Jack of Hearts (TV series)
Jack of Hearts is a six-part British television crime drama series, written by Sian Orrells and directed by Timothy Lay, that first broadcast on BBC1 on 4 August 1999.[1] Set and filmed in Cardiff, the series follows the life of a tough-talking probation officer, Jack Denby (Keith Allen), who finds that life and crime in the Welsh capital is much different to the workings of inner-city London, when he is forced to move away to join his girlfriend, Suzanne (Anna Mountford), a university lecturer.
Jack of Hearts | |
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Genre | Crime drama |
Written by | Sian Orrells |
Directed by | Timothy Lyn |
Starring |
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Opening theme | "Jack of Hearts" — Bonnie Tyler |
Composer | Mark Thomas |
Country of origin | United Kingdom |
Original language | English |
No. of series | 1 |
No. of episodes | 6 (list of episodes) |
Production | |
Executive producers |
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Producer | Dawn Walters |
Cinematography | Rory Taylor |
Editors |
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Running time | 50 minutes |
Production company | BBC Wales |
Release | |
Original network | BBC1 |
Picture format | 16:9 |
Audio format | Stereo |
Original release | 4 August – 8 September 1999 |
The series was broadcast on Wednesdays at 21:30, and was also repeated on Thursdays and Saturdays on BBC Choice.[2] The series was also accompanied by a theme written especially for the series, performed by Bonnie Tyler.[2] The series has yet to be released on DVD.
Reception
Mark Lawson of The Guardian gave the series a mixed review, writing; "Keith Allen's new series Jack of Hearts, about a hard-bitten parole officer, is a textbook lesson in formulaic drama. But it might just have that something it needs to find an audience."[3]
Cast
- Keith Allen as Jack Denby
- Anna Mountford as Suzanne Pryce
- Ruth Madoc as Jean Pryce
- Andrew Sachs as Peter Pryce
- Eluned Jones as Marjorie Haines
- Caroline Berry as Caroline Evans
- Steve Toussaint as Joe
- Miranda Llewellyn-Jenkins as Katie
- Siobhan Flynn as Lisa
- Geraint Morgan as Eric
Episodes
Episode[4] | Title | Written by | Directed by | Original airdate |
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1 | "Episode 1" | Sian Orrells | Timothy Lay | 4 August 1999 |
2 | "Episode 2" | Sian Orrells | Timothy Lay | 11 August 1999 |
3 | "Episode 3" | Sian Orrells | Timothy Lay | 18 August 1999 |
4 | "Episode 4" | Sian Orrells | Timothy Lay | 25 August 1999 |
5 | "Episode 5" | Sian Orrells | Timothy Lay | 1 September 1999 |
6 | "Episode 6" | Sian Orrells | Timothy Lay | 8 September 1999 |
References
- "Jack Of Hearts (BBC-1 1999, Keith Allen, Ruth Madoc)". Memorable TV. 11 March 2017. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
- "Curious British Telly: Jack of Hearts". Curious British Telly. 25 August 2016. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
- "Dramatic Tension". The Guardian. 2 August 1999. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
- "Search Results - BBC Genome". BBC Genome. Retrieved 23 January 2019.