges an unusual funeral, while a revelation about Jackie forces Mike Bradley to question his marriage. | |||||
| 135 | 9 | "Kindness of Strangers" | TBA | TBA | 21 November 1999 |
| A lonely old man is visited by a couple who have recently moved in locally, staying in a caravan | |||||
| 136 | 10 | "Hollywood or Bust" | TBA | TBA | 28 November 1999 |
| A famous film director & colleague visit Aidensfield, wishing to make a film at Ashfordly Hall and stay at the Aidensfield Arms.Local farmer Nathaniel Clegghorn defends his territory with his shotgun | |||||
| 137 | 11 | "Flesh and Blood" | TBA | TBA | 5 December 1999 |
| A local butcher's wife dies, and shortly after, a baby's skeleton is found in the attic. | |||||
| 138 | 12 | "No Surrender" | TBA | TBA | 12 December 1999 |
| Two farmers suffer vandalism.Gloria asks Claude and David to move some of her belongings. | |||||
| 139 | 13 | "Stag at Bay" | TBA | TBA | 19 December 1999 |
| Someone is slaughtering game from Lord Ashfordly's estate. At first, the motive is unclear (they do not seem to be selling venison on the black market), but it turns out to be a much more sinister motive. A recently divorced headmistress receives harassing (silent) telephone calls. | |||||
| 140 | 14 | "Full Circle" | TBA | TBA | 26 December 1999 |
| A mother wants to find her daughter she adopted out. Claude deliberately drops a note in the Aidensfield Arms to send the police off in the wrong direction. | |||||
| 141 | 15 | "The Seven Year Itch" | TBA | TBA | 2 January 2000 |
| Ray Nixon comes back to Aidensfield sometime after serving a 7-year jail sentence – Oscar Blaketon(the sergeant at the time) apologises for the heavy sentence handed out by the(unidentified) judge, despite Ray's evidence that implicated the other criminals. But then undesirable things happen at the Aidensfield Arms. Sergeant Jennifer Nokes takes over temporarily at Ashfordly Police Station. | |||||
| 142 | 16 | "Weight of Evidence" | TBA | TBA | 9 January 2000 |
| Sian Horrocks is raped after running out of petrol in an isolated area – Ben Ealham is the main suspect but the Police have trouble making the charge stick.Greengrass wins in a sheep racing contest, but finds he's fallen for a swindler. | |||||
| 143 | 17 | "For Art's Sake" | TBA | TBA | 16 January 2000 |
| Artist Joe Vaughan moves into Aidensfield, but is threatened by various hoodlums including some from his old town, Liverpool.When his house is burned down, the Liverpudlians jokingly say that he needs a lesson in how to use his barbecue.Blaketon discovers the real truth behind Andy Ryan. | |||||
| 144 | 18 | "A Shot in the Dark" | TBA | TBA | 23 January 2000 |
| Gary secretly visits Lyn at Ashfordly Hall, but gets shot while leaving. | |||||
| 145 | 19 | "The Good Doctor" | TBA | TBA | 30 January 2000 |
| Dr Ian Peters checks an accident victim, Sue, after a hit-run accident.Maggie Bolton gets fooled, but Andy Ryan knows the real truth behind the doctor. Greengrass tries to hire out "borrowed" bikes during a local race.David Stockwell reports an anonymous tip-off...by turning up to the Police station in person! | |||||
| 146 | 20 | "Against the Odds" | TBA | TBA | 6 February 2000 |
| Charlie Weller is found dead, and to everyone's surprise, Peggy Turner (and her daughter, Lottie, who are boarders in Charlie's house) is the beneficiary of his will – changed only one week before.Charlie's nephew – the previous beneficiary – Martin, is incensed. A council planning officer drums up support from Blaketon and others for an industrial estate near Aidensfield, but Blaketon isn't sure. | |||||
| 147 | 21 | "Desperate Measures" | TBA | TBA | 13 February 2000 |
| Lord Ashfordly has a horse stolen, and suspicion falls on Roy Brooks who was handed a suspended sentence for horse theft earlier that day.Bernie Scripps tells a phone caller... "I'm no longer in that line of business", and when Greengrass pries, Bernie tells him he used to be a psychic.Greengrass persuades Bernie to use this skill to locate some share certificates for a widow. | |||||
| 148 | 22 | "With this Ring" | TBA | TBA | 20 February 2000 |
| Police investigate when the week's payroll for the Ashfordly Estate workers goes missing. Julie confronts her husband, Frank McCready, about his gambling, and it escalates to a catastrophic event. Greengrass employs a rather creative interpretation of maritime law. | |||||
| 149 | 23 | "Wise Guys" | TBA | TBA | 27 February 2000 |
| Bernie Scripps persuades Greengrass to go into the mobile Fish 'n' Chips business – but comes up against stiff competition.A widow is being burgled and robbed repeatedly and Alf Ventress is sympathetic, but Oscar Blaketon wises up. | |||||
| 150 | 24 | "The Son-In-Law" | TBA | TBA | 5 March 2000 |
| Jackie Bradley's parents make a somewhat unexpected appearance, and they try persuading her to move to South Africa, as they don't approve of her marriage to Mike.A car, stolen off the Amsterdam Ferry, is driven into the river.Andy finally realises that he and Gina are not meant for each other and leaves Aidensfield.Meanwhile, a singer called Michael arrives helps Greengrass grows some orchids... not knowing what they really are. | |||||
Series 10 (2000–2001)
| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 151 | 1 | "Chalk and Cheese" | TBA | TBA | 22 October 2000 |
| Celia Hanson moves in to the farming village, but has trouble with her car, and her neighbour.Greengrass tries to make money from rubbish disposal, but is nearly killed himself. | |||||
| 152 | 2 | "Smile for the Camera" | TBA | TBA | 29 October 2000 |
| Anthony Smythe is comforted by Jackie Bradley(Lambert) after his father's death – but then Jackie (and Mike) start getting suspicious calls, and a prowler with a camera. The Smythe family engage Bernie Scripps and Greengrass for the funeral. | |||||
| 153 | 3 | "Dog Collar" | TBA | TBA | 5 November 2000 |
| Edith Benton leaves her poodle, Harvey, in Greengrass's care, and instructs him to enter it into the dog show. But then it gets away from David Stockwell, so they enter Alfred instead. Candlesticks and other items go missing from several churches, and when Alf Ventress runs a church errand for "Mrs Ventress", he gets knocked out stone cold. The Reverend's daughter is in love with the handyman, but the parents don't approve. | |||||
| 154 | 4 | "Gabriel's Last Stand" | TBA | TBA | 12 November 2000 |
| Aristocrat Gabriel Firth sacks Judd Holdsworth.He also puts the whole village off-side by barring access to the Heath (a public right-of-way on his land), because he has organised a private party on the same date as the annual village bonfire party.But then his house is vandalised and his car tampered with.Greengrass tries to make money off selling firecrackers.Phil Bellamy and Gina Ward warm to each other. | |||||
| 155 | 5 | "War Stories" | TBA | TBA | 19 November 2000 |
| A bunch of noisy old men descend on the Aidensfield Arms, which upsets a neighbour who complains of noise, and later accuses PC Phil Bellamy of 'collusion'. Even Sergeant Nokes thinks the complaint is overrated.To everyone's surprise/disbelief, it turns out that Alf Ventress was a commando during the war, and the noisy old men were in his unit, in town for a reunion. Greengrass organises for the men to go game shooting on Ashfordly Estate, but they hear a gunshot, and Matty Lovell is found dead in the forest. Mike Bradley had earlier found a half-burned letter from Lovell to Charlie Penwarden apparently confessing to fraud, but soon works out that letters can be burned in a deceptive manner. Greengrass gives his views on dying, which helps Maggie decide how to handle Graham's dying mother, Molly Rysinski(who wishes to leave hospital to die elsewhere, against Graham's wishes). Gina Ward "teaches" Phil Bellamy what 'collusion' means. | |||||
| 156 | 6 | "The Fool on the Hill" | TBA | TBA | 26 November 2000 |
| Enid is in Aidensfield to visit her son for his birthday, and visit her friend, Greengrass, who relays a bet for her.Enid witnesses an assault(while walking on a hill) and reports it at the Police station...only Craddock is reluctant to take the report – as it turns out, Enid is his mother, who has a habit of making things up! But the assault is confirmed when a woman matching the description collapses at the Aidensfield Arms and is admitted to hospital.The perpetrator is a lot closer to home than you would think.Enid's bet was a winning one, but Greengrass can't find the ticket, and he(with David Stockwell) spends a night in the cells while trying to find the ticket. | |||||
| 157 | 7 | "The Traveller" | TBA | TBA | 3 December 2000 |
| Nat Cooper and Peter Corcoran are two bumbling robbers.After a failed robbery, Peter accidentally shoots Nat in the foot, and they split.Peter hitches a ride with "The Traveller" Johnny Lee, but is soon picked up by the Police. Johnny is not amused when Nat breaks into the Aidensfield Arms.Claude Greengrass helps organise an illegal trap-racing meeting in the streets of Aidensfield. | |||||
| 158 | 8 | "Child's Play" | TBA | TBA | 10 December 2000 |
| Edna Bostwick sees a light go out in Mrs Carlton's unoccupied house, and has a "terrible feeling", which she reports to the Police. They check the house, finding nothing, and are not further interested, until nurse Maggie Bolton comes across an intruder (a young boy) in that house while running an errand. But this is no ordinary burglary, when PC Mike Bradley checks a school jacket left behind. It's from a boarding school some distance away, where the boy's name is given as Tom Bamber. There's a further twist with John Monks, a House Master(teacher) from the school, who is hunting Tom down.Bernie Scripps meets an old friend, Stanley Leroy, who says he can run tours to meet various singers and stars.The arrival of Phil Bellamy's former flame, Sue Driscoll, complicates his romance with Gina Ward. A romance starts up between Maggie Bolton and Graham Rysinski (from "War Stories"). | |||||
| 159 | 9 | "Fallen Heroes" | TBA | TBA | 17 December 2000 |
| Danny Reese is hospitalised after a car accident, but when he gets out of hospital and claims his belongings from the Police station, a suitcase containing £18,000 is missing.It appears someone is playing Robin Hood, as anonymous envelopes containing money, with detailed letters, start arriving for people like Henry Todd(to pay an overdue fine/penalties), a young mother(restitution for shoplifting, to avoid jail), and Hetty Roberts(travel fares to visit her husband's grave at The Somme). But Blaketon has suspicions about the money when he realises that Danny works at a casino in Leeds, with David Stockwell eventually being led into a trap. Phil Bellamy is led into a different kind of trap while romancing Gina Ward. | |||||
| 160 | 10 | "Cold Turkey" | TBA | TBA | 24 December 2000 |
| Gordon Stringer, the new manager of the local bank, is unpopular with the community, and Greengrass.His unpopularity centres around clamping down harshly on overdue loans, such as with Mr Dugdale, and cutting back benefits for bank employees.But he's also refusing to pay Greengrass for a paving job, claiming poor workmanship. When Mr Stringer's son goes missing, and a ransom note appears, the Police quietly investigates, and David Stockwell winds up in the thick of the action.But the perpetrator demanding the ransom turns out to be an opportunistic criminal.Phil Bellamy plays Father Christmas at the drawing of the pub raffle. | |||||
| 161 | 11 | "Sylvia's Mother" | TBA | TBA | 7 January 2001 |
| This episode is a bit different in that no lovable rogues appear, and also two completely unrelated crimes occur during the show.A Smith 'n' Chip (Fish 'n' Chip shop owned by Tony Smith) is burned down in an arson attack.Suspicion initially falls on Jack Hall, fiancé of Sylvia Smith(Tony's sister). Jack Hall is resentful against Tony Smith because he has never helped look after Sylvia's mother, who requires constant care. But then when Police delve into some electricity bills, a very interesting story emerges.An old flame of Oscar Blaketon, Ursula Donne, makes an appearance, but she goes for Lord Ashfordly (another old flame). She invites Lord Ashfordly into her consortium, Oscar works out that she cannot be trusted, but not quickly enough to save Lord Ashfordly.Maggie Bolton accepts a job at a hospital, so everyone throws a surprise leaving party. | |||||
| 162 | 12 | "Safe House" | TBA | TBA | 14 January 2001 |
| Jackie explains to David that Greengrass has gone to be with his sister, and has left Alfred, his property and his truck to David.Mike is asked to provide a safe house for mentally ill man who is due to give evidence in court in 3 days, but some men are out to kill him before the court day comes. Meanwhile, Bernard's step brother Vernon Scripps arrives in Aidensfield, having not seen his brother in 15 years. | |||||
| 163 | 13 | "Blind Justice" | TBA | TBA | 21 January 2001 |
| A young hoon(Richard Finlay) runs Lord Ashfordly off the road, and is picked up for speeding shortly after.But he is reluctantly released by Sgt Craddock when it emerges that his mother is Craddock's dance tutor, whom he fancies. But when Richard clips a bicycle in a hit-and-run, the police are forced to act. When Richard is brought before the court, he is found not guilty, by judge James Green. But there's more to the judge than meets the eye.Lord Ashfordly had managed to drive off again, but his petrol tank was punctured, so he organises the mechanics at Scripps Garage to fix it.But the trusted Bernie Scripps is out of town, and he needs his Bentley repaired for a wedding in two days' time. | |||||
| 164 | 14 | "Home Truths" | TBA | TBA | 28 January 2001 |
| A collapse at a quarry mine puts a worker(Jacob Fairbrother) in hospital and starts a war of words between him and the mine's boss (Joe Henderson) about unpaid wages (four weeks' worth) and compensation.And then Joe's wife is found bludgeoned to death. Jackie Bradley (Lambert) agrees to act for Jacob Fairbrother but that puts her offside with Edwina, her mother – who is good friends with the Henderson's.Vernon Scripps' attempt to go into the catering business causes a power blackout in Ashfordly, and PC Phil Bellamy's relationship with Gina Ward raises a few eyebrows, and he is warned that a Police officer is not permitted to marry a pub licensee. | |||||
| 165 | 15 | "Not So Special" | TBA | TBA | 4 February 2001 |
| Mrs.Barton is having trouble maintaining her farm despite having Jed Harrison to help.She's also complained about a prowler late at night. Mrs Barton's niece, Glenda Marriot, is trying to make her sell the farm and move into an old people's home (there's also a war of words about Mrs Barton letting the farm get into such disrepair). David Stockwell volunteers to drive her horse to the auctions(because Jed is not available), but when David crashes, the Police are mystified.There's a new Special Constable (Harold Emney) in town, but he turns out to be a loose cannon. Alf Ventress sees Gina Ward leaving the Maternity Ward of the hospital, and everyone except Gina and romantic suitor Phil Bellamy finds out that she's "pregnant". But it's much simpler than that, unlike the prowler/motor crash mystery. There's an illegal Hot Rod race in town, and like anything that looks like money, Vernon Scripps is involved. | |||||
| 166 | 16 | "The Long Weekend" | TBA | TBA | 11 February 2001 |
| Vernon Scripps goes into the bodyguard business, and his first customer is Lord Ashfordly who wants him to protect a Russian guest, Prince Nikolas.The Bradley's also have guests, Mike's teenage niece Anne, and her friend Louise, who turn out to be hippies.There's lots of drugs and booze in this episode, and Louise nearly dies for it, only saved by Dr Summerbee who has moved into Dr Neil Bolton's old practice.Phil Bellamy tries to organise a romantic proposal to Gina Ward, and even resigns from the Police force in preparation, but a series of mix-ups doesn't help. | |||||
| 167 | 17 | "Who's Who?" | TBA | TBA | 18 February 2001 |
| Lord Ashfordly has guests Andrew Parkin(the High Sheriff) and wife Sonia for a dinner, but Andrew makes a very unwelcome advance to young Susie Cope, one of the Lordship's servants, and she knees him. After the dinner, a farmer, Colin Taylor is run down. It appears that Sonia Parkin was driving, but PC Mike Bradley discovers Sonia isn't insured(which is illegal in England) and Andrew was visibly drunk.Susan Cope is asked to be a witness, until hired Private Investigator Oscar Blaketon is told she was sacked(not for kneeing Andrew). Vernon Scripps re-enters the match-making business, which gets unwelcome results.Phil's proposes to Gina, but she is silent. | |||||
| 168 | 18 | "Gin a Body, Meet a Body" | TBA | TBA | 25 February 2001 |
| David Stockwell finally gets a telephone installed, but finds he's on a two-party line with Edith Fairley who has recently moved in nearby and always using the line. This means he and Vernon can't get any bookings for a start-up Taxi business.And then ex-husband Jack Fairley turns up, hunting Edith down.Local hooligan Harry North, with his mate and girlfriend, causes trouble in Aidensfield/Ashfordly, including an attempted armed robbery.PC Mike Bradley has to use some imagination to nail them, and Vernon Scripps also uses imagination(and a dead body, courtesy of his brother's funeral business) to deal with Jack. It turns out that Gina rejected Phil's proposal, so Phil rejoins the police force, and lands straight into an accusation he beat up Harry. | |||||
| 169 | 19 | "Killing Me Softly" | TBA | TBA | 4 March 2001 |
| Police are mystified when counterfeit money keeps turning up, with no apparent links between the unwitting business victims, until ex-casino barman John Garrick is arrested for passing some counterfeit notes at the Aidensfield Arms.At first he is uncooperative, but he strikes a deal with Police to trap the real villains, Renalto Pisconi, his father-in-law Reginald White (owner of the casino), and third partner Denise, before they can branch out across the country and abroad with their counterfeit money distribution.Oscar Blaketon investigates an illicit affair.Given that Oscar's car is beyond repair from last episode (#168), and his dream of owning a sports car, Vernon Scripps sells him a red hot MG A, but detectives from Middlesbrough come looking. | |||||
| 170 | 20 | "Unchained Melody" | TBA | TBA | 11 March 2001 |
| Patricia Brewster and her "partner" Hal Tadcaster are staying at Ashfordly Estate(although Patricia wishes that he would just buzz off). The Police suspect Hal Tadcaster of drug trafficking, but the Chief Constable won't allow a phone tapping permit. The Postal Service (Royal Mail) goes on strike so Vernon Scripps goes into the courier business. "Anything, anywhere, anytime" is his motto, but "anything" includes live animals, and as for "anywhere", Hal Tadcaster wants a courier delivery to London! Jackie Bradley's friend, Caroline, visits (and Jackie is surprised to learn she's had a baby). But it soon becomes apparent that she's not coping with looking after the baby.She leaves the baby with Jackie & Mike, but it disappears, sparking a big search.The mystery is only solved when Patricia collapses at Ashfordly Hall. | |||||
| 171 | 21 | "Truth Games" | TBA | TBA | 18 March 2001 |
| Adrian Miller is giving lectures all over the country, but when he is accused of brutally raping Lisa Preston in a hotel room, he is arrested overnight.His bail conditions means he cannot travel far from Aidensfield (London is definitely out of the question), which is rather inconvenient.He doesn't like the solicitor he's been "given", namely Jackie Bradley.But Mike becomes suspicious about the case when he finds Lisa has given him a wrong telephone number.And he sees several similar cases around Yorkshire. And then there's a demand for hush money: "£500 to drop the case". David Stockwell and Vernon Scripps take on a ploughing job for George Walker, but David's bumbling efforts lead him to discover a "body" in a hidden car in the barn – which only turns out to be a bust (statue), which leads Vernon onto a case of insurance fraud of more than one kind. After the dust has settled, Adrian starts fancying Jackie. | |||||
| 172 | 22 | "Consequences" | TBA | TBA | 25 March 2001 |
| Two explosions rock Aidensfield, and aFord Transit was seen leaving the scene of each of the explosions. Police investigate, and learn that in the days prior to each blast, each victim had received a ransom-style note (a warning, but no demands), and anonymous (silent) phone calls, so they treat both cases as attempted murder. Then they learn from Forensics that the villain has used PE4 explosive devices stolen from a nearby Army base. Rev. Ronald Meeks meets Lord Ashfordly to investigate the structural integrity of St Judes, a disused church, and subsequently engages Vernon Scripps and David Stockwell to remove all the heavy material inside the church. And he wants to find a valuable font that he knows is (or rather, was) in the church. But David remembers that Greengrass got it earlier, so they get it, expecting a big reward. But then can anyone trust the Reverend? Oscar starts getting silent phone calls, but when Gina gets a ransom-style note, she gets worried. But then she remembers the connection between her and the other two victims. Jackie is hard at work on a divorce case, as it happens, for the assumed villain. | |||||
| 173 | 23 | "The Buxton Defence" | TBA | TBA | 1 April 2001 |
| Lord Ashfordly is expecting a visit from Russian chess champion Leonid Vorodin, and asks the Police for a permanent presence.However Sgt Craddock is not impressed when some valuable/antique chess sets go missing, with no sign of forced entry into Ashfordly Estate, despite PCs Ventress and Bellamy watching(admittedly there was extremely thick fog). PC Mike Bradley remembers a string of similar cases of burglaries with no sign of forced entry over the past six months.A ransom note for the missing chess pieces turns up, so Mike starts recording all incoming telephone calls to Lord Ashfordly, which eventually leads Mike to thwart an attempted kidnapping.Vernon Scripps spreads rumours about ghosts, dry rot, and explains the awful stench "from the neighbour's piggery" amongst potential purchasers when Claude Greengrass arranges to sell his place(where Vernon and David are living). Mike has trouble getting hold of his wife Jackie, which makes him a bit puzzled. | |||||
| 174 | 24 | "Still Water" | TBA | TBA | 8 April 2001 |
| Vernon has an old friend, Dilys Powell, drop in on him, and gets an idea to sell bottled water from a spring on her property, as it seems to promote longevity.But there are a few obstacles to his plan, including a shotgun, an unfavourable analyst's report, and even the issue of who the water belongs to. Bill Dyer confronts the local auctioneer, Giles Sutton, accusing him of rigging the livestock market (organising, or permitting, the four dominant buyers of livestock to take turns at bidding, leading to low prices). In frustration, he smashes two car windscreens, and during his arrest, he explains the rigged market to Mike Bradley (as above). Fortunately, the two car owners do not press charges (one preferring compensation). And Mike decides to investigate the auction process. This leads to Mike being accused of "accepting" a bribe from Mr Sutton, and CID getting involved. Jackie guns for Mike with his superiors, but on the way home she reveals that she has been seeing Adrian Miller (from episode #171), and leaves Mike (saying that she felt suffocated in Aidensfield). | |||||
Series 11 (2001–2002)
| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | UK viewers (millions) [1] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 175 | 1 | "Sweet Sixteen" | Paul Walker | Jane Hollowood | 28 October 2001 | 12.03 |
| Ashfordly Police Station is targeted in a series of violent attacks ahead of an inspection, putting one of the officer's lives at risk and causing a panicked Craddock to take matters into his own hands. Meanwhile, Tricia finds herself in trouble with a horde of angry parents when she prescribes a contraceptive pill to a 16-year-old girl. Elsewhere, Vernon and David fall out when strange events occur at the cottage, until they discover they have a new house guest, whilst Bellamy moves in with a depressed Mike after Jackie's departure. | ||||||
| 176 | 2 | "She's Leaving Home" | Noreen Kershaw | Johnny Byrne | 4 November 2001 | 11.67 |
| Tricia turns to Mike for support as she faces disciplinary action for supplying the contraceptive pill to teenage girls, and a reporter fishing for dirt on the controversial story causes further trouble for the village doctor, while Carl Lomax escapes from custody after he is charged for the attack on Ashfordly Police Station, and goes on the run with his girlfriend.Meanwhile, Vernon plans to bring the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas to Aidensfield when he purchases some second hand slot machines, which prove to be quite a success in the Aidensfield Arms. | ||||||
| 177 | 3 | "Russian Roulette" | Jonas Grimas | Brian Finch | 11 November 2001 | 11.61 |
| An MI5 agent arrives in Aidensfield and shows more than just a passing interest in the activities of Vernon and his new business partner, a shady Russian businessman with a past grievance with the entrepreneur.Meanwhile, Tricia treats a manic depressive who deals with his demons by walking onto railway lines, whilst Mike decides to sit his sergeants exam when he comes across an old friend whose career has been a lot more ambitious than his. | ||||||
| 178 | 4 | "Legacies" | Gerry Mill | Peter Gibbs | 18 November 2001 | 11.79 |
| A probationary constable called Tom Nicholson is transferred to Ashfordly station after an embarrassing incident in Scarborough, as the team spring into action when Lord Ashfordly's priceless African artefacts are stolen shortly before an African chieftain arrives in Aidensfield claiming the stolen artefacts belong to his tribe. Meanwhile, David takes charge of the taxi firm whilst Vernon is pre-occupied with yet another disastrous scheme, and deals with sick children, snakes - and shoplifting OAP's! | ||||||
| 179 | 5 | "Home Sweet Home" | Gerry Poulson | John Flanagan | 25 November 2001 | 12.16 |
| A series of crimes lead to a local nursing home, and Blaketon is asked to investigate the owner of the home by the son of a former patient when his mother and a number of residents die after leaving the owner everything in their will.Meanwhile, David gets a job clearing the houses of deceased people, but a mix-up with door numbers lead to him emptying the wrong house.Elsewhere, Tom causes a traffic jam when Craddock allows him to prove himself, whilst Tricia makes a confession to Gina about her feelings for Mike, and Ventress is driven mad when he is forced to spend time with his wife's aunt on her birthday. | ||||||
| 180 | 6 | "Old Masters" | Noreen Kershaw | Douglas Watkinson | 2 December 2001 | 11.85 |
| Ashfordly Hall opens its doors to the public as Vernon takes charge of a touring business, but all hell breaks loose when an 80-year-old art thief takes the opportunity to bow out on one last job.However, he's not the only one seeking Lord Ashfordly's Constable sketches, which lands both him and one of the Ashfordly officers in danger.Meanwhile, Ventress tries to salvage his reputation when a photo of him sleeping on the job is printed in the Ashfordly Gazette. | ||||||
| 181 | 7 | "The Rivals" | Paul Walker | Jane McNulty | 9 December 2001 | 12.05 |
| Ventress and Tom investigate a series of accidents at a carpet factory and must determine whether it was the result of negligence or sabotage, when a prodigal son returns to claim his inheritance and the vengeful former manager refuses to be dismissed without a fight.Meanwhile, Vernon spots a way to make money by organising a beauty pageant with the local WI, but councillor Joyce Jowett will stop at nothing to halt the event. | ||||||
| 182 | 8 | "Home to Roost" | Diana Patrick | Jayne Hollison | 16 December 2001 | 11.07 |
| A group of hippies colonise a row of derelict cottages, and the short-tempered landlord takes the law into his own hands, leaving a pregnant girl injured and her boyfriend hospitalised.As they attempt to resolve issues, the officers come under fire from Tricia after Tom's intervention causes trouble, and an undercover journalist desperate to hit the headlines seizes the opportunity to take advantage of the chaotic events. Meanwhile, Vernon's pottery enterprise takes a turn for the worst, leaving a reluctant David with the task of getting to grips with a potter's wheel. | ||||||
| 183 | 9 | "Uninvited Guests" | Paul Walker | Douglas Watkinson | 23 December 2001 | 10.64 |
| With Christmas around the corner, the villagers are in no mood for festivity when a salmonella epidemic grips Aidensfield and a hostage situation occurs involving the manager of a building society and her son, leaving both the police and the local hospital under increasing pressure.To make matters worse, Tricia finds evidence to suggest the epidemic originated at the Aidensfield Arms, setting off alarm bells for Blaketon and Gina.Meanwhile, Vernon expands Bernie's funeral empire by turning an isolated field into a pet cemetery, much to his brother's discomfort, and discovers there's a big demand for his new service. | ||||||
| 184 | 10 | "No Hiding Place" | Jonas Grimas | Brian Finch | 30 December 2001 | 11.00 |
| It's Christmas, and whilst Mike tries to reunite a blind women with her lost dog, Tricia receives a visit from an old friend, a beautiful actress trying to evade the paparazzi. Meanwhile, Vernon's promise to provide a Christmas tree for the villagers doesn't go according to plan when David has a small mishap with the Christmas lights. | ||||||
| 185 | 11 | "A Gentlemen's Sport" | Noreen Kershaw | Paul Quiney | 6 January 2002 | 8.94 |
| Blaketon is starstruck when a cricketing legend checks in at the pub, but looks set to have his illusions shattered when Mike investigates an armed robbery at a jewellers when the robber is the victim of a hit-and-run accident.Meanwhile, David inadvertently prompts a petrol crisis when he is left holding the fort at Bernie's garage. | ||||||
| 186 | 12 | "Closing the Book" | Diana Patrick | Johnny Byrne | 13 January 2002 | 9.18 |
| When an elderly man dies, Mike finds plans for a number of serious crimes amongst his possessions.As a number of them have already been committed, the team try to prevent the biggest of them all - a professional armed raid on the Ashfordly Bank. With the chance of promotion on the horizons, Craddock is unsure if he wants to accept and abandon his loyal team.A visit from his estranged wife presents the sergeant with another dilemma. Meanwhile, Vernon launches "Scripps Roaming Holidays", his latest venture involving wide-eyed tourists, gypsies caravans and erratic horses. | ||||||
| 187 | 13 | "The Leopard's Spots" | Roger Bamford | Peter Gibbs | 20 January 2002 | 10.28 |
| The new sergeant, Dennis Merton, arrives at Ashfordly Police Station under a cloud after his demotion from CID.As Shiner asks for the team's assistance in a stakeout operation, Ventress' shady past comes back to haunt him when he arrests a reformed criminal's son for driving without a licence. Meanwhile, Vernon appoints himself as manager of a naive trainee boxer after Tricia encourages an out-of-condition David to join the gym. | ||||||
| 188 | 14 | "From Ancient Grudge" | Noreen Kershaw | Andrew McCulloch | 27 January 2002 | 10.62 |
| Mike and Ventress are convinced something ghastly is afoot when a long-buried farming feud becomes linked to a series of violent crimes, and both sides are united in their reluctance to involve the constabulary.Meanwhile, Joyce Jowett poses a threat to another of Vernon's madcap schemes when he tries to open up a cinema in the village. | ||||||
| 189 | 15 | "The Great Ming Mystery" | Paul Walker | Jane Hollowood | 3 February 2002 | 11.15 |
| Blaketon is hired to find a priceless stolen Ming belonging to a senile Colonel whilst Merton and the team are pre-occupied with the arrival of a mysterious V.I.P.Tricia suspects the Colonel's money-driven son as he is intent on whisking his father off to a retirement home and taking over his estate, whilst Gina starts acting like Aidensfield's answer to Mata Hari when Blaketon becomes wary of a guest at the pub. | ||||||
| 190 | 16 | "Second Chances" | Diana Patrick | Douglas Watkinson | 10 February 2002 | 10.62 |
| Merton cross swords with an old adversary who sheds some light on the circumstances surrounding his demotion from CID when a man who has been presumed dead for 20 years returns to Aidensfield and seems to have not aged a day.Meanwhile, Vernon and David enter the world of vineyards when they befriend a young Frenchman who thinks their cottage is the perfect place for wine-making.Elsewhere, Blaketon organises a treasure hunt to raise money for a local playground and inadvertently acts as cupid for Mike and Tricia. | ||||||
| 191 | 17 | "Sympathy for the Devil" | Roger Bamford | Jeff Dodds | 17 February 2002 | 9.92 |
| Mike befriends a desperate women called Sue, who seems to be running scared, when her unruly daughter causes mischief in the village.With a ruthless reporter intent on making life difficult, Mike finds himself with mixed feelings when he looks into Sue's dark past, with heartbreaking consequences. Meanwhile, Vernon pushes Bernie too far when he decides there's money to be made from goat's milk. | ||||||
| 192 | 18 | "Coming of Age" | Gerry Mill | Andrew McCulloch | 24 February 2002 | 10.93 |
| The villagers plan a surprise party for Tom's 21st birthday, but the celebrations are delayed as the team pursue two dangerous criminals. After Bellamy's life is placed in mortal peril, Tom plays the hero, saving his colleague's life but putting his own at risk. With one officer in a critical condition and another locked in a hostage stand-off, Merton takes a big risk, setting in motion a heartbreaking chain of events that leaves everyone in devastation. Meanwhile, Vernon steps in as the agent of a brass band and can't resist blowing his own trumpet after hiring them out to Lord Ashfordly to play for a group of American war veterans. | ||||||
| 193 | 19 | "Love Hurts" | Bren Simson | John Flanagan | 3 March 2002 | 10.32 |
| As the officers mourn Tom's loss, Merton is suspended after his new girlfriend makes an allegation of theft against him. As Ventress gets his feet under the table as acting sergeant, Mike risks being suspended himself by teaming up with Blaketon in a private investigation to clear his sergeant's name.Meanwhile, Vernon is concerned by Bernie's frequent visits to the surgery, until he discovers his brother has fallen in love with receptionist Jenny. | ||||||
| 194 | 20 | "Windows of Opportunity" | Paul Walker | Douglas Watkinson | 10 March 2002 | 9.05 |
| Blaketon and Joyce Jowett become rivals in the election for parish councillor, with both doing their utmost to outdo and discredit each other.David becomes caught in the middle of their battle when they both ask him to help raise support from villagers. Meanwhile, the officers are on the trail of a burglar who only steals objects of sentimental value from people's homes, and Tricia's health takes a turn for the worst when she and Jenny organise a fitness class for the local women. | ||||||
| 195 | 21 | "The Shoot" | Noreen Kershaw | Brian Finch | 17 March 2002 | 9.40 |
| Trouble brews with the locals when a shady businessman with a wandering eye and his antagonistic wife join Lord Ashfordly for a shooting party at Ashfordly Hall.Meanwhile, Vernon's latest tourist enterprise looks set to end in disaster when David tears through Aidensfield like a tornado in a US Army Halftrack whilst taking Gina and Jenny for a spin. | ||||||
| 196 | 22 | "Class Act" | Roger Bamford | Peter Gibbs | 31 March 2002 | 9.95 |
| Merton and his men deal with a protective father who turns to crime to make his young daughter happy, and puts a schoolteacher in serious danger when a schoolgirl crush escalates out of control.Meanwhile, Vernon is driven mad when David inherits a ventriloquist's dummy, and decides the show must go on when the dummy comes with a list of bookings. Elsewhere, Gina takes a shine to a charismatic guest at the pub. | ||||||
| 197 | 23 | "Caught in the Headlights" | Jonas Grimas | Peter Gibbs | 7 April 2002 | 11.89 |
| After attending one of Lord Ashfordly's dinner parties with a handsome businessman, Gina awakes the next morning in her car in the grounds of Ashfordly Hall to find that she is the prime suspect in a hit-and-run accident. Meanwhile, Vernon is asked to act as a chauffeur for two wayward teenage girls by their protective father. However, he soon gets tired of hanging around discos, and makes a grave error when he asks David to take over. | ||||||
| 198 | 24 | "Love's Sweet Dream" | Gerry Mill | Jane Hollowood | 14 April 2002 | 10.40 |
| As Mike finally contemplates a future with her, Tricia puts her own life in danger when she tries to save a mother and son from a serious case of domestic abuse.Meanwhile, Vernon teams up with an old flame for his next big scheme - catering for funerals.However, his new venture soon sees him come into conflict with Gina and Blaketon, and he gets the shock of his life when he discovers that he may have a long-lost daughter.Elsewhere, Merton's latest crime prevention initiative, doesn't go down to well with Bellamy and Ventress. | ||||||
Series 12 (2002–2003)
| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | UK viewers (millions) [1] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 199 | 1 | "Skeletons and Cupboards" | Noreen Kershaw | John Flanagan | 6 October 2002 | 10.73 |
| When the team investigate a murder at a quarry, Ventress faces a few awkward questions about his murky past when the prime suspect turns out to be a major criminal whom he certified as dead 15 years previously.Meanwhile, Vernon surprises everyone by getting a "real" job at a department store after Blaketon issues him with a few home truths about his lifestyle.However, the entrepreneurial side of him re-awakens when the store is threatened with closure.Elsewhere, Tricia returns to work following her heart attack, and Mike's constant fussing makes it difficult for the village doctor to regain her confidence. | ||||||
| 200 | 2 | "A Girl's Best Friend" | Albert Barber | Gillian Richmond | 13 October 2002 | 10.48 |
| Mike and Bellamy uncover a heartbreaking tale of domestic abuse and family tragedy when they investigate a spate of unusual burglaries and learn that money can't buy a person happiness. Meanwhile, Vernon experiments with hypnotism when he tries to put an end to Gina's arachnophobia, but it soon backfires and has a very strange after-effect on David, while Merton and Jenny discover a mutual love of jazz. | ||||||
| 201 | 3 | "A Dog's Life" | Gerry Mill | Susan Wilkins | 20 October 2002 | 10.51 |
| Merton predicts an uneventful few days when the County Sheepdog Trials take place at Ashfordly Hall, but he is proven wrong when the prestigious event brings out the worst in one particular influential candidate, who hatches a plan to eliminate his rivals. Meanwhile, Vernon tries to impress Lord Ashfordly by organising the toilet facilities for the sheepdog trials, but he soon discovers the job entails more than putting up a tent or two. | ||||||
| 202 | 4 | "Where There's Muck" | Judith Dine | Douglas Watkins | 3 November 2002 | 9.85 |
| Merton and Mike are left to pick up the pieces when a bankrupt farmer heads into Aidensfield to air his grievances in a memorable way when he is abandoned by everyone closest.Meanwhile, David's Auntie Beth's horseradish sauce becomes the subject of Vernon's latest get-rich-quick scheme, whilst Blaketon's warnings fall on deaf ear when Gina begins a whirlwind romance with a dangerous criminal. | ||||||
| 203 | 5 | "Harmony" | Noreen Kershaw | Peter Gibbs | 10 November 2002 | 11.80 |
| Merton's singer-songwriter cousin arrives in Aidensfield with the aim of settling down after an eventful career, but her aspiring daughter disrupts her peaceful retirement when she falls pregnant. Meanwhile, Bellamy pursues a dangerous armed robber whom he single-handedly captured when the villain escapes whilst being transferred to Manchester, and David finds himself fending off the advances of a grieving daughter when an old man dies in his taxi. | ||||||
| 204 | 6 | "No Man's Land" | Paul Walker | Peter Gibbs | 17 November 2002 | 12.10 |
| Mike may live to regret ignoring a belligerent landowner's complaints when he takes the law into his own hands to deal with a group of ramblers who assume his land is a tourist spot. Meanwhile, Vernon undergoes a complete personality change when he receives a bang on the head following a minor car accident in Ventress' car, turning him from a money-driven disaster area to a pillar of the community.Whilst his many creditors are delighted by this radical change, David is left pining for the return of "the real Mr Vernon". | ||||||
| 205 | 7 | "Dirty Len" | Albert Barber | Jane Hollowood | 24 November 2002 | 11.21 |
| The team fear a killer is on the loose when a labourer known as "Dirty Len" dies of strychnine poisoning.A tragic chain of events are set in motion when Ventress establishes a connection to another suspicious death that took place on the same farm years previously.Meanwhile, David is led on a wild goose chase by his lurcher Alfred when he provides transport for a party of pensioner's day out in Whitby, whilst a local vet becomes caught in the middle of Jenny and Merton's rocky relationship. | ||||||
| 206 | 8 | "Growing Apart" | Jonas Grimas | Candy Denman | 1 December 2002 | 11.38 |
| A spate of tractor thefts has Mike and Bellamy running round in circles, but as Merton comes to suspect it's all an elaborate insurance fraud, matters take a turn for the worse. The robbers target Steve Calthrop's farm, and the loss of such a valuable piece of equipment proves to be the straw that breaks the camel's back, prompting a volatile domestic dispute and putting Tricia in mortal danger. Meanwhile, Vernon sets himself up in the landscape gardening trade. As usual, it's David who ends up doing all the work, which Vernon may live to regret when his hapless house mate tries to impress him by purchasing a Greek statue on the cheap. | ||||||
| 207 | 9 | "Many Splendoured Thing" | Roger Bamford | Susan Watkins | 8 December 2002 | 11.75 |
| There's much excitement in Aidensfield as Lord Ashfordly returns with a new wife in tow and throws a spectacular Christmas party to celebrate his marriage, and the villagers are pleasantly surprised when they discover how glamorous and charming she is. However, all is not well for the newly-weds as a series of violent hijackings leaves them shaken. Merton assigns Mike to act as a personal bodyguard for his Lordship's new lady, but the intrepid officer's suspicions are soon aroused by the blushing bride's decidedly odd behaviour.Meanwhile, Vernon's Christmas tree delivery service suffers a blow when David crashes the van, and the pair inadvertently jeopardise the future of Bernie's garage when Joyce Jowett requires their funeral service for her sister. | ||||||
| 208 | 10 | "Horses for Courses" | Noreen Kershaw | John Flanagan | 15 December 2002 | 10.80 |
| Mike joins forces with Scotland Yard when a gang of thieves turn up in Aidensfield, apparently plotting to steal a valuable horse from local trainer Kieron Doyle.When Tricia becomes linked with Kieron, the heroic copper doggedly pursues his quarry to the detriment of his relationship with the village doctor, leading to a tragic outcome with repercussions for everyone in Aidensfield.Meanwhile, Vernon is delighted when his long-lost sister Georgina arrives in Aidensfield.The female Scripps immediately sets hearts racing, especially with Lord Ashfordly. Vernon's attempt to take advantage of his sister's expensive lifestyle lands him in trouble when he discovers she hasn't been entirely honest regarding her recent divorce. | ||||||
| 209 | 11 | "Sins of the Father" | Terry Dydden-Jones | Brian Finch | 22 December 2002 | 11.58 |
| As the villagers mourn the passing of Tricia, a grief-stricken Mike loses his temper with an underage drinker in the pub, but it's the bobby who gets assaulted. The incident leads to the uncovering of a blackmail plot when the hooligan walks free from all charges thanks to his secret relationship with a local magistrate. Meanwhile, Vernon is delighted when an old flame pays him a visit asking him to help sell a priceless engagement ring, but his joy is short lived when her menacing husband turns out to be hot on her heels, bringing chaos in his wake. Elsewhere, Jenny is surprised by the rapid changeover at the surgery when Tricia's replacement, the elderly James Alway, turns up a day early. | ||||||
| 210 | 12 | "Bread and Circuses" | Jonas Grimas | Niel McKay | 29 December 2002 | 9.86 |
| Bellamy falls in love with a mugging victim, and the unlikely pair become the talk of the village as they go on a series of dates, but Bellamy learns a harsh lesson on reality when he discovers his new girlfriend is leading a double life, whilst Merton and the rest of the team attempt to track down porcelain figures stolen during a crime spree in Whitby.Meanwhile, Vernon persuades Lord Ashfordly to open up a wildlife park on his land with the assistance of a small circus, but they get more than they bargained for when a whole circus turns up and all the animals escape and run wild throughout Aidensfield. | ||||||
| 211 | 13 | "For Whom the Bell Tolls" | Noreen Kershaw | Peter Gibbs | 5 January 2003 | 11.77 |
| Blaketon is back in Aidensfield following his time away and immediately finds himself embroiled into a dangerous investigation when Lord Ashfordly calls on his P.I.services when explosives go missing from the local quarry ahead of a Defence Minister's official visit, causing tensions to boil over and putting the former sergeant in mortal peril when he crosses swords with a deadly new foe. Meanwhile, Vernon, Bernie, David and Dr Alway become bell ringers at the local church, but they soon upset a local man when their practice sessions interfere with the sale of his cottage. | ||||||
| 212 | 14 | "Out of the Blue" | Paul Walker | Jane Hollowood | 12 January 2003 | 12.84 |
| Vernon and David are involved in a serious car accident whilst driving a tanker filled with a mysterious substance, which pollutes the local reservoir and leaves everyone in Aidensfield struck down with a mysterious bug.Luckily, the staff of nearby St Aidan Royal Free Hospital are on hand to offer assistance, but with Vernon apparently suffering with bouts of amnesia, tension boils over as the local authorities remain unaware of the truth behind the threat, and things escalate when David receives a threatening phonecall than puts both his and Vernon's lives in danger. | ||||||
| 213 | 15 | "The High Life" | Bob Tomson | Susan Watkins | 9 March 2003 | 10.87 |
| Jenny is delighted when her younger brother Steve pays a visit, but her excitement soon turns to despair when she notices what the local vicar is growing in his greenhouse after she secures Steve a job.Although she agrees to keep quiet, her troublesome sibling seeks to exploit the situation for his own gain, threatening his put-upon sister's relationship with Merton. Meanwhile, a gang of Mods begin causing havoc in the village and gain an unlikely new recruit - David! | ||||||
| 214 | 16 | "Hung for a Sheep" | Gerry Mill | John Flanagan | 16 March 2003 | 11.36 |
| As Mike begins his first assignment as a CID officer, his replacement, northerner Steve Crane, rides into Aidensfield to take on the role of village bobby, but Ventress thinks the youngster is too eager to prove his worth as he investigates a spate of farm break-ins, whilst Mike grows disillusioned with CID work when he takes on a surveillance operation involving the girlfriend of an armed robber.Meanwhile, Vernon tries to impress the new village doctor, Liz Merrick, with his community spirit when she attempts to prove herself to the late Tricia Summerbee's regular patients who are against the idea of a new doctor taking over. | ||||||
| 215 | 17 | "The Third Man" | Noreen Kershaw | Candy Denman | 23 March 2003 | 10.74 |
| Mike's informant tells him that two local hoodlums are planning to raid a shipment of gold bullion from Haworth Point: prompting Shiner to set up an ambush to catch the would-be thieves, but a mix-up with the exact location leaves Mike trying to regain the respect of his CID superior by going it alone to investigate further. Meanwhile, Steve is tasked with protecting Gina's wayward niece Susie from her aggressive boyfriend, who has escaped from a young offenders after stabbing a prison guard.Elsewhere, Vernon and David take on the job of redecorating Liz Merrick's waiting room, but she is far from pleased with the results when David is left to use his initiative, whilst a local busybody takes a shine to Bernie, whilst Bellamy gains a new admirer. | ||||||
| 216 | 18 | "Missing in Action" | Jonas Grimas | Peter Gibbs | 30 March 2003 | 11.04 |
| In celebration of her forthcoming wedding, a bride-to-be embarks on her hen night at Whitby Funfair, where a clairvoyant gives her information linked to the death of her father, who went missing in action in the 1940s, prompting her to postpone the wedding until his body has been found.When she is found injured on the moors a few days later, Merton and the team investigate and find themselves incurring the wrath of the Ministry of Defence. Meanwhile, a bogus police officer begins causing havoc in Ashfordly.As Mike tries to lure the imposter into a trap, he is left with a dilemma when the troublemaker catches Bellamy filling in for Gina after hours at the pub. | ||||||
| 217 | 19 | "Caped Crusaders" | Terry Dyddgen-Jones | Brian Finch | 6 April 2003 | 11.29 |
| The Ashfordly team has two unlikely new recruits in the shape of two young boys dressed as Batman and Robin, who have spotted criminal activity on a derelict farm, whilst Mike is busy pursuing a criminal gang who have flooded Aidensfield and neighbouring villages with counterfeit money.Meanwhile, Liz faces an unsettling reunion with a former patient with a very personal vendetta when she begins receiving disturbing late night phone-calls.Elsewhere, Vernon is delighted when he inherits his late aunt Aggie's house. | ||||||
| 218 | 20 | "Moving Target" | Bob Tomson | Susan Wilkins | 13 April 2003 | 10.99 |
| The residents of Aidensfield are terrorised by a ruthless marksman with a sniper, who begins his reign of terror by murdering Liz's ex-boyfriend, a newly arrived doctor she dumped after he refused to tell his wife about their affair. While she attempts to comfort the victim's bereaved spouse, Bellamy is the next target, but luckily escapes with a flesh wound.Merton and DI Shiner fear the target is the police force itself when they discover the assailant is using an Army-issue weapon.As the team race to prevent another innocent killing, Mike receives a life-changing job offer that will shape his career in the force. Meanwhile, a newcomer in a Bentley limousine makes a big impression on Gina and David for two very different reasons. | ||||||
| 219 | 21 | "Lily of the Valley" | Judith Dine | Peter Gibbs | 20 April 2003 | 9.24 |
| Steve, Liz and Gina try to help a feisty old lady called Lily, whose farm becomes the target of vandals and petty thieves.However, she is not grateful for their interference.Undeterred, Gina sends her niece Susie to help out, and she proves more than a match for Lily's feisty spirit. When vandalism escalates into arson, Steve suspects the culprit's motive is more complicated than mere mindless violence. Meanwhile, David finds himself behind bars when he joins Jenny, Blaketon and a number of other villagers in protest against the high number of lorries rumbling through the village on their way to Jim Pinder's quarry, whilst Vernon becomes public enemy number 1 when he becomes Pinder's chauffeur. | ||||||
| 220 | 22 | "House Rules" | Gerry Mill | John Flanagan | 27 April 2003 | 10.06 |
| Steve Crane's eccentric mother Babs arrives in Aidensfield, having burnt her bridges with her screenwriter boyfriend and grown tired of the London arts scene. She proves to be a big hit with the locals, especially with Blaketon and Vernon, who finally has an amazing change of fortune after purchasing one of her paintings, but she is soon causing all manner of chaos when a spate of burglaries provide her with the ideal opportunity to put her self-defence skills into practice, leaving Merton both exasperated and impressed. Meanwhile, history repeats itself once again for Gina when she begins dating a guest at the pub who immediately gets on the wrong side of an overprotective and suspicious Blaketon. | ||||||
| 221 | 23 | "Mackerel Sky" | Jonas Grimas | Niel McKay | 4 May 2003 | 9.31 |
| A dying ex-con kidnaps Jenny in a plan to force old nemesis Merton into giving him the identity of the informant responsible for his 8-year prison sentence, but things don't go according to plan when the sergeant discovers the man in question has long since died, worsening the fragile criminal's state of mind and putting Jenny in even greater danger.With Merton pre-occupied, Steve and the rest of the team are left to investigate a spate of sports car thefts.Meanwhile, Vernon is enjoying his new-found wealth and influence as he invites himself to join Blaketon at a charity function held by Sir Nigel in aid of an old people's home. After befriending Nigel, he tries to impress by suggesting to organise a charity antique sale. As ever, events don't quite go to plan and all hopes for an MBE are dashed, whilst old passions are rekindled between Gina and Bellamy. | ||||||
| 222 | 24 | "Absent Friends" | Bob Tomson | Jane Hollowood | 11 May 2003 | 9.86 |
| Merton organises a search of the moors after a farming couple are reported missing, leaving Jenny and Liz to look after their bemused children, whilst Gina and Bellamy take over at the farm.Meanwhile, Vernon decides to treat his nearest and dearest following his windfall, and takes a reluctant Bernie to a posh country hotel. | ||||||
| 223 | 25 | "Music of the Spheres" | Noreen Kershaw | Susan Wilkins | 18 May 2003 | 9.65 |
| Lord Ashfordly's sister Patricia returns to Aidensfield with a renowned Polish musician and his daughter, intending to stage a concert at the village hall, but disaster strikes when one of the violinist's expensive instruments is stolen, and whilst investigating the theft, Steve falls in love with the musician's daughter, which doesn't go down to well with her father.Meanwhile, Vernon and Bernie's shady Liverpudlian cousins, Big and Little Jim, show up in Aidensfield and try to take advantage of their cousin's wealth by persuading him to make a hefty investment. Gina rumbles their scheme, but faces a tough job in persuading Vernon that his cousins are out to fleece him.Elsewhere, Merton is delighted when Jenny finally accepts his marriage proposal. | ||||||
Series 13 (2003–2004)
| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | UK viewers (millions) [1] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 224 | 1 | "Speed" | Paul Walker | John Flanagan | 7 September 2003 | 10.45 |
| Merton is put under pressure when a group of youths commit a number of serious offences in the village and they are suspected of drug-dealing when Liz hands in amphetamines found stashed in a local boy's bedroom. She refuses to reveal who passed on the drugs due to patient confidentiality rules, but Merton heads for the surgery regardless, pretending to see Jenny, who promptly calls off the wedding when she discovers her fiancé used the visit to sneak a look at the patient list. As Merton becomes concerned with saving his relationship, Steve tries to gain the trust of a young biker and his girlfriend in his efforts to nail the bullying ringleader. Meanwhile, David and Bernie are losing their patience with Vernon's airs and graces as he continues to enjoy his newfound wealth, especially when he employs a distinguished chauffeur who is used to skivvying for royalty.With an image to maintain, Vernon begins searching for a new house: His interest in one particular house lands him in trouble when some bronze figures are stolen immediately after his viewing, whilst Bellamy treats Gina to a holiday in the Highlands. | ||||||
| 225 | 2 | "Dog Days" | Jonas Grimas | Brian Finch | 14 September 2003 | 7.91 |
| Steve investigates a fire at a textile warehouse and it soon emerges that the owner's wife has spent time behind bars for fraud, and her husband isn't too forthcoming when questioned, leading Merton to suspect the blaze was the outcome of a bitter feud between husband and wife.Meanwhile, Vernon moves into his new mansion, but has trouble keeping up with his well-to-do neighbours.Meanwhile, Vernon moves into his new mansion, but David isn't too keen on joining him. Trying to impress his neighbours, Vernon ends up going into business with a silver-tongued housewife involving horse-drawn hearses. However, he finds himself forced to choose between his new friend and surrogate son David. Elsewhere, tension boils over between Jenny and Merton following recent events. | ||||||
| 226 | 3 | "Mother's Little Helpers" | Andrew Morgan | Peter Gibbs | 21 September 2003 | 10.54 |
| Liz faces a tough time when one of her patients develops a heavy drinking problem after being left to look after her two mischievous young sons whilst her husband is working abroad, and the doctor's efforts to help leads to trouble with Steve when she is caught drink-driving. Meanwhile, Vernon learns the true value of friendship when a gambling addict kidnaps David and demands a ransom from the wealthy entrepreneur, whilst Bellamy and Gina return from their holiday with exciting news - they're having a baby! | ||||||
| 227 | 4 | "Fool for Love" | Paul Walker | Susan Wilkins | 5 October 2003 | 9.54 |
| It's Merton and Jenny's big day, although the event doesn't go according to plan when a former CID colleague of Merton's asks the team to track down an ageing bank robber known as "Ronnie the dog man". Things begin to go wrong when Jenny's disgraced brother Steve returns, claiming to be a changed man and desperate to make amends. Meanwhile, Vernon promises Jenny that he will catch a fresh wild salmon for the wedding, only for Bernie to be more successful than him, whilst Bellamy turns to Blaketon when Gina becomes paranoid that he only wants to marry her because she is pregnant. | ||||||
| 228 | 5 | "A Family Affair" | Frank W.Smith | Candy Denman | 12 October 2003 | 10.17 |
| With Merton on honeymoon, acting Sergeant Ventress goes in search of a bogus waterboard official who has been robbing the elderly, but ends up investigating a suspicious death linked to one of the burglary victims. Meanwhile, Blaketon restages a pre-war darts tournament between the Aidensfield Arms and rival pub, the White Lion, to reclaim a silver trophy that the Aidensfield Arms originally won.David is upset when Blaketon rejects him as a team-member and joins the White Lion darts team instead, and Gina faces a few obstacles in her impending marriage to Bellamy. | ||||||
| 229 | 6 | "The Holiday's Over" | Jonas Grimas | Neil McKay | 19 October 2003 | 10.76 |
| Merton and Jenny's honeymoon is cut short when Jenny's health takes a turn for the worse, and Merton receives another blow when he returns to Ashfordly station to find Ventress has let standards slip in his absence, which has incurred the wraith of a constabulary inspector whose car has been stolen.With the reputation of the station at stake and a flash car to find, the team have a lot on their plate when a crooked travel agent cashes in on local holiday-makers absence.Vernon's fortune comes crashing down when he makes a decides to become a "Name", and invests all his money on the voyage of the ill fated Torrey Canyon, whilst organising a Bentley rally at Ashfordly Hall. Gina isn't happy at the thought of having to give up the licence to run Aidensfield Arms to marry PC Phil Bellamy. | ||||||
| 230 | 7 | "Waifs and Strays" | Andrew Morgan | Richard Monks | 26 October 2003 | 10.84 |
| Steve and Liz help a young women fight a custody battle for her orphaned siblings following the death of their father.Blaketon feels a sense of responsibility towards the family as he was good friends with the patriarch.The case proves very personal for Steve as he is reminded of his own uproaring childhood.However, not all goes to plan when one of the parentless children become linked to a series of break-ins.Meanwhile, Vernon bounces back after losing his fortune by opening up a caravan park, but the campers are not impressed when he leaves David in charge of the entertainment. | ||||||
| 231 | 8 | "Brought to Book" | Noreen Kershaw | John Flanagan | 2 November 2003 | 10.73 |
| Blaketon asks Steve to accompany a group of delinquents on an outdoor adventure course on the moors, but trouble is not far behind when two cousins manipulate their way onto the trip with an ulterior motive.Meanwhile, Vernon's latest venture sees him unsuccessfully trying to persuade Lord Ashfordly to rent out Ashfordly Hall to a religious sect looking for somewhere to hold their meditation convention. Elsewhere, Steve's mother Babs returns to Aidensfield and makes it clear she is back for good by getting a job as assistant librarian to Joyce Jowett. | ||||||
| 232 | 9 | "State of Mind" | Judith Dine | Candy Denman | 9 November 2003 | 10.53 |
| An elderly man reports an unusual break-in, during which the uninvited visitor left a mysterious statue on the kitchen table.It soon emerges that it is just the first in a series of unexplained events, as a police phone box arrives and then disappears from his garden, cement is delivered to his house for no apparent reason and a fire is started in his garage.Acting Sergeant Nokes advises Steve to dismiss it as it is not technically a police matter, but the officer's curiosity causes him investigate further. Meanwhile, Vernon is called up for jury service, but soon finds it's not as much fun as he hoped, whilst David is left to hold the fort back in Aidensfield in his absence. Elsewhere, Gina goes back to Liverpool as her dilemma about her imminent wedding continues. | ||||||
| 233 | 10 | "Down to Earth" | Jonas Grimas | Jane Hollowood | 22 February 2004 | 11.12 |
| Vernon is left fighting for his life when he buys a batch of soil for his new compost-producing venture, and Liz finds herself under increasing pressure when a lot of villagers wind up dead, whilst Steve is pre-occupied when the seductive Sergeant Nokes tries to seduce him.Meanwhile, Gina's absence is having a profound effect on Bellamy. | ||||||
| 234 | 11 | "Mountains and Molehills" | Adrian Bean | Susan Wilkins | 29 February 2004 | 10.63 |
| A dysfuctional family causes all manner of personal troubles for the officers of Ashfordly when Bellamy accidentally runs down a local boy whilst chasing joyriders, his father demands compensation and his sister, a maid at Ashfordly Hall, falls pregnant, claiming Steve Crane is the father! Meanwhile, David is hired by Lord Ashfordly to rid the land of Ashfordly Hall of moles. | ||||||
| 235 | 12 | "The Dear Departed" | Andrew Morgan | Brian Finch | 7 March 2004 | 10.50 |
| Blaketon is one of many suspects under suspicion when a hardened criminal, who claimed to be wrongly convicted of murdering a local factory owner, is killed after returning to Aidensfield to confront the past.Meanwhile, a recently widowed woman arrives in Aidensfield wanting to bury her late husband in the family grave, but the dead man's brother refuses to co-operate because of an old feud. Vernon and David attempt to broker peace and find themselves held at gunpoint as a shocking case of fraud comes to light. | ||||||
| 236 | 13 | "Dangerous Whispers" | Judith Dine | John Flanagan | 14 March 2004 | 10.25 |
| Gina makes a surprise return to Aidensfield and Bellamy's delight sees him take his eye off the ball when he encounters a key informant who proves to be quite useful, causing catastrophic consequences for his career when the informant disappears before he can give the police a tip-off about an imminent armed robbery performed by a highly-dangerous London gang. Meanwhile, Lord Ashfordly hires a new land manager called Ben Norton, who faces opposition from protesting villagers when he makes plans to tear down the cottages tied to the estate. Liz joins the protest alongside Jenny, causing sparks to fly between her and the newcomer, whilst Vernon buys a miniature railway from Lord Elisby's bankrupt estate in his latest scheme to impress the local royalty. | ||||||
| 237 | 14 | "Scent of a Kill" | Gerry Mill | Peter Gibbs | 21 March 2004 | 9.98 |
| Merton is reluctant to involve his team when one of Liz's patients becomes convinced her husband is trying to kill her - until she is nearly killed by a runaway tractor. Meanwhile, Vernon's pest control solution jeopardises Aidensfield's chances of winning the "Best Kept Village" award, leaving him to contend with a furious Blaketon's wraith.Elsewhere, Steve is smitten with Gina's cousin Diana when she turns up to help Gina with the wedding preparations, whilst Bellamy neglects his police work to plan the wedding and faces a dilemma when trying to find a best man. | ||||||
| 238 | 15 | "Daniel" | Adrian Bean | Jane Hollowood | 28 March 2004 | 10.70 |
| A heartbreaking chain of events are set in motion when Gina goes into premature labour after she is caught in the crossfire of a brawl in the Aidensfield Arms.Sgt Merton is delighted when his team seize the chance to bring a major drugs dealer to justice, but one of the officers oversteps the mark when they develop a personal grudge against the LSD dealer. | ||||||
| 239 | 16 | "One Thing Leads to Another" | Andrew Morgan | Candy Denman | 4 April 2004 | 10.33 |
| Jenny falls victim to con-men who have devised an elaborate loan and savings racket to fleece unwitting villagers.Meanwhile, Vernon, Bernie and David put their artistic prowess to the test by entering a poetry competition run by the Ashfordly Gazette, and their competitive spirit soon causes friction between the trio, whilst Blaketon fears Gina and Bellamy's grief is pushing them apart rather than bringing them together. | ||||||
| 240 | 17 | "No Hard Feelings" | Judith Dine | Susan Wilkins | 11 April 2004 | 8.87 |
| Bellamy's fiery temper boils over in dramatic style against a snobbish nobility and a charmer with an eye for Gina when the team pursue a sniper who has been improving his skills at clay-pigeon shoots. Meanwhile, Vernon decides to venture into the bed-and-breakfast market - but his cooking skills leave a lot to be desired. | ||||||
| 241 | 18 | "Difficult Times" | Gerry Mill | Neil McKay | 18 April 2004 | 10.42 |
| Merton's police work finally has consequences for his marriage when he is forced to investigate Liz's professional competence when one of her patients, a former Formula 1 driver, dies of an insulin overdose.Meanwhile, Vernon meets his match in a charismatic wheeler-dealer, and the pair embarks on a mission to make Aidensfield sparkle with a new brand of cleaning products. | ||||||
| 242 | 19 | "Nowhere Man" | Matt Bloom | Peter Mills | 25 April 2004 | 9.30 |
| Steve and Liz comes to the aid of an amnesiac struggling to piece together his identity, but they soon discover jogging the newcomer's memory may not be a good idea when they become uncover a shocking case of domestic violence. Meanwhile, Bernie and David are once again left picking up the pieces when Vernon becomes morbid and sets out to make an everlasting impact on the world, whilst Jenny issues Merton a few home truths about the troubles in their marriage. | ||||||
| 243 | 20 | "Swan Song" | Declan O'Dwyer | Susan Wilkins | 2 May 2004 | 9.09 |
| In his final case before retirement, a downbeat Ventress mounts a large-scale surveillance operation in an effort to nail the son of the biggest rug manufacturer in Yorkshire when he begins de-fleecing sheep in Aidensfield.Meanwhile, Bernie finds himself in hot water with an Australian newly arrived in Britain to bury his estranged father, who has already been buried by the undertaker, whilst Blaketon fends off the advances of a local widow. | ||||||
| 244 | 21 | "Strangers on a Train" | Pip Short | Susan Wilkins | 9 May 2004 | 10.21 |
| After David witnesses a man getting thrown off a moving train, it leads to Steve foiling an armed robbery at Ashfordly Hall, but also leaves an escaped convict loose in Aidensfield.As the team pursue him, Ventress feels lost without the police force and is delighted when Merton comes up with a solution.Meanwhile, Vernon is stalked by a donkey, but later turns it to his advantage by opening up a donkey sanctuary, only to have his plans opposed when he discovers a sanctuary already exists in the village. | ||||||
| 245 | 22 | "A Call to Arms" | Judith Dine | Jane Hollowood | 16 May 2004 | 8.83 |
| The police are puzzled when it seems a retired colleague of Ventress and Blaketon's has become the unlikely victim of vandalism. Suspicions are soon aroused over the reasons for his sudden return to the village and his connection to a prominent judge who is staying at Ashfordly Hall. Meanwhile, Vernon encounters dangerous wildlife as he stashes his capital in Ashfordly woods following a visit from the Inland Revenue, but decides to turn the incident into another money-making scheme, leading the entrepreneur into further peril. | ||||||
| 246 | 23 | "Muck and Brass" | Noreen Kershaw | Duncan Ghould | 23 May 2004 | 7.72 |
| Merton isn't happy at the prospects of dozens of dangerous drivers when Aidensfield hosts a prestigious car hill-climb. The villagers aren't happy either, and when a saboteur begins causing chaos, the team face a race against time to identify the culprit and prevent a catastrophic disaster.Meanwhile, Bernie finds an old car in a cowshed and decides to renovate it, giving Vernon his chance to scoop the winnings in the car hill-climb event. | ||||||
| 247 | 24 | "Double Trouble" | Gerry Mill | Johnny Byrne | 30 May 2004 | 6.97 |
| A seemingly straightforward burglary enquiry takes an unexpected turn when the victim is found to be leading a double life and suspicions are raised that the break-in could have been part of an insurance fraud.Meanwhile, Blaketon falls for the charms of a lady solicitor and teams up with Ventress to help her track down the beneficiaries of an unusual bequest, but the ageing detectives struggle to work in a partnership, and when David is recruited as their driver, he finds himself acting as peacemaker. | ||||||
| 248 | 25 | "Little Angel" | Jonas Grimas | Jane Hollowood | 6 June 2004 | 9.16 |
| A little girl disappears, prompting Merton to begin a desperate search, convinced her errant father has snatched her.Blaketon decides to lend his expertise to the case - only to end up fighting for his life. Steve and Bellamy's dedication to duty sees them placing their lives on the line to rescue the youngster. Meanwhile, Vernon offers his services in pest control when the Aidensfield Arms is hit by a rat infestation. | ||||||
Series 14 (2004–2005)
| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | UK viewers (millions) [1] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 249 | 1 | "Money, Money, Money" | Roger Bamford | John Flanagan | 5 September 2004 | 8.76 |
| The residents of Aidensfield are horrified when Steve Crane's replacement is none other than Robert Walker, the son of a notorious gangster. As he deals with an arson case on his first day, Rob must first tackle the repercussions of his father's past, in particular from Blaketon, who harbours a grudge against Rob himself.Meanwhile, Vernon shows his softer side when he and David are asked to decorate the house of an old man obsession with Shakespeare, Liz and Ben's fundraising efforts brings out the charitable side of the most miserly residents, whilst Jenny and Merton return from a break away and try to put the past behind them. | ||||||
| 250 | 2 | "Secrets and Lies" | Jonas Grimas | Johnny Byrne | 12 September 2004 | 7.84 |
| Merton is unimpressed by Rob's methods of dealing with a blackmailer who begins terrorising the owner of a refuge, one of Liz's patients - and Alf Ventress' wife's goddaughter.Meanwhile, Vernon, Bernie and David embark on a venture in the world of publishing with a famous publisher on the verge of bankruptcy. | ||||||
| 25 | 3 | "Fakers and Frauds" | Adrian Beans | Richard Monks | 19 September 2004 | 8.50 |
| The Ashfordly Police station's reputation comes under scrutiny when evidence from a spate of burglaries suggests the culprit is someone within the force. Meanwhile, Vernon hosts an exclusive painting weekend at Ashfordly Hall and offers his expertise to the amateur artists, but he is put in a compromising position when his life model fails to show up, whilst a flirtatious businesswomen makes several attempts to seduce David. | ||||||
| 25 | 4 | "The Happiest Day" | Andrew Morgan | Peter Gibbs | 26 September 2004 | 9.01 |
| A ruthless loan shark forces a desperate family man trying to pay for his daughter's wedding into engineering a robbery at the warehouse where he works. Unable to pay the loan and fearful for his life, he confides in Blaketon, leaving the former cop in a difficult position. If he passes on the information to Rob, he'll either destroy a family or put a man's life in grave danger. Meanwhile, David causes all manner of trouble for the locals when he takes up photography as a hobby and catches the villagers in a compromising position. | ||||||
| 25 | 5 | "Hunter's Moon" | Jonas Grimss | Candy Denman | 3 October 2004 | 9.21 |
| Merton works alongside CID to investigate the suspicious death of a fox hunter, but Rob thinks it's an open-and-shut case when he finds evidence that puts a local poacher under suspicion. Meanwhile, Vernon is outraged when David forgets to collect the chairman of the taxi licensing committee and attempts to win her round by recreating her favourite dance at the town fete, and with Bernie away, he seizes the opportunity to assert his authority at the garage by employing a young girl who creates quite an impression. | ||||||
| 25 | 6 | "Wrecked" | Roger Bamford | Neil McKay | 10 October 2004 | 8.74 |
| As he begins a new romance with a lonely single mother, Bellamy is forced to confront painful memories when he is targeted in a series of attacks.After being mistaken for his colleague, Rob begins to suspect a recently released prisoner who Bellamy put behind bars years previously is responsible.Meanwhile, Lord Ashfordly demands answers from Merton when his greenhouse is stolen, and his day worsens when two irritating Australians, claiming to be distant relatives, turn up at Ashfordly Hall.Elsewhere, Bernie receives a shock when he returns from holiday to find new employee Rosie working at the garage, but is soon won over by her talents and bubbly personality. | ||||||
| 25 | 7 | "Say it with Flowers" | Adrian Bean | Brian Finch | 17 October 2004 | 9.68 |
| Rob and Merton investigate a security van raid in Ashfordly and are convinced there is a link to a recent robbery at a local airfield, but a senior officer visiting from Middlesbrough dismisses their claims.Meanwhile, Vernon takes a sudden interest in the flower show when he discovers David might be the owner of a rare, potentially prize-winning fuchsia and turns to Blaketon and Ventress for help when the plant suddenly disappears. | ||||||
| 25 | 8 | "Precious Stones" | Andrew Morgan | John Flanagan | 31 October 2004 | 8.92 |
| David becomes a local hero after he intervenes when armed robbers raid a local estate during a dinner party, much to Bernie's exasperation when his celebrity status effects his work. Bellamy joins DI Shiner to investigates and come to the conclusion the robbers were amateurs after finding the stolen items in a crashed car. However, they soon reconsider when the police station is raided for the stolen jewels. Meanwhile, Ben receives an exciting job offer in Kenya and asks Liz to accompany him - as his wife! Jenny is aghast at the thought of losing her best friend, leaving the village GP with a difficult dilemma. | ||||||
| 25 | 9 | "Buried Secrets" | Roger Bamford | Peter Gibbs | 7 November 2004 | 9.32 |
| The team investigate the murder of an ex-army recluse and archaeological enthusiast and suspect a building dispute could provide a motive.Things get complicated when his estranged wife and her lover show up in the village with money in mind.Meanwhile, Vernon attempts to raise the depressed spirits of his young relative Gareth by matchmaking him with Rosie.After a disastrous date, Rosie orders Vernon to draw Gareth's attention away from her, but his plan to do so leaves David convinced he has a chance with the beautiful mechanic, causing him and Gareth to become rivals for her affections, whilst Jenny's erratic behaviour leaves Merton worried. | ||||||
| 25 | 10 | "Stormy Weather" | Judith Dine | Susan Wilkins | 14 November 2004 | 9.54 |
| As a terrible thunderstorm rocks Aidensfield, Merton and Bellamy investigate the murder of a retired policeman who was about to flee to Spain with his sister-in-law, whilst Jenny starts behaving oddly after realising the strain that comes with being a policeman's spouse. Meanwhile, Vernon is convinced poker is his game, but he ends up gambling away Greengrass' old truck when he makes the mistake of challenging Rosie's uncle, a professional hustler. A rematch results in him losing his and David's profits, causing Rosie to recruit an eccentric relative to teach her gambling uncle a lesson. | ||||||
| 25 | 11 | "Who's Sorry Now?" | Gerry Mill | Candy Denman | 21 November 2004 | 9.87 |
| It's all change in Aidensfield as new doctor Helen Trent arrives with her wealthy husband Matt, whilst Liz plans her wedding to Ben and their departure for Kenya. With so much change at the surgery, Jenny's life begins to spiral out of control as her mind is in danger of unravelling.Dennis is desperate to help, but when he does so, he finds himself on the wrong side of the law on suspicion of abusing his wife.Back at the surgery, Helen finds it hard to adjust to the slow pace of Yorkshire, and it soon becomes clear that not all is well in her marriage. | ||||||
| 260 | 12 | "In Sickness and in Health" | Roger Bamford | John Flanagan | 28 November 2004 | 10.24 |
| Liz and Ben's wedding day arrives, but Vernon's efforts to make the party go off with a bang ends in chaos when Ben finds himself assisting Rob and the team when a banker's wife is kidnapped. Merton faces the toughest decision of his life as the extent of Jenny's mental issues becomes clear, forcing him to choose which is most important to him: his wife or career.Helen Trent's dreams of a fresh start for her marriage look set to be shattered, and Bellamy is delighted when he is promoted to acting sergeant in Merton's absence. | ||||||
| 26 | 13 | "In the Bleak Midwinter" | Gerry Mill | Johnny Byrne | 26 December 2004 | 5.95 |
| An aging jazz band, led by an old acquaintance of Vernon's, visit Aidensfield to perform at a Christmas concert. Disaster strikes when they are left with a newborn baby after picking up a teenage hitchhiker on her way home to see her parents for the holidays, leaving Rob with the task of bringing two estranged families together for Christmas. Meanwhile, Gina takes centre stage at the Christmas concert with her rendition of "Winter Wonderland", whilst a mix-up leaves both Blaketon and David taking on the role of Father Christmas. | ||||||
| 26 | 14 | "Blast from the Past" | Noreen Kershaw | Jane Hollowood | 13 March 2005 | 8.41 |
| Rob is forced to confront his criminal past when he undertakes his own unofficial investigation into a series of violent burglaries against the elderly residents of Aidensfield, but his snooping into the lives of his father's dangerous associates looks set to have a profound impact on the officer's family when he finds evidence that could nail a major underworld figure for an unsolved armed robbery, which would also put his own father behind bars.Meanwhile, David falls for Matthew Trent's former mistress and finds himself acting as a secret messenger in their sordid affair, leaving Gina, Bernie and Rosie suspicious of his behaviour. Elsewhere, a fresh new constable shows up at Ashfordly station for his first day - PC Geoff Younger, much to the man-eating sergeant Nokes' delight. | ||||||
| 26 | 15 | "Icon" | Judith Dine | Tracy Brabin | 20 March 2005 | 8.52 |
| Ventress puts his acting skills to the test when Bellamy and Rob hunt for a batch of stolen Russian icons which have been unloaded from a fishing boat belonging to a convicted smuggler, and suspect an assault victim at the Aidensfield Arms might be involved when they discover his criminal connections.Meanwhile, Vernon embarks on another hare-brained scheme when he meets an Italian truffle salesman, and Alfred is the key to his success, whilst Helen is puzzled by a young girl's baffling history, leading her to uncovering a horrifying case of child abuse. | ||||||
| 26 | 16 | "Golf Papa One Zero" | Gerry Mill | Candy Denman | 27 March 2005 | 8.21 |
| Blaketon rallies the villagers in a protest against the new Ashfordly sergeant, former York officer George Miller, when he decides to close the police house in Aidensfield and introduces a state-of-the-art Ford Zephyr police car that fails to catch the culprits to a series of wage snatches, which leaves Rob in serious danger when he is left to apprehend them without backup.Meanwhile, David's heart of gold gets him into trouble when he promises to throw a birthday party for a lonely old lady who becomes depressed when her 100th birthday goes un-marked, whilst a nurse takes a shine to Rob after he is hospitalised. | ||||||
| 26 | 17 | "The Long View" | Dominic Clemence | John Flanagan | 3 April 2005 | 9.01 |
| Miller is unimpressed by Rob's rebellious streak when he bends the rules in a spectacular way whilst trying to prevent a highly professional robbery. Meanwhile, Bernie's odd behaviour leaves his nearest and dearest fearing the worst, whilst Gina gives Rosie a makeover ahead of her date, but she receives a shock when Rosie's mystery man turns out to be none other than Bellamy. | ||||||
| 26 | 18 | "A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing" | Noreen Kershaw | Peter Gibbs | 10 April 2005 | 9.03 |
| Bellamy tries to impress Miller by going it alone to investigate a marketeer suspected of using sheep to conceal his true criminal activities.Meanwhile, the arrival of a tax inspector throws the residents into a panic. Vernon bears the brunt of the taxman's wrath when countless dodgy deals come back to haunt him. When Bernie finally tires of his ways, the entrepreneur resorts to drastic measures to deal with his debts, with heartbreaking consequences. Elsewhere, Gina loses patience with Blaketon when he interferes in yet another one of her romances. | ||||||
| 26 | 19 | "Friends and Relations" | Noreen Kershaw | Susan Wilkins | 17 April 2005 | 9.57 |
| Rob's new girlfriend Clare is under suspicion when a wild party ends in tragedy with a drugs-related death, and Miller's negative opinion of the rebellious officer deteriorates further when he discovers Rob was present at the drug-fuelled event. Meanwhile, David is delighted when his aunt, Peggy Armstrong, turns up in Aidensfield. The battleaxe is quick to take advantage of David's grief for his late mother and Vernon Scripps by moving in with him and setting up an illegal vodka still. Ventress knows Peggy of old and fills Blaketon and Gina in on the newcomer's dubious past. | ||||||
| 26 | 20 | "Off the Rails" | Roger Bamford | Richard Monks | 24 April 2005 | 9.32 |
| Miller and his men find a vital clue in the most unlikely place when a crimewave hits Ashfordly railway station and a number of freight wagons mysteriously disappear.Meanwhile, Aunt Peggy decides to play dirty when Bernie competes in the local bowls tournament.Elsewhere, a new romance begins when Helen and Gina's girls night out coincides with Bellamy and Rob's lads night out. | ||||||
| 26 | 21 | "Rustlers and Hustlers" | Anna Rose | Brian Finch | 1 May 2005 | 8.07 |
| Rob investigates a series of sinister animal thefts when he is called to the scene of a horseriding accident.Meanwhile, Aunt Peggy takes advantage of Blaketon's absence at the Aidensfield Arms by hosting a poker tournament, but he returns early from his golf trip and bars her and David from the pub. Elsewhere, Joyce Jowett irritates the officers at Ashfordly by constantly complaining about bad smells and noisy lorries, and the atmosphere is awkward between Helen and Rob following their night of passion. | ||||||
| 270 | 22 | "Duty of Care" | Ian Bevitt | Ming Ho | 8 May 2005 | 8.73 |
| With Rob on holiday, Bellamy investigates when a young boy is accidentally shot at Ashfordly Hall and accuses the new estate manager of exploiting youngsters for child labour, but he uncovers a far more complicated situation, leaving him with an unwelcome reminder of the past as he tries to help a desperate father concealing a devastating secret from his son.Meanwhile, Peggy's new venture of guided tours in the area is cut short by a terrifying encounter. | ||||||
| 271 | 23 | "Shadows from the Past" | Gerry Mills | Peter Gibbs | 15 May 2005 | 8.68 |
| The Ashfordly team reinvestigate the murder of a young girl who was killed 11 years previously when a compulsive liar with mental health issues confesses to the crime.A search fails to uncover the victim's body, but the investigation takes an intriguing twist when Younger unearths a male skeleton instead. As the team take on two murder investigations, Rob and Helen try to protect the suspect and his mother when a campaign of abuse begins against them. Meanwhile, Aunt Peggy sets her sight on a boorish wealthy widow, and whilst her gold-digging antics provide the source of amusement for Gina, they don't go down too well with a close friend of his. | ||||||
| 272 | 24 | "Every Dog His Day" | Andrew Morgan | Susan Wilkins | 22 May 2005 | 8.38 |
| Lord Ashfordly plays host to a group of young offenders, led by his old army friend, as part of a rehabilitation programme, but it soon becomes clear that not all of the youngsters are prepared to see the error of their ways after a spate of disturbances occur in Aidensfield.Meanwhile, Blaketon and Ventress go on the hunt for a lonely old lady's beloved dog, and when she offers a £50 reward for its return, Peggy attempts to con the spinster by buying a similar dog, whilst Bellamy brings a little happiness into a troubled boy's life. | ||||||
| 273 | 25 | "Services Rendered" | Stuart Davids | Johnny Byrne | 29 May 2005 | 7.81 |
| The team find themselves with a host of vengeful suspects when a widowed father trying to rebuild his shattered life becomes the target of a hit-and-run accident.Meanwhile, Aunt Peggy's new batch of illegal cigarettes land Younger in hot water when it turns out that they contain an unexpected ingredient, and when the real owners show up, Ventress comes up with a plan to get them both out of trouble. | ||||||
| 274 | 26 | "Bin Man" | Judith Dine | Jane Hollowood | 5 June 2005 | 8.72 |
| When Gina finds a severed hand in her dustbin, the team immediately start searching for more body parts and find evidence to suggest that one of Lord Ashfordly's most closest allies could be a ruthless murderer. Meanwhile, Aunt Peggy invests in a freezer for her latest venture of selling rabbits and pheasants, only to find herself at the centre of a murder enquiry. Elsewhere, Blaketon befriends a private investigator who has been sent to Aidensfield to dig dirt on Helen on behalf of her cheating husband ahead of their divorce, whilst Bernie is spooked when things start going missing at the garage. | ||||||
Series 15 (2005–2006)
| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | UK viewers (millions) [1] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 275 | 1 | "A Fresh Start" | Roger Bamford | John Flanagan | 11 September 2005 | 6.93 |
| A reformed London gangster called Terry Molloy arrives in Aidensfield to start a new life and comes to the attention of the police when he saves Rob from a beating at the hands of a gang of reckless hooligans.Miller wastes no time in putting him in the frame when a safe is blown in Ashfordly, much to Rob's dismay. Worse still, Younger accidentally reveals Molloy's whereabouts to a snooping journalist, and the news soon reaches Molloy's former underworld associates. Meanwhile, Aunt Peggy causes a salmonella outbreak when her chicken-feed racket backfires, whilst Helen and Rob have embarked on a full-blown affair, and Ventress is concerned when his wife falls ill. | ||||||
| 276 | 2 | "The Devil You Know" | Andrew Morgan | Peter Gibbs | 2 October 2005 | 8.42 |
| Ventress poses as a criminal to dig dirt on a dangerous driver who has accused Rob of using excessive force.However, the covert operation reveals startling information that casts doubt on Miller's integrity. Meanwhile, Lord Ashfordly asks Gina to help him interview for a new housekeeper, with one of the candidates being none other than Aunt Peggy! Elsewhere, David is delighted when one of his elderly customers gives him her late husbands model railway set, and Bellamy is appointed Federation rep and must deal with Younger's complaint about being treated like an odd-job man at the police station. | ||||||
| 277 | 3 | "Miller's Tale" | Judith Dine | Richard Monks | 9 October 2005 | 8.05 |
| Miller gives chase to a gang of poachers on Ashfordly Hall in the middle of the night and accidentally knocks down an old tramp, who later dies in hospital, jeopardising the sergeant's future in the police force. Meanwhile, Aunt Peggy is knocked down a hole on Lord Ashfordly's land whilst poaching and remains there all night.However, it brings about another money-making idea when she decides to sue him for the "injuries" she sustained.Elsewhere, Gina goes to art college in York and finds herself attracted to her teacher, whilst an offer from an old friend leaves Blaketon tempted into selling the Aidensfield Arms to the brewery. | ||||||
| 278 | 4 | "Mastermind" | Jonas Grimas | Brian Finch | 16 October 2005 | 8.69 |
| A gang of ageing villains spot a chance for one last, glorious crime spree when the villagers leave Aidensfield en masse to support Rob in a charity football match.Meanwhile, David is nervous when he is summoned for jury service and learns the accused is an old acquaintance of Aunt Peggy's, providing her with a new way of making easy money and leaving David paranoid that Miller wants to send him to prison. | ||||||
| 279 | 5 | "Family Ties" | Jonas Grimas | Candy Denman | 23 October 2005 | 8.12 |
| Helen becomes involved in a suspected case of euthanasia when one of her patients suddenly dies, and Rob's desperate need to clear his girlfriend's name nearly blows their affair to the rest of the village.Meanwhile, Peggy and David start a strawberry scam involving Rosie's two brothers, providing an excited Geoff Younger with his first ever independent case. | ||||||
| 280 | 6 | "The End of the Road" | Roger Bamford | Jane Hollowood | 30 October 2005 | 8.94 |
| An escaped killer causes a public outcry when he turns up in Aidensfield and commits a series of violent attacks on the locals, two of the victims being his own parents.Rob allows his feelings to jeopardise the recapture of the convict when Helen is kidnapped.Meanwhile, David faces a heartbreaking time when Claude Greengrass' beloved lurcher Alfred passes away. As the happy-go-lucky handyman sinks into depression, a concerned Peggy, Bernie and Rosie try to bring light back into his life. | ||||||
| 281 | 7 | "Picture This" | Andrew Morgan | Susan Wilkins | 6 November 2005 | 9.08 |
| Miller demands answers from Lord Ashfordly when a priceless Manet painting is stolen from a retired German art dealer's home, who is found in a critical state by Blaketon after a car accident. Meanwhile, Peggy tries to convince a pair of visiting bird-watchers that Aidensfield's wildlife includes a rare bird of prey, and David tries to wing it as an ornithological expert. | ||||||
| 282 | 8 | "The Good Samaritan" | Judith Dine | Collin MacDonald | 13 November 2005 | 8.58 |
| The residents pull together to raise money for a devout couple when their baby is diagnosed with a life-threatening condition and an operation in America is the only thing that could save her, whilst Rob intervenes when greed and a brotherly feud results in a fatal car crash and a series of serious assaults.Meanwhile, Peggy is up to her usual tricks as she frightens some holiday-makers when a rumour circulates that a local tourist spot is haunted, and Jack and Gina go for a walk in the woods - and come across a dead body! | ||||||
| 283 | 9 | "Blood Brothers" | Gerry Mill | Peter Gibbs | 20 November 2005 | 9.22 |
| David helps his young friend run away from home when the return of his troublesome father causes turmoil for his mother, but the dim-witted handyman inadvertently leaves the young boy with a paedophile.Meanwhile, Jack recruits Bernie in an ill-advised attempt to encourage Gina's creative ambitions when the Aidensfield Arms plays host to an art exhibition, whilst Lord Ashfordly's hires Peggy as a dog trainer for his out-of-control dog when the hound bites a window cleaner, who demands Miller has the dog put down. | ||||||
| 284 | 10 | "Burden of Proof" | Roger Bamford | Susan Wilkins | 27 November 2005 | 9.22 |
| Blaketon becomes the prime suspect in a murder enquiry when he is asked to spy on an adulterous coal merchant by his wife.After the man is found dead, his wife claims she and Blaketon are lovers, leaving Rob to lead his own investigation to clear the private detective's name. Meanwhile, Bellamy falls in love with a young widow with three children, living on the Ashfordly council estate, when he attends to a burglary at her house, and Peggy fails to back a winner when she buys a greyhound that refuses to run. | ||||||
| 285 | 11 | "O Guilty Man!" | Judith Dine | Jane Hollowood | 4 December 2005 | 8.87 |
| David fears Scripps family history has repeated itself when Bernie disappears after his sanity is questioned when a truck he recently repaired careers into a garden and a snooping journalist uses it to boost his credibility.Blaketon and Ventress take it upon themselves to track down the mechanic.Meanwhile, Helen's estranged husband Matthew returns to Aidensfield and his scheming lands Rob in serious trouble when he faces being transferred to another station. Pushed to the limit by her cheating ex, Helen decides to play her husband at his own games. | ||||||
| 286 | 12 | "Auld Acquaintance" | Roger Bamford | Peter Gibbs | 18 December 2005 | 8.70 |
| Lord Ashfordly and his staff go away for Christmas, leaving Ashfordly Hall in the hands of his lordship's old army pal after rumours of a planned robbery emerge. However, he soon arouses Rob's suspicion when he harbours a young tearaway and tries to teach him a valuable life lesson in a violent way when the thief repays his act of kindness by stealing Lord Ashfordly's valuables. Meanwhile, Blaketon and Peggy go into competition when they both open Santa's grottos at the pub and Bernie's garage, whilst Ventress' nose is put out of joint when his wife falls ill and Gina, Helen, David and Bellamy to draw straws on who gets to invite him for Christmas dinner. | ||||||
| 287 | 13 | "Living with the Past" | Jonas Grimas | John Flanagan | 1 January 2006 | 7.94 |
| The villagers are furious when Henry Stoddard, who was convicted of murdering Nick Rowan's predecessor, is released from prison. When the Aidensfield Arms is attacked and Ventress is nearly killed in a hit-and-run accident, Henry immediately comes under suspicion and protests his innocence in the 15-year-old murder case. Rob reopens the case in an attempt to stop further violence from spilling out, but he ends up casting doubt on Blaketon's integrity when evidence suggests another member of the Stoddard family was too blame.Meanwhile, Peggy is delighted when she discovers she may be a distant relative of Lord Ashfordly's and wastes no time by cashing in on her discovery and making herself quite at home at Ashfordly Hall, whilst Bellamy leaves the villagers stunned when he turns up at the pub - with his new wife Debbie! | ||||||
| 288 | 14 | "Risky Business" | Gerry Mill | Peter Gibbs | 8 January 2006 | 8.49 |
| A convicted young arsonist's rehabilitation is threatened when he is accused of a series of arson attacks - and his clandestine relationship with a former employer's daughter complicates his plea of innocence.Rob is reminded of his own troublesome childhood and tries to prove the youngster isn't guilty, but it becomes increasingly difficult when all evidence points to the contrary. Meanwhile, Blaketon and Jack team up and find themselves in a police cell when they oppose Peggy's new advertisement venture. | ||||||
| 289 | 15 | "Hostage to Fortune" | Andrew Morgan | John Flanagan | 15 January 2006 | 9.02 |
| The Ashfordly team pursue Aidensfield's very own Bonnie and Clyde following a series of armed robberies. When the runaway heiress is injured whilst on the run, her ruthless boyfriend kidnaps Helen, who pushes her luck too far when she sets out to persuade the young women to ditch her violent partner-in-crime. Meanwhile, Peggy is incensed when Rosie takes over at the garage whilst Bernie is away and instructs a reluctant David to prove himself by organizing a funeral in a madcap scheme to get Bernie to leave the garage to the hapless handyman in his will. | ||||||
| 290 | 16 | "Judgement Day" | Roger Bamford | Brian Finch | 22 January 2006 | 9.66 |
| Rob and the team are called in when a local judge becomes the target of a series of attacks and is subsequently terrorised by a blackmailer.As they discover what sordid antics the judge gets up to behind closed doors, the case takes a sinister twist when the prime suspect is shot dead on his doorstep.Meanwhile, Peggy and David buy a radio that tunes into police channels and sell the stories to the Ashfordly Gazette, which also gives them the opportunity to teach a pompous old enemy a lesson.It's not long before an outraged Miller discovers their scheme and delights at the chance to finally throw the book at his scheming nemesis. | ||||||
| 291 | 17 | "Get Back" | Adrian Bean | Mark Holloway | 23 April 2006 | 9.12 |
| Rob and Bellamy pick up a man claiming to be a local farmer who presumably perished in a London air raid in the 1940s.As no body was ever found, he claims to have lost his memory and soon causes a stir when he tries to pick up where he left off with his wife, who has remarried and is now trapped in a loveless marriage with a seriously-ill abusive man, who seems to know more about the circumstances behind his rival's disappearance than he is letting on. Meanwhile, Lord Ashfordly's behaviour takes a strange turn after he eats some of Peggy's peculiar batch of mushrooms, whilst Younger asks Rosie for driving lesson when Miller books him on an official police driving course, but she is horrified when their "romance" comes the talk of the village. | ||||||
| 292 | 18 | "Runners and Riders" | Adrian Bean | Sarah Begshaw | 30 April 2006 | 8.53 |
| Lord Ashfordly's niece comes to stay in Aidensfield following the breakdown of her marriage, but immediately suffers another blow when her prize racehorse is kidnapped and held to ransom. Romance is in the air for Rosie as a biker gang turns up in town, and Bernie risks alienating his close friend when he joins Blaketon and other prejudice villagers in their suspicions about the bikers when the local church is robbed, whilst Gina and Bellamy race to save Debbie's daughter Jane when a seedy photographer takes an interest in her. | ||||||
| 293 | 19 | "Great Expectations" | Gerry Mill | Jane Hollowood | 7 May 2006 | 9.35 |
| Local farmer Colin Judd is devastated when he is forced to place his property in the hands of an auctioneer following the death of his father - but is even more shocked to see his estranged brother Andy at the sale.Andy seems unusually desperate to get his hands on a box of old junk, which goes from one villager to another and puts Blaketon and Jack in danger when they stand in his way of getting it back. Debbie confronts an old flame and later gets into trouble for drink-driving, and David is left stranded in the middle of nowhere with a pompous couple when Aunt Peggy buys a horse and carriage for her new sightseeing enterprise. | ||||||
| 294 | 20 | "Kith and Kin" | Andrew Morgan | Susan Wilkins | 14 May 2006 | 8.37 |
| Bernie is subjected to a series of violent attacks, leaving Rosie concerned when he refuses to involve the constabulary, whilst Rob is pushed too far by a violent farmer who causes a punch-up during the birth of his granddaughter.Meanwhile, Helen is horrified when her estranged father, who abandoned her family when she was a young child, arrives in Aidensfield desperate to make amends before cancer ends his life, whilst Peggy enters David into a fishing competition without his approval. | ||||||
| 295 | 21 | "Wine and Roses" | Gerry Mill | John Flanagan | 21 May 2006 | 8.64 |
| Bellamy is distraught to learn the extent of Debbie's alcoholism when she goes on a late-night drinking spree by the river, but her actions get her into trouble when she becomes implicated in the murder of a bank manager. Meanwhile, Joyce Jowett takes action when Peggy and David allow a colony of hippies to stay on their land when it brings about yet another money-making scheme, and Younger finds himself caught in the middle when the two strong-minded women come to blows, whilst Helen and Rob patch things up after their break-up. | ||||||
| 296 | 22 | "This Happy Breed" | Jonas Grimas | John Flanagan | 28 May 2006 | 8.06 |
| Miller is delighted when his old Army captain shows up and makes him a business proposition, which he turns down without regret.However, when Rob and Bellamy are called to investigate a spate of car thefts, it becomes clear the sergeant's old friend has other matters to take care of in Aidensfield. Meanwhile, Bellamy struggles to look after Debbie's children whilst she is in rehab, but he regrets letting Peggy take his two stepdaughters on a day out when they are arrested for poaching on the lands of Ashfordly Hall, whilst Jack encourages Gina to explore her artistic side by posing nude in one of his paintings. | ||||||
| 297 | 23 | "Keeping Secrets" | Roger Bamford | Jane Hollowood | 4 June 2006 | 8.11 |
| Despite Rob's efforts to keep his wedding secret, his enigmatic sisters and Gina enlist the help of the residents to organise a surprise party as the policeman prepares to marry Helen. The big day doesn't run smoothly when Helen's mother voices her disapproval and a man's complaint about noisy neighbours turns deadly when his mentally ill wife takes matters into her own hands.Meanwhile, Bellamy is delighted when Debbie returns from rehab a changed woman, Younger's dancing leaves a lot to be desired, Peggy uses old Christmas decorations for the wedding reception, Miller gains an admirer, whilst Gina sees Jack's true colours when she discovers he has sold the nude painting of her to an art gallery in London and wants them to move away from Aidensfield. | ||||||
| 298 | 24 | "The Dying of the Light" | Adrian Bean | Jonathan Critchely | 18 June 2006 | 6.82 |
| Rob suspects two cases are connected when a crashed car is found in a ditch and a spate of sheep rustling occurs at a local farm, whilst Helen is left to pick up the pieces when an old women suffering from dementia goes missing and is later found dead in the river.Meanwhile, Peggy is intrigued by an eco-warrior couple's slurry-fuelled generator, whilst Blaketon becomes concerned for Gina when she becomes distant following her break-up with Jack. | ||||||
| 299 | 25 | "Bad Company" | Gerry Mill | Peter Gibbs | 2 July 2006 | 7.32 |
| When a young girl is involved in a hit-and-run following a local dance, Miller gives the case top priority when he discovers the car involved belongs to the son of the councillor on the police committee, who is known for his reckless driving, whilst the case also puts Younger in a compromising position.Meanwhile, David as finally had enough of being treated like Peggy's skivvy and leaves her to run the taxi business whilst he becomes a window cleaner's assistant. | ||||||
| 300 | 26 | "Accidents Happen" | Jonas Grimas | John Flanagan | 2 July 2006 | 6.84 |
| A prisoner is broken out of the Ashfordly station cells to pilot a helicopter on an armed robbery job, and Bellamy faces another heartbreaking time when Debbie begins acting strangely as a familiar face returns to the village.Rob and Helen look to the future as Helen moves into the police house, but their happiness comes crashing down when a disturbed boy takes revenge for the death of his dog.Meanwhile, an Ashfordly dentist takes a shine to Peggy, but she soon discovers he has an ulterior motive and recruits a struggling journalist to exact revenge. | ||||||
Series 16 (2006–2007)
| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | UK viewers (millions) [1] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 301 | 1 | "C'est La Vie" | Roger Bamford | Peter Gibbs | 29 October 2006 | 8.68 |
| After two months of travelling to mourn the loss of Helen, Rob returns to the village in spectacular style by saving a con-man after his car crashes into the river, prompting him to confess to a life of crime.Blaketon is excited as a Frenchwoman arrives to help with preparations for Aidensfield's twinning with her home town, but he is jealous when Lord Ashfordly takes a shine to her, and when she is left to the tender mercies of Peggy and David, she finds herself behind bars. Bellamy recuperates from his wife's departure, whilst new district nurse Carol Cassidy struggles to treat a woman with an over-protective husband. | ||||||
| 302 | 2 | "Old Scores" | Jonas Grimas | Peter Gibbs | 5 November 2006 | 9.30 |
| A convicted rapist becomes the target of a hate campaign when he returns to Aidensfield as his victim committed suicide following her assault.Rob intervenes and finds himself siding with the ex-convict, and when a serious allegation is made against him, Rob's investigation reunites him with an old flame, DS Rachel Dawson, who is left with only Younger's help to recapture an escaped convict.Meanwhile, Peggy, David and Carol try to help a talented singer who has now become a drunk to get back on his feet, but the urge for Dutch courage seems too strong to beat. | ||||||
| 303 | 3 | "Intelligent Matters" | Gerry Mill | John Flanagan | 12 November 2006 | 9.63 |
| The Ashfordly team joins forces with DS Dawson and a shady MI5 agent in the hunt for a Russian trawlerman suspected of being a spy, but Carol soon discovers the government worker has secrets of his own after witnessing a shocking stand-off at a railway station.Meanwhile, Aunt Peggy fancies herself as Aidensfield's very own Miss Marple after an old note among a dead friend's belonging raises questions about her cheating husband's disappearance, whilst Miller is suffering from a terrible toothache. | ||||||
| 304 | 4 | "Please, Please Me" | Andrew Morgan | Jane Hollowood | 19 November 2006 | 9.42 |
| Rosie is troubled by the attentions of an ex-boyfriend who won't leave her alone. When it escalates into a full-blown stalking case, Rob and Carol become concerned when they discover the obsessive has a history of violence against his ex-girlfriends, bringing out a darker side of Younger when he tries to protect his friend, pushing the plucky young mechanic over the edge. Meanwhile, Peggy's car is stolen - with David's dog Deefer in the boot! A series of other car thefts and a number of other dog disappearances leaves the Miller and his men baffled. Elsewhere, Gina tries to encourage Bellamy to open up about his feelings in the wake of his marriage, only for the full extent of his heartache to come spilling out when she suggests they give their chaotic romance another go. | ||||||
| 305 | 5 | "Memoirs of a Fighting Man" | Roger Bamford | John Martin Johnson | 26 November 2006 | 9.44 |
| Rob clashes with Blaketon when he struggles to decide whether an ex-Army major is guilty of murder after shooting a youth who broke into his home.Meanwhile, a struggling father asks Carol to try to get through to his pregnant teenager daughter who has shut herself off from the rest of the world, whilst Peggy incurs Bernie's wrath when she, Rosie and David try to save the garage from a financial crisis by giving it a modern makeover. | ||||||
| 306 | 6 | "Pretty Woman" | Jonas Grimas | Mark Holloway | 3 December 2006 | 8.76 |
| Rob and Rosie try to protect a beauty queen who is targeted by mysterious attackers ahead of the Miss Yorkshire contest, which attracts more than the usual share of attention when busloads of female protesters turn up to picket the event, but Rob soon discovers the threat lies much closer to home. Meanwhile, Miller is unimpressed when Younger's bicycle is stolen from under his nose and orders the hapless officer to boost his arrest record. After a few words of wisdom from Ventress, Younger finds a novel way of raising the village's crime rate, while Bellamy spies an opportunity to get closer to Gina when the pub landlady is injured in an explosion, and Peggy is asked to put on a bet for a dying friend, who subsequently dies before he can collect his winnings. | ||||||
| 307 | 7 | "Stumped" | Roger Bamford | Adrian Bean | 10 December 2006 | 8.15 |
| A sting operation goes horribly wrong, leaving three armed robbers on the run, one in the cell and a con-turned-informant fearing for his life.Rob's victorious capture leads him into dangerous territory when he is taken hostage by a ruthless robber and his conflicted girlfriend, leaving Miller, Rachel and Bellamy with their toughest deadline yet. Meanwhile, Blaketon is determined to win the annual cricket match against Scarsdale and teach the cocky cricketers a lesson, but assembling a team proves hectic when Ventress calls off and Bernie struggles to grasp the sport. Rosie is incensed when Blaketon refuses to allow her on to the team, even though everyone else can see she's the best talent, whilst David becomes the team's secret weapon and finds himself the source of sabotage by the rival team. | ||||||
| 308 | 8 | "Little White Lies" | Gerry Mill | Peter Gibbs | 17 December 2006 | 8.39 |
| The team search for a young boy who goes missing after discovering his mother is having an affair with a family friend, who is later seriously injured in a road accident.Meanwhile, Younger strikes up a friendship with a bullied young boy when he fills in for the lollipop lady.Gina and Bellamy set Rob up on a date with a hairdresser, but the date doesn't go according to plan after Rob realises he still hasn't grieved for his late wife, Miller is outraged when a nits investigation grips the Ashfordly station, Carol is delighted when her fiancé gets leave from the Navy and visits her, whilst Peggy and David experience a slight cashflow problem. | ||||||
| 309 | 9 | "Hearts and Flowers" | Andrew Morgan | Susan Wilkins | 24 December 2006 | 6.32 |
| Chaos reigns after an unknown sniper kills Joyce Jowett's sister as she leaves a meeting of the flower show committee at the pub. Rachel and Rob's enquiries reveal the gunman may have missed his intended target - and when Blaketon spots an article in the local paper, he realises the target may be him or Joyce herself, which pushes the scared publican and the grief-stricken councillor closer together.Meanwhile, Peggy buys an ice-cream van to take advantage of the hot weather and leaves David in charge of the venture whilst she attends a Redcoat reunion, but his home-made ice cream produces some interesting results. | ||||||
| 310 | 10 | "Give Peace a Chance" | Jonas Grimas | Jane Hollowood | 31 December 2006 | 5.68 |
| The constabulary are called to subdue anti-war protesters at a disused airfield, but the event has serious repercussions for Rob when one of the protesters accuses him of police brutality, whilst Miller is horrified when he discovers the "victim" is the boyfriend of his estranged daughter Jo and finds himself forced to arrest his own child.Meanwhile, Younger is gutted to when Rosie begins a new romance with new vet Fergus, who is the indirect cause of chaos when a snake escapes from his car at the garage.Irritated that nobody's taking her snake-catching suggestions seriously, Peggy refuses to help with the hunt and heads off with David for the day - straight into danger. | ||||||
| 311 | 11 | "Dead Men Do Tell Tales" | Judith Dine | Brian Finch | 31 December 2006 | 6.03 |
| Three young joyriders steal Carol's car while she is attending to a patient and experiment with the drugs in her medical bag as well as selling them to interested parties. Miller and Rob come up against a formidable lawyer who tries to besmirch Carol's reputation in order to clear her wayward son's name. Meanwhile, David agrees to store a coffin for a Swedish sailor with his late father inside, but he and Aunt Peggy learn the newcomer may not be telling them the whole truth about the contents of the coffin. Elsewhere, Rosie and Fergus struggle to get their fledgling relationship off the ground as a series of interruptions plague their dates, while Bellamy starts to wonder whether rekindling his relationship with Gina is really such a good idea. | ||||||
| 312 | 12 | "Vendetta" | Andrew Morgan | Peter Gibbs | 7 January 2007 | 8.60 |
| Blaketon offers to help a guest at the pub find her missing son, but as his search progresses, the former sergeant is targeted by a mysterious assailant whose vendetta against him bears no boundaries.Meanwhile, David is left out in the cold on Peggy's birthday when she rejects his offer of a dinner party in favour of a date with an old flame who suddenly re-appears in her life after 20 years, Younger is delighted when he finally gets his driving licence, and Bellamy makes a shock admission to Rob when Gina asks the village bobby to get to the bottom of his strange behaviour after their break-up. | ||||||
| 313 | 13 | "Sleeping Dogs" | Jonas Grimas | John Flanagan | 6 May 2007 | 7.89 |
| When Bernie's rich sister dies, he stands to inherit a fortune. The inheritance brings more trouble that it's worth when a face from the past returns to Aidensfield - the supposedly dead Vernon Scripps! David is delighted by his old friend's return, putting Aunt Peggy in a panic when Vernon asks David to accompany him to Spain to share his new-found wealth. However, Bernie is aghast at his brother's return, then they both end up behind bars on suspicion of murder.Meanwhile, Rob and Carol deal with a religious man who uses a "fist first, talk later" policy to deal with his 16-year-old daughter's pregnancy. Bellamy fears his family's history of heart failure is to blame when he ends up in hospital after collapsing whilst making an arrest and instructs everyone not to alert Gina, but when she does find out, she declares her feelings for him in a spontaneous way. | ||||||
| 314 | 14 | "Another Little Piece of My Heart" | Roger Bamford | Susan Wilkins | 13 May 2007 | 8.53 |
| Rosie, Carol, Rob and Lord Ashfordly all make a stand against an arrogant farmer who shoots a dog and is suspected of abusing his wife, who has a 6 months old baby boy.Meanwhile, Younger is led on a wild goose chase by a group of wayward children who keep releasing livestock from the local farms, whilst Blaketon is exasperated when Gina and Bellamy announce their engagement for the second time. | ||||||
| 315 | 15 | "Seeds of Destruction" | Judith Dine | Jonathan Critchely | 20 May 2007 | 8.10 |
| Younger's career is on the line when a retired major dies in police custody after he unofficially gives him some of Ventress' painkillers after being heckled by complaints of back pains, but Carol soon discovers something sinister could be afoot when she learns a freelance herbalist is treating some of her patients.Meanwhile, a BBC journalist arrives in Aidensfield for a documentary about village life and is driven mad by the excited residents, especially Peggy, who tries to impress by giving him "the full Yorkshire experience", whilst Gina proves she is serious about marrying Bellamy by signing over the licence of the Aidensfield Arms to Blaketon. | ||||||
| 316 | 16 | "No Laughing Matter" | Adrian Bean | John Flanagan | 27 May 2007 | 8.05 |
| Suspicion falls on Gina's new cellarman when a valuable pendant is stolen from Emily Forster, a guest at the Aidensfield Arms. A search into the barman's past reveals a history of crime, but Emily appears more disturbed by the presence of a pub comedian.Meanwhile, Younger want to buy a car now that he can drive, but he soon regrets asking Peggy to help him purchase a cheap vehicle, whilst love blossoms for Gina and Bellamy as they plan their honeymoon. | ||||||
| 317 | 17 | "Out of Africa" | Andrew Morgan | Peter Gibbs | 3 June 2007 | 7.07 |
| Rob is called out to investigate a series of vandalisms against Lord Ashfordly's new estate manager after he angers the tenants when he employs the hard-line methods he learned in South Africa and raises their rents. Meanwhile, Peggy believes she has found the explanation for David's recent behaviour when she uncovers his strange new addiction. | ||||||
| 318 | 18 | "The Dreams That You Dream" | Roger Bamford | Jane Hollowood | 24 June 2007 | 7.84 |
| It's make or break time for Gina and Bellamy as they finish the final preparations for their big day and are delighted when Lord Ashfordly loans them Ashfordly Hall, but the groom's uneventful stag night stirs up some pre-wedding nerves, especially when Gina's old flame Jack returns to Aidensfield. Will the lovestruck couple ever make it down the aisle? Whilst the couple make the biggest decision of their lives, the rest of Ashfordly station look into the disappearance of an elderly resident who has recently put his cottage up for sale, whilst Rob and Peggy team up to prepare an extravagant surprise for the soon-to-be-married couple. | ||||||
| 319 | 19 | "Mind Games" | Gerry Mill | Andrew McCulloch | 1 July 2007 | 5.63 |
| Rosie is viciously attacked while attending a broken-down vehicle stranded on the moors.The murdered driver is discovered nearby. Rob and Rachel are determined to solve the mystery when it becomes apparent that the driver was a retired cop turned private detective.Their investigation leads to a chilling discovery linking the case to a religious cult near Aidensfield.Meanwhile, Aunt Peggy buys a flock of turkeys from an old friend, but fails to make any money from them when David grows attached. Carol isn't happy when Rob cancels their first date. | ||||||
| 320 | 20 | "The Medium is the Message" | Adrian Bean | Mark Holloway | 8 July 2007 | 7.28 |
| When a reverend's wife is murdered, a psychic convention in Ashfordly seems to hold the key to solving the case, whilst Rachel becomes suspicious of the reverend's alibi.Meanwhile, Bellamy arrests a drunken tramp - PC Geoff Younger's father, whilst Peggy devises a plan to sell trout to a hotel in Scarborough that lands her and David in trouble with Miller. | ||||||
| 321 | 21 | "One Small Step" | Gerry Mill | Shaun McKenna | 15 July 2007 | 7.34 |
| Bellamy, Miller and Younger's lives are all in grave danger when the Ashfordly station comes under attack from a professional gang after two of their associates wind up in the cells. At the Aidensfield Arms, oblivious to the events in Ashfordly, Rob, Rachel, Ventress and the other residents gather to watch the moon landing, but Blaketon and Peggy get into a debate when Peggy becomes convinced the event is a con and sets out to prove it, whilst one guest at the pub gives Gina and Bernie cause for concern when she appears unusually agitated by the historic event. | ||||||
| 322 | 22 | "Troubled Waters" | Roger Bamford | Susan Wilkins | 22 July 2007 | 6.99 |
| Carol is consumed by guilt and regret when a newborn baby dies in her care, causing the baby's father to return to his criminal ways after a run-in with Rob and Blaketon at the pub. Meanwhile, Peggy hatches a plan to rescue Bernie when he becomes the object of a predatory widow's affections. | ||||||
| 323 | 23 | "Where There's Smoke" | Adrian Bean | Peter Gibbs | 29 July 2007 | 6.88 |
| Miller seems to have a personal vendetta against a criminal called Kenny Dekin, who is running an illegal gambling club and instructs Bellamy and Younger to undertake a surveillance operation against him, but the sergeant isn't the only one with a grudge against Dekin when his plans to sail off into the sunset with his mistress suffer a few hurdles. Rob eagerly awaits the results of his sergeant's exam and finds himself caught in a love-triangle between new girlfriend Carol and former lover Rachel.Meanwhile, David uses Hugh Hefner as his inspiration by setting up a den and throwing wild parties at the farm, incurring Peggy's wrath but bringing about a new romance with one of Rosie's friends. | ||||||
| 324 | 24 | "Laying the Ghost" | Judith Dine | Jane Hollowood | 5 August 2007 | 7.23 |
| Intrigue spreads among the residents of Aidensfield as a new resident causes havoc and alienates villagers with her unlikeable and secretive personality.A snooping Joyce Jowett decides to investigate the rumours about the newcomer and discovers she is harbouring a shocking companion. As the annual village fete approaches, Peggy begins a new scheme when she is put in charge of the jumble sale.Back at the Ashfordly station, Rob receives good news and is offered a place on a course away from Aidensfield, but he is conflict on whether to accept as it would mean leaving his colleagues at Ashfordly, not to mention Carol Cassidy! | ||||||
Series 17 (2007–2008)
| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | UK viewers (millions) [1] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 325 | 1 | "Stop Gap" | Roger Bamford | John Flanagan | 11 November 2007 | 8.41 |
| New village bobby Joe Mason gets off to a spectacular start on his first day by single-handedly apprehending three armed robbers who have taken hostages in a church.However, his cocky attitude and his maverick personality alienates even the friendliest villagers - and his fellow officers. Blaketon is impressed by the newcomer's crime-fighting tactics when local troublemaker Tommy Unsworth wreaks havoc. With Miller losing patience and the community against him, Joe feels the strain, until a few helpful words from Ventress and Carol put him straight, whilst Rachel, Bellamy and Younger pursue a professional Manchester gang who are targeting country houses. Meanwhile, Aunt Peggy is up to her old tricks on the lands of Ashfordly Hall, but soon discovers she is no match for the new officer - and neither is His Lordship! | ||||||
| 326 | 2 | "Heirs Apparent" | Gerry Mill | Peter Gibbs | 18 November 2007 | 7.98 |
| Joe discovers there's more to being an Aidensfield bobby than just crime-fighting when he's called to help Carol deliver a baby, and his animosity to Lord Ashfordly increases when His Lordship is arrested on suspicion of attacking a teenage girl who turned up on his doorstep claiming to be his daughter as a result of an affair he had with one of his staff, and Miller is far from impressed by Joe's handling of the sensitive case. Meanwhile, David decides to make a will following another villager's funeral on Blaketon's urging, but an innocent joke from Ventress makes him paranoid that one of the beneficiaries is hoping to secure their inheritance sooner than he anticipated when a series of accidents befall him. | ||||||
| 327 | 3 | "Night Mail" | Adrian Bean | Susan Wilkins | 25 November 2007 | 7.83 |
| When armed robbers hold up a night mail train, Joe pushes his luck when he interferes in a CID investigation led by his old adversary, the incompetent DI Lundlow.With Miller on the warpath and Bellamy exasperated by his attitude, Joe finds an unlikely ally in Rachel when she discovers Lundlow may know more about the robbery than he is letting on.Whilst Ventress and Younger seem to have warmed to him, Joe has a tough challenge gaining an ally in Bellamy.Meanwhile, Aunt Peggy is thrilled when she learns she has been left a legacy by a distant relative of her late husband. | ||||||
| 328 | 4 | "Love Story" | Judith Dine | Jane Hollowood | 2 December 2007 | 7.84 |
| A trio of Australian sheep-shearers are a big hit with the locals when they arrive in Aidensfield to help out at Grimedale Farm, but when they upset an angry bully desperate to impress his abusive father, it lands one of them behind bars after they are framed for the theft of a watch, whilst Joe and Carol try to protect the farmer's daughter, an aspiring nurse who is being terrorised by her brother. As she locks lips with Australians, Rosie is surprised when another lover from the past makes a reappearance and has to choose between two exciting offers for the future. Meanwhile, Peggy starts a laundry service, but leaves David doing all the work when the washing machine proves to have a mind of its own, Bellamy isn't happy when he discovers Gina has been taking contraceptives and worries she no longer wants a baby, whilst Joe is saddened when Miller tells him that his time at Ashfordly is nearly over as his replacement has been found. | ||||||
| 329 | 5 | "Another Sleepy, Dusty, Delta Day" | Gerry Mill | Mark Holloway | 16 December 2007 | 8.10 |
| Joe and Rachel investigate when a young father falls off a bridge after returning to Aidensfield with his girlfriend and son.Joe discovers Bellamy harbours a personal grudge against the couple as they were implicated in a baby's disappearance three years previously, and when the couple's son vanishes, they are forced to consider the possibility that the missing baby's broken parents are responsible. Meanwhile, Bernie's spirits are lifted after Rosie's departure when he makes a large amount of money after selling an inherited Rolls Royce to a shady cockney businessman, whilst Miller's worst nightmare comes true when it becomes apparent that there are two Peggy Armstrongs! | ||||||
| 330 | 6 | "Touch and Go" | Roger Bamford | Shaun McKenna | 23 December 2007 | 7.60 |
| Joe prepares to take up his new post in London, although he secretly doesn't want to leave Aidensfield, but with the arrival of Rob Walker's permanent replacement Don Wetherby, it seems it's too late for him to change his mind. Carol is administering vaccinations at the local school when she notices extensive bruising on a boy's body and suspects he is being abused by his stepfather, just as his biological father returns to the area and demands custody of his son.However, tragedy strikes when a violent conflict outbreaks between the angry father and stepfather - with Joe, Bellamy and new recruit Wetherby caught in the crossfire.Meanwhile, Gina and Blaketon organise a charity quiz night on Lord Ashfordly's urging, but the evening is fated to be a disaster when Peggy's competitive streak gets the better of her. | ||||||
| 331 | 7 | "Burying the Past" | Adrian Bean | Andrew McCulloch | 30 December 2007 | 6.93 |
| It's a dark day in Aidensfield as the villagers prepare for Phil Bellamy's funeral.Gina is struggling to cope without her beloved and refuses medical help and considers leaving a life of heartache in Aidensfield behind for her old one in Liverpool.An emotional service sees the whole of Aidensfield turning out to say their farewells to the much-loved bobby, with Blaketon paying a touching tribute to his former PC. Back at Ashfordly station, it's business as usual despite the loss of an officer as Joe and Rachel investigate the suspected suicide of a local teacher. Don Wetherby is racked with guilt over the shooting of his colleague, convinced he should have taken the bullet. Despite Miller's reassurances, the bobby believes the villagers will blame him for the death of a close friend and decides to leave - until the sergeant makes him a proposition.Meanwhile, Carol fails to report an elderly motorist involved in a hit-and-run with a cyclist, which proves particularly embarrassing when the cyclist turns out to be none other than a new doctor at the hospital, whilst David is worried when Aunt Peggy takes Bellamy's death particularly badly and vanishes. | ||||||
| 332 | 8 | "Only Make Believe" | Judith Dine | Peter Gibbs | 6 January 2008 | 8.51 |
| Wetherby is far from happy when a face from his past arrives in the Aidensfield and it soon becomes clear that the woman is a deranged stalker who contributed to the end of the officer's marriage and the circumstances leading to his placement at Ashfordly station, forcing him to ask Joe for help in getting rid of her when she makes a serious accusation against him. Meanwhile, Bernie's dating weekend with a widower coincides with Ventress and Blaketon's private investigation into a spate of burglaries when they all find themselves staying at the same hotel, whilst Gina resolves to pick up the pieces of her shattered life after a heart-to-heart with Aunt Peggy and returns to work at the Aidensfield Arms, and Carol finds herself attracted to a new doctor at the hospital. | ||||||
| 333 | 9 | "The Devil Rides Out" | Roger Bamford | Susan Wilkins | 13 January 2008 | 7.97 |
| A local reverend becomes convinced an evil presence is at work in the churchyard when Satanic symbols are found painted on the church and a number of gravestones, but Miller thinks it's the work of hooligans. An attack on Lord Ashfordly's godson uncovers information that suggests a more personal motive, leading Joe and the team into the dangerous world of drugs and rock music.Meanwhile, a psychiatrist attempts to help Gina overcome her grief for Bellamy after they hit it off at a dinner party hosted by Carol, but her nightmare worsens when she discovers she is pregnant and wonders whether she wants to keep it. | ||||||
| 334 | 10 | "Changing Roles" | Gerry Mill | Andrew McCulloch | 23 March 2008 | 6.39 |
| Miller immediately suspects a disgruntled drink driver who swore vengeance on the police after the police station is raided, a patrol car is stolen and Joe's uniform goes missing. However, they uncover a new lead when a local busybody jeopardises Rachel's witness protection operation involving a man who is giving evidence against a gangster from Leeds, and Joe gets into trouble when he takes his eye off the job after being reunited with an old flame.Meanwhile, Aunt Peggy becomes Lord Ashfordly's unlikely new gamekeeper after Blaketon inadvertently recommends the veteran poacher for the job. She soon impresses his lordship with her clear-up rate, but when the power goes to her head, she alienates David and puts a mischievous poacher in hospital with a flesh wound. | ||||||
| 335 | 11 | "A Brush with the Law" | Jonas Grimas | John Martin Johnson | 30 March 2008 | 7.15 |
| Lord Ashfordly is among those under suspicion when an extremely unpopular master hunter's hunting den is targeted in an arson attack. Other suspects include a kennelman threatened with dismissal and a farmer determined to exact revenge when his land is severely damaged. Meanwhile, Blaketon decides to teach Peggy a lesson she'll never forget when he stumbles across her latest scam to sue the locals and gain compensation, whilst Joe is on the lookout for a flash new car and asks Bernie for his expertise in the motor trade. | ||||||
| 336 | 12 | "The Heart of a Man" | Mark McKillop | Collin MacDonald | 6 April 2008 | 7.13 |
| When cash is stolen from the house of blind man, Joe and the team deal with a group of farm workers who revolt against their boss, unpopular local businessman Albert Ross.An accident on Ross's farm leaves one of his workers in hospital, leading the team to uncover a series of cover-up injury disasters, whilst Carol finds reason to believe Ross has been taking out his frustration on his teenage daughter. Meanwhile, David becomes the guardian angel for a euthanistic naturist when he saves him from drowning after he jumps off a bridge, and although Peggy is disturbed by her nephew's strange new friend, she can't resist using his odd personality to make a few bob. | ||||||
| 337 | 13 | "Out of the Long, Dark Night" | Andrew Morgan | Stuart Morris | 18 May 2008 | 6.05 |
| Joe and Carol find themselves mixed up in a revenge plot against a suspected Nazi war criminal when a Jewish woman and her husband are plagued by a series of sabotage acts, which leads to big consequences when Younger's life is also put at risk. Meanwhile, an ancient steam traction engine called Goliath causes chaos in Aidensfield when it breaks down outside Bernie's garage, leaving both him and Joyce Jowett fuming, and further mayhem arises when David takes it for a test run. | ||||||
| 338 | 14 | "Take Three Girls" | Roger Bamford | Peter Gibbs | 25 May 2008 | 5.87 |
| A teacher is determined to make a name for himself as an activist by manipulating his girlfriend into doing his dirty work, and when Joe and Wetherby rumble his true intentions, he turns the situation to his advantage by reuniting the girl with her estranged father in an elaborate scheme to evade implication in any crime committed by the vulnerable young woman.Meanwhile, David doesn't share Peggy's excitement when a local farmer asks him to accompany his ample daughter to a disco, but later finds himself becoming her knight in shining armour, whilst Carol and Oakley come to blows when they offer opposing advice to a pregnant teenager. | ||||||
| 339 | 15 | "Hey Hey LBJ" | Andrew Morgan | John Flanagan | 1 June 2008 | 5.70 |
| When a 17-year-old girl goes missing after an argument with her father, Joe sets out to locate her American boyfriend, who has come to Britain to avoid the Vietnam War and is taking extreme measures to prolong his stay in Yorkshire.Meanwhile, David and Peggy's latest exploit, to use Claude Greengrass's old metal detector to find artefacts about the village, puts them under suspicion when priceless bronze statues are stolen from Ashfordly Hall and other estates. | ||||||
| 340 | 16 | "Danse Macabre" | Jonas Grimas | Shaun McKenna | 27 July 2008 | 5.38 |
| Joe and Carol join forces to unravel the mystery of an aspiring ballerina who resides at Throckton Grange, when she collapses with exhaustion and expresses a fear of being taken away, leading Joe to assume that her elderly guardian, a bitchy ladyship desperate to pass on her talents, is connected.Meanwhile, David is hired to write an agony aunt's column for the Ashfordly Gazette, displeasing Peggy as she wanted the job herself. Elsewhere, Younger falls for the local shopkeeper's daughter, but struggles to act on his feelings after he suffers embarrassing bouts of sneezing every time he tries to speak to her. | ||||||
| 341 | 17 | "Missing Persons" | Adrian Bean | Jane Hollowood | 3 August 2008 | 6.23 |
| Carol, Blaketon and Joe go beyond the call of duty to protect two young girls when their mother begins neglecting them in favour of partying with her criminal boyfriend, and Joe's anger boils over when a social worker doesn't take the case seriously, leading to explosive consequences when the girls are left home alone for the evening.Meanwhile, Gina finds a distraction from her anxieties about her unborn baby when Bellamy's niece Dawn comes to stay after getting into trouble in her home town, but David feels the full force of Gina's unexpected fury when the 18-year-old goes missing after he was supposed to collect her, whilst Miller is far from impressed with Younger when he fails to catch thieves who have been stealing lead from churches. | ||||||
| 342 | 18 | "Taking Stock" | Ian Bevitt | John Flanagan | 10 August 2008 | 6.25 |
| Joe and the team are called to investigate when a crashed car is found to have been used in a robbery in Liverpool, leaving the constabulary fearful that a fresh batch of criminals are at work in Aidensfield, and the team's only chance of capturing the culprits seems to be with the use of a sketch. Meanwhile, Bernie and Dawn are left in charge of the Aidensfield Arms when Gina goes away and Blaketon joins Ventress on a surveillance operation against an old friend's wife when he becomes convinced she is having an affair, whilst Peggy tries to offload some Angora goats. | ||||||
| 343 | 19 | "The Big Chill" | Jonas Grimas | Susan Wilkins | 17 August 2008 | 6.80 |
| With her sexist new superior going out of his way to discredit her, Rachel turns to Joe, Wetherby and Younger for help when she goes on the trail of a drug smuggling gang.Gina puts herself and others in mortal peril when she strikes up a friendship with the ringleader's girlfriend at antenatal classes and tries to rescue her from an abusive marriage. Meanwhile, Bernie is under pressure to give Joyce Jowett's uncle the best funeral service ever, which he fears he will fail to do when he fails to fix his rundown hearse, and his anxiety increases when Peggy comes up with a solution to his problem. | ||||||
| 344 | 20 | "Bully Boys" | Andrew Morgan | Peter Gibbs | 24 August 2008 | 6.71 |
| When he fails to gain control of a punch-up at the bookmakers, Younger is in awe of Joe as he takes command of the situation.Ex-con-turned-debt-collector Mick Revill suggests a way to toughen him up and, realising that he needs to be able to handle himself if he is ever going to excel in the police force, he joins the local gym and enters a boxing match against a cocky Don Wetherby.Back at the station Miller has his eye on Revill, a local businessman accuses him of being involved in some dubious deals, and he is the obvious suspect when his wife's drunken, thieving ex-husband is run down. Meanwhile, David is reluctant to attend a centenary at his old school as painful memories are stirred up by the return of a bully who has become very successful, and Peggy makes things worse for him with her insistence that he attend to make new business connections for the taxi business. | ||||||
| 345 | 21 | "It Came from Outer Space" | Adrian Beam | Phillip Palmer | 31 August 2008 | 7.17 |
| Joe goes undercover at a local quarry to infiltrate an armed robbery gang after Rachel establishes a link from an explosion in the woods to the activities of a villain and suspects the owner of the quarry has been supplying dynamite to armed gangs, but when Joe tries to save a conflicted man from a life of crime, it leaves him in mortal danger when his cover is blown.Meanwhile, Peggy sees an opportunity to make money when rumours abound that a meteorite caused the blast in the woods and she discovers how valuable space debris is. | ||||||
| 346 | 22 | "You Never Can Tell" | Judith Dine | Mark Holloway | 14 September 2008 | 5.63 |
| A veteran music manager called Stan Sparrow chooses to hold his wedding reception at the Aidensfield Arms.When Stan is found dead the next day, investigations reveal his demise may not have been through natural causes.Blaketon and Dawn uncover a sinister plot involving Sparrow's young bride and her mother which raises a startling question. Who would kill a man dying of leukaemia? and has it got something to do with the memoirs he was writing? Meanwhile, Aunt Peggy ends up in hospital when she goes to collect ten boxes of stolen rums and claims to have lost her memory when Wetherby goes to investigate, whilst Younger finds an unlikely informant in a young boy who reports a series of upcoming crime, but he is horrified when he discovers the lad is none other than Wetherby's son—and the youngster later disappears after taking his crime-fighting too far. | ||||||
| 347 | 23 | "Mixed Messages" | Jonas Grimas | Jane Hollowood | 21 September 2008 | 5.49 |
| Joe tries to help Carol when suspicions mount against her following the death of a pensioner whom she frequently visited and he becomes intrigued by everyone's reluctance to acknowledge the family doctor's involvement.Meanwhile, Aunt Peggy takes action when a heap of rubbish belonging to a local magistrate is dumped on her doorstep, leading Younger into an embarrassing encounter with the magistrate in question.Elsewhere, Gina's paranoia over the safety of her unborn baby grows stronger when she is rushed to hospital after a health scare. | ||||||
| 348 | 24 | "Oscar's Birthday" | Andrew Morgan | Jane Hollywood | 28 September 2008 | 6.48 |
| Joe is put in an awkward position, both personally and professionally, when he becomes a pawn in an attractive gold-digger's scheme to escape and fleece her over-protective husband. The villagers rally round to organise Blaketon's surprise party, and David asks Bernie to teach him how to play the piano before Aunt Peggy chops it up.At the party, there's more than one celebration when Gina goes into labour, whilst Joe and Carol finally confront their feelings for one another. | ||||||
Series 18 (2008–2010)
| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | UK viewers (millions) [1] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 349 | 1 | "Family Matters" | Gerry Mill | John Flanagan | 12 October 2008 | 5.74 |
| Miller's personal and professional lives are thrown into jeopardy when a criminal gang kidnap his daughter and force him to cross the line in order to save her, but his strange behaviour soon arouses the suspicion of Ventress and Joe, whilst the rest of the team remain oblivious to their sergeant's trauma when they are tasked with protecting a suspected Nazi collaborator who is targeted in an assassination attempt.Meanwhile, Aunt Peggy becomes convinced her time is coming to an end with a mysterious illness, leaving David concerned and Carol exasperated by the melodramatic patient, Gina is finding motherhood to her liking, and Dawn becomes suspicious of a mysterious Frenchman who is staying at the pub. | ||||||
| 350 | 2 | "England Expects" | Jonas Grimas | Shaun McKenna | 19 October 2008 | 6.12 |
| A notorious local master criminal with a serious illness escapes from prison and returns to Aidensfield to pursue a vendetta against the Ashfordly police by manipulating two young boys into doing his dirty work, while Joe and Rachel desperately try to find him before he strikes again, but he proves himself to be a tough opponent.Meanwhile, Dawn persuades Younger to replace Blaketon as Joyce Jowett's ballroom dance partner at a charity event, but must first teach him how to dance - oblivious to the fact that the young copper actually has feelings for her. Elsewhere, David takes up pottery to help Aunt Peggy with her latest venture after she is approached by an old friend who owns a furnishing store. | ||||||
| 351 | 3 | "Mother of Invention" | Roger Bamford | Mark Holloway | 26 October 2008 | 5.95 |
| As she tries to help struggling single-mother Barbara, Carol receives a big shock when her old friend arrives in Aidensfield - alongside a women claiming to be her long-lost mother who gave her up for adoption when she was a baby, whilst Joe thinks drastic measures are called for with Barbara after a shocking turn of events.Meanwhile, Wetherby and Younger ask Peggy's help to search for the chief constable's missing dog, whilst Dawn and David begin a chimney sweeping business after Bernie receives a car full of equipment as payment for a funeral. | ||||||
| 352 | 4 | "Living off the Land" | Andrew Morgan | Susan Wilkins | 2 November 2008 | 5.79 |
| Joe and Carol visit a travellers' camp to investigate a vicious attack on a hippie and a pregnant woman, and learns one of them had recently clashed with Lord Ashfordly's latest gamekeeper - who is later found murdered with his throat cut.Wetherby comes under suspicion after witnesses come forward claiming to have seen him in an altercation with him, but the officer has more urgent matters to attend to when he discovers his wife is having an affair.Meanwhile, Peggy and an unwilling David go head-to-head with a rival taxi firm, who they suspect are the culprits behind a series of vandalism attacks on David's taxi trying to put him out of business. | ||||||
| 353 | 5 | "Guilty Secrets" | Gerry Mill | Andrew McCulloch | 9 November 2008 | 5.70 |
| Joe risks his career to help Rachel when she is accused of stealing £400 following an extremely violent raid on Frank Batley's home, and a corrupt DS seems determined to pin the crime on one of the officers until Joe's investigation unmasks the truth.Meanwhile, Bernie is shocked when he discovers he has a daughter he never knew existed after being asked to arrange a mysterious funeral and asks Blaketon to use his detective skills to track down his long-lost child, but when he finds the answers he is looking for, the mechanic faces a heartbreaking dilemma. | ||||||
| 354 | 6 | "Strike Up the Band" | Jonas Grimas | Shaun McKenna | 16 November 2008 | 5.08 |
| A feud between two brass bands for a trophy at a concert gets out of control when a musician dies of suspected poisoning, but Miller discovers there is more to the feud than competitiveness over a trophy.As they intervene, Joe and Rachel finally succumb to their attraction for each other, only for Carol to catch them in the act.Meanwhile, Dawn is swept off her feet by a handsome stranger and leaves Gina less than impressed when she announces she's moving to Paris with him, leaving Peggy to broker peace between the bickering women. | ||||||
| 355 | 7 | "Return Crossing" | Judith Dine | Peter Gibbs | 19 April 2009 | 6.24 |
| Carol asks Joe to help Evelyn, a smuggler's widow who is receiving death threats from a corrupt associate of her late husband. Her son-in-law is reluctant to sever his ties with the crook, knowing he provides vital revenue - which forces her into silence, but the team urge Evelyn to co-operate after her car is run off the road and her grandson goes missing. Meanwhile, Blaketon helps a Polish war veteran who arrives in Aidensfield to track down a woman he fell in love with during the war. | ||||||
| 356 | 8 | "Looking for Isabella" | Jonas Grimaa | Jane Hollowood | 26 April 2009 | 5.95 |
| The Aidensfield residents launch a major rescue operation when a young boy disappears while exploring the gardens of a derelict house with his brother and sister.Wetherby and Gina learn he has fallen down an old well and a media circus descends on the scene as firemen begin their rescue attempt, leaving Miller and his team working on one of their most chaotic cases yet when shots are fired from the house.Meanwhile, Peggy regrets renting out her spare room to a bothersome journalist who causes aggravation for the locals when he tries to cash in on local gossip. | ||||||
| 357 | 9 | "The Hospital Job" | Andrew Morgan | Jonathan Critchely | 3 May 2009 | 4.67 |
| Rachel helps the Ashfordly team investigate antiques dealer, who is accused of selling stolen goods.Joe and Wetherby stake out the shop to catch him red-handed, but the situation becomes life-threatening when he burns the shop down.Meanwhile, tragedy strikes for the troublesome Tinniswood family when the patriarch, a notorious burglar, dies, devastating his wife and driving his two children to follow in his criminal footsteps.Elsewhere, Joyce Jowett rallies the villagers together against a group of Taoist monks who become stranded in Aidensfield en route to a monastery in Middlesbrough. | ||||||
| 358 | 10 | "Ups and Downs" | Tony Prescott | John Flanagan | 10 May 2009 | 4.96 |
| Joe, Rachel and Wetherby pursue a cat burglar targeting the wealthiest homes in the district.A window cleaner comes under suspicion, followed by a Major staying at Ashfordly Hall who makes an enemy out of Joe when he begins a whirlwind romance with a smitten Carol. Meanwhile, Peggy attempts to marry David off to an old friend of hers, a former circus performer, and David soon begins warming to the idea. Elsewhere, Bernie worries when Rosie Cartwright fails to return from Australia and her family confess that they haven't heard from her in months. A panicked Bernie calls on Miller's assistant when the sheep-shearer who Rosie left with returns to Aidensfield alone. | ||||||
| 359 | 11 | "Thursday's Children" | Roger Bamford | Michael Eaton | 17 May 2009 | 5.36 |
| Joe and Rachel travel to Australia to track down a missing Rosie Cartwright and join forces with a local police sergeant.Sheep-shearer Mick becomes a suspect when they uncover evidence of domestic violence in his relationship with her, but Joe thinks the locals aren't telling him the whole truth. In Brisbane, Carol visits a monastery to find out more about her long-lost brother, but her search leads her into a deadly trap when she receives a call from someone claiming to have information. | ||||||
| 360 | 12 | "The Middle of Somewhere" | Roger Bamford | Michael Eaton | 24 May 2009 | 4.81 |
| In Australia, Joe and Rachel continue their search for Rosie, and after ruling out another suspect, they turn their attention to a local roadhouse near to where a missing woman's car was found abandoned. The search is on for the bar owner's son when the police discover he has a criminal record.The case relocates to Brisbane, where Carol delivers a baby and is later overjoyed when her long-lost brother Danny arrives in town, but when she is the latest in a long-line of blonde women to get kidnapped, Joe finally gets to the bottom of Rosie's horrific fate and risks everything to stop the same thing happening to Carol. Back in Aidensfield, Bernie and Younger are heartbroken when the truth about Rosie's disappearance is revealed. | ||||||
| 361 | 13 | "School of Hard Knocks" | Piotr Szkopiak | Peter Gibbs | 31 May 2009 | 4.90 |
| As Joe and Rachel return from their Australian adventure, the village bobby is called back to work when a no-nonsense teacher uses his experience of the Territorial Army to impose strict discipline at Ashfordly School, but he goes too far with a schoolboy trouble-maker and puts him in hospital.Determined to get revenge, the youngster breaks into Osgood's office and steals his gun, leaving Joe with little time to avert a tragedy. Meanwhile, Blaketon, Ventress and Bernie organize a trip to London for the villagers, whilst Peggy and David are horrified when they find a dead tramp in their barn. | ||||||
| 362 | 14 | "The Runaways" | Judith Dine | John Milne | 7 June 2009 | 4.90 |
| An accountant and his family crash into a tractor after being chased down a country lane by another car.Joe and Miller are intrigued by their erratic behaviour and investigate the incident, discovering they are on the run from a gangster who has arrived in Aidensfield determined to retrieve a set of incriminating documents, whatever the cost.Meanwhile, David comes into some money and uses it to buy an old Jeep with a surprising military history. | ||||||
| 363 | 15 | "Cashing In" | Gerry Mill | Shaun McKenna | 14 June 2009 | 4.32 |
| Rachel puts her life in great peril when she seizes the opportunity to nail the final two members of a notorious gang when the team try to crack down on a flood of forged banknotes in Aidensfield.Meanwhile, Miller is horrified when Younger arrests his wife for shoplifting and is forced to confront his marital troubles in full view of his officers, and Bernie is excited when he becomes convinced his idol Judy Garland has secretly moved to Aidensfield. | ||||||
| 364 | 16 | "A Whiter Shade of Pale" | Andrew Morgan | Mark Holloway | 18 July 2010 | 6.25 |
| Aidensfield newcomer Vivienne Mackay is found battered to death in her own kitchen after announcing her intention to marry a local businessman - who has not yet separated from his current wife.When Mackay's son is placed in his care, Joe receives an unwelcome reminder of his own mother's tragic murder, and personal feelings threaten to cloud his professional judgement as he becomes obsessed with getting justice for the youngster.Meanwhile, Dawn seizes an opportunity to make a fast profit using her cousin's hot dog van on the day of the Ashfordly cup final but finds herself in cut-throat competition with Peggy and her baked potato operation, leaving David caught in the middle when he agrees to assist the plucky young barmaid. | ||||||
| 365 | 17 | "The War of the Roses" | Jonas Grimas | Susan Wilkins | 25 July 2010 | 5.07 |
| Joe and Miller call a meeting of local farmers to bring to an end their harassment of a neighbour whose unacceptable farming practices have made him deeply unpopular, but it proceeds to make things worse.Meanwhile, Dawn falls for good-looking new barman at the pub, but discovers his charming manner conceals a tortured past that produces sudden angry outbursts, leaving Gina and Blaketon concerned for her safety when she becomes desperate to help him be rid his demons.Elsewhere, David helps Peggy to compile an inventory of house contents of a recently deceased woman, but fears his aunt's dodgy dealings have upset the restless spirit of the former resident. | ||||||
| 366 | 18 | "Ties That Bind" | Judith Dine | John Flanagan | 1 August 2010 | 4.71 |
| Joe is recruited by CID and finds himself working with old flame Rachel Dawson on her final case as a CID officer, after she faces demotion following an affair with a senior colleague, to investigate a spate of violent robberies at a number of post offices.Rachel's reappearance also causes trouble in Joe and Carol's blossoming relationship when she catches them in a clinch, despite his protest of innocence - and Carol's not the only one who's on the warpath about Joe and Rachel's chequed history. Meanwhile, Peggy and Blaketon form an unlikely alliance when they discover the wife of an old friend is a kleptomaniac and try to return a cupboard filled with strange items to their rightful owners without attracting the attention of the constabulary, whilst Dawn inadvertently causes a stir when she finds a source for gossip on a girls' night out. | ||||||
| 367 | 19 | "Deadlier Than the Male" | Dominic Leclerc | Peter Gibbs | 8 August 2010 | 5.06 |
| A women files for divorce when her violent husband destroys her family heirlooms after a dispute gets out of hand, and her hard-nosed solicitor does little to calm the situation and only serves to make the abusive couple worse, forcing Blaketon and Joe to step in to play peacemaker.Meanwhile, the daughter of Peggy's old friend takes an instant dislike to her and tries to ruin her close relationship with David by wooing the hapless handyman with the intention of turning him against his aunt and taking her place at the cottage. | ||||||
| 368 | 20 | "Jobs for the Boys" | Roger Bamford | Jane Hollowood | 15 August 2010 | 5.14 |
| Blaketon's golfing friend asks him and Ventress to investigate the disappearance of his estranged son, who left home after a blazing row with his overbearing father, but chaos ensures at a local nightclub when they rely on David to track the wayward youngster down and he has his drink spiked, whilst the Ashfordly police go on the trail of a modern-day Robin Hood and end up at the same nightclub on the same night - as does an angry Peggy! | ||||||
| 369 | 21 | "My One and Only" | Gerry Mill | Shaun McKenna | 22 August 2010 | 5.29 |
| A disgruntled client falls under suspicion when an insurance salesman is found murdered, but the victim's complicated private life gives Joe a lot to think about before the case is solved. Meanwhile, Ventress makes himself at home in the Aidensfield Arms while his house undergoes repairs, and soon overstays his welcome, while both Peggy and Miller attempt to stop a drunken war hero who has fallen on hard times from drinking himself to death, and Blaketon is suspicious about Gina and Wetherby's closeness. | ||||||
| 370 | 22 | "The Open Door" | Tim Dowd | Jonathan Critchely | 29 August 2010 | 5.34 |
| The man-eating Sgt Jennifer Nokes arrives to fill in for Miller when a lorry driver is savagely beaten and his consignment of condemned meat is stolen on the way to the incinerator, causing a health alert in Aidensfield.Meanwhile, Carol fears one of her senile patients is being targeted by a conman posing as her son, who died 20 years previously.Elsewhere, Peggy is asked to house-sit Mrs Grant's mansion and takes advantage of the opportunity by opening a makeshift B&B while the owner is away, with one of her first guests being none other than Alf Ventress after he outstays his welcome at the pub, but she and David later find themselves under arrest for handling stolen goods. | ||||||
| 371 | 23 | "Pass the Parcel" | Judith Dine | Mark Holloway | 5 September 2010 | 6.06 |
| Dawn's birthday party at the Aidensfield Arms turns into a hostage situation when Joe thwarts the schemes of gang of safe robbers who go on the hunt of a bag of explosives that David accidentally switches with Dawn's birthday present.Meanwhile, Blaketon bets Younger and Ventress that he can get to the bottom of what Wetherby gets up to every lunchtime, leading him into an embarrassing situation. | ||||||
| 372 | 24 | "Sweet Sorrow" | Roger Bamford | John Flanagan | 12 September 2010 | 6.00 |
| The arrival of a traumatised and wounded stranger in Aidensfield coincides with the discovery of a woman's body on the moors, and sets off a treacherous chain of events that leaves Oscar Blaketon's life hanging in the balance. | ||||||
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