Wycliffe (TV series)
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| Wycliffe | |
|---|---|
| Format | Drama |
| Starring | Jack Shepherd |
| No. of series | 5 + 1 Special |
| No. of episodes | 37 |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | HTV |
| Running time | 60 minutes (Special 90 minutes) |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | ITV |
| Original run | 1993 – 1998 |
| External links | |
| IMDb profile | |
Wycliffe is a British TV series, based on W. J. Burley's novels about Detective Superintendent Charles Wycliffe. It was produced by HTV and broadcast on the ITV Network between 1993 and 1998. The series was filmed in Cornwall, with a production office in Truro. Music for the series was composed by Nigel Hess, and was awarded the Royal Television Society award for the best television theme. Wycliffe is played by Jack Shepherd, assisted by DI Doug Kersey (Jimmy Yuill) and DI Lucy Lane (Helen Masters).
Each episode deals with a murder investigation. In the early series, the stories are adapted from Burley's books and are in classic whodunit style, often with quirky characters and plot elements. In later seasons the tone becomes more naturalistic and there is more emphasis on internal politics within the police.
Contents |
[edit] Cornwall
The Cornish setting is an important feature of the series, providing both picturesque landscapes and glimpses into the local way of life. Many characters work in the tourist trade. Problems of the region such as the struggling fishing industry, long-term unemployment, and prejudice against new age travellers are shown in various episodes.
Wycliffe and his team are responsible for a large geographical area and often have to spend time away from home during an investigation. This can cause problems for Wycliffe, who is shown as a contented family man, married to a teacher (Lynn Farleigh) and with two teenage children; it also makes it difficult for Lane and Kersey, who are both single, to form relationships outside work.
[edit] Murder Investigations and Police Themes
The series shows detective and forensic work in a reasonably accurate way, but the emphasis is more on the human stories surrounding the murders. Wycliffe is a quiet, thoughtful man, a skilled observer of people and an astute interviewer, and these qualities enable him to solve the crimes.
Internal police politics provide slow-burning story arcs in the later series, with Wycliffe constantly having to deal with red tape, budget restraints and a blustering, image-obsessed Deputy Chief Constable. Lane is offered promotion, though she later realises she is being used to fulfil gender quotas in the force rather than being judged on her ability; as a result there are tensions between her and Kersey, though they have previously been close. Kersey is the subject of an internal investigation and is forced to reconsider his future career after being accused of a misjudgement leading to the death of a prisoner in custody.
A feature-length 'special' was filmed between Series 4 & 5, which ended with Wycliffe being shot by a criminal. During Series 5 he is shown struggling to recover from the trauma of this injury; the darker tone of this series culminates with Wycliffe falsely accused of a crime and only proven innocent at the last moment.
[edit] End of the Series
During the filming of Series 5 Jimmy Yuill fell ill with meningitis, and the production company terminated his contract. Though he made a full recovery, the production company refused to allow him to return to the programme, apparently for insurance reasons. This caused considerable ill-feeling and Jack Shepherd made it clear he did not wish to continue as Wycliffe. ITV did not recommission the programme.
[edit] Trivia
Wycliffe's hobby of playing jazz piano reflects Jack Shepherd's interest in music. Shepherd did all his own piano playing in the series.
Helen Masters became pregnant at the beginning of Series 5 and scripts were adjusted so that her character, Lane, could also be pregnant.
[edit] External links
- Wycliffe at the Internet Movie Database
