Does anybody else love this show? I have a severe addiction to it. I bought the boxsets for season one and two. They arrived last wednesday so it's a week I've had them and in that time I've watched every single episode on the discs and two of them twice.

It's just so believable and so good. The characters are just normal people, that you've probably met a few times. Jack's a widower whose wife was killed by a hit and run driver, he still talks to her about the case he's working on or the dinner he's cooked. Brian is an obsessive compulsive and I guess the one concession to being unbelievable.

Quote:

“ Suspect: "Do you know what you were doing 33 years ago today?" Brian: "Let me think. Oh yes I took a call about a robbery . ." ”

Then there's Gerry. I love Gerry he's my favourite character. He's got three ex wives, three daughters and a grandson and in his own words "I'm a naughty boy, not a bastard." He's just so funny and so against the rules. One time they wanted to ID a suspect 17 years after the fact and the witness was six at the time and couldn't really remember him except from a nightmare in which he was running. So Gerry sets off the fire alarm and makes all the people in the line up run past her. "Running Man?" "Number four, definitely."

Anyway, anybody else like it?

Ok I'm still not sure if there are any fans here but I'm totally pyshed about the season finale last night

I don't want to spoil it for anybody who hasn't seen it either because of taping or whatever if you are a fan but geez it's not good for blood pressure or clarity of the mind. You will not to be able to think about anything else and it's not back till next year

Spoiler:

What a cliffhanger? Jack found out who killed Mary! I can totally understand him wanting to run the guy down but I really really don't want him too. It being understandable or not he would probably go to jail or definitely lose his job with UCOS and I don't want him to go out with it. Not to mention the guilt he'd probably feel.

One theory I have is that it Mary will talk to him and tell him not to do it and he'll slam the brakes on and turn the car at the last moment.
Another is that Gerry and the others will drive in just as he's turning on the lights and they'll put the pedal to the metal and slam into Jack's car at the side knocking it off course. Naturally nobody gets seriously hurt.
A third option is that they were in the parking lot and out of the car when he started the engine. Therefore if Gerry was close enough he could tackle Hansen out of the way.
Obviously he could hit Hansen but I do hope not.

Oh the episode was soooo good. I don't know what Gerry is playing at. She's not his daughter but he's going to pretend she is? Where is the logic in that, seriously? He's got a heart of gold, she doesn't have anybody else and so he's going to take care of her. Sweet but wrong. Mind you Dennis probably wants to work with his daughter again because his 'new' daughter is played by his real like one which must be nice.

Brian going mental when Sandra was going for promotion. Bless Esther for being worried about him and Gerry for saving him from himself. I love Gerry, he's a great character and Dennis Waterman is a very good actor and he just makes it all so believable. Although I'm not sure about him introducing a new daughter to the rest of his family and then running off. Sandra accused him of trying to stop her from getting promoted but really he wasn't, he was the only one that didn't blame her. Brian went off to play toy soldiers, Jack went off for revenge and Gerry was the only one doing work, which while it makes a change, him making excuses for the others so Sandra wouldn't know and be upset was so sweet.

Strickland definitely fancies Sandra. Ewww, no. I also didn't get the kiss that Gerry gave Sandra. I know he was grateful and didn't know hoe to express it so perhaps that's why it felt so awkward and unnatural. I don't know.

My favourite line though has got to be after a very sinister looking Kevin Whately (where's Louis gone?) got knocked unconcious after trying to strangle Sandra. She goes "That's a shame, up till then you could have made bail." I also really liked the reference to the pilot when she taped him.

Have I mentioned how much I love this show Well watching two seasons worth some of the episodes twice in less than a week probably is a bit of a giveaway.

How can I wait till next year?

Ok my enthusiasm for this show is not dampened at all by the fact nobody else appears to share it

Anyway, I've been checking the BBC press office and the actual BBC New Tricks site most days ever since it ended and yesterday I hit gold.

Under spoiler tags as it relates to next season. I've bolded the interesting bits.

Spoiler:

Amanda Redman, Dennis Waterman, Alun Armstrong and James Bolam are back for a fourth series of the hit drama New Tricks, due for transmission on BBC ONE next year.

Jack Halford (Bolam), Gerry Standing (Waterman) and Brian Lane (Armstrong) are rule-breaking ex-coppers brought out of retirement to investigate unsolved crimes and open cases under the watchful eye of Detective Superintendent Sandra Pullman (Redman).

Despite her frequent despair at the boys' policing methods, Pullman has learned that sometimes the rules are there to be broken – and never more so than in the opening episode of the new series.

Hell-bent on avenging his wife Mary's death, Halford is prepared to risk everything to kill the man responsible, Ricky Hanson (David Troughton).

As the enormity of the situation dawns on the rest of the team, they know they have got to act fast to prevent him from making a huge mistake.

But despite their last-minute intervention, Halford confronts his nemesis with near-disastrous consequences.

Lynda Bellingham makes a guest appearance in episode one as DCI Karen Hardwick.

Super-efficient and with the perfect work/life balance, Karen Hardwick irritates Pullman on every level. But with her entire team hospitalized, Pullman is forced to accept her help.

Threatened by a new face in the office and desperate to justify their positions, the boys need a case and it isn't long before they are investigating the 10-year-old unsolved crime of a patient murdered on their own ward.

Currently filming in London, New Tricks returns with eight new hour-long episodes and also features Susan Jameson, Anthony Calf and Natalie Forbes with guest appearances from Sheila Hancock, Eric Sykes, Lindsey Coulson, June Whitfield, John Sessions, Mark Womak, George Baker, David Harewood and Ian Mercer, among others.

During the series, the team re-investigate cases involving bungled robberies, pedophilia, an undercover operation in a nursing home, the world of male models, a 600-year-old murder and a British hanging.

Tom Sherry, Executive Producer and Head of Drama at Wall To Wall, says: "The fantastic support for New Tricks from the audience and critics alike has been overwhelming.

"The combination of outstanding writing and a hugely talented cast have made this series a real hit."

Producer Emma Turner concludes: "New Tricks appeals to every generation. In such a youth-obsessed culture it is a drama that celebrates age and experience, and the sense of perspective that that brings.

"In each episode there is comedy and a warmth that is undisputedly feelgood but it is always set against the backdrop of compelling and often dark crime stories.

Created by Roy Mitchell and Nigel McCrery, the fourth series of New Tricks is written by Roy Mitchell, John Wilsher, Lisa Holdsworth, Richard Zajdlic and Charles McKeown.

New Tricks is a Wall To Wall production (Who Do You Think You Are?, A Rather English Marriage, Our Boy, Plotlands) for BBC ONE, produced by Emma Turner (EastEnders, Holby City).

Executive Producer is Tom Sherry (Murphy's Law, and the soon-to-be screened BBC ONE comedy dramas Magnolia and The Good Housekeeping Guide).

Executive producers for the BBC are John Yorke and Eleanor Moran.

Yeah so, it's going to be back next year. Lord only knows how I've managed to survive since it ended with only season one and two to watch repeatedly. I can't wait till they release season three, if it bankrupts me I'm buying it as soon as it comes out, car insurance be damned.

Oooh I can't wait

I've never even seen this advertised what channel is it usually on?? times?? and all that jazz

It's on BBC1 and so it doesn't get much advertising. To the best of my recollection it's normally on at 9pm and I think the last time it was on a Monday. The BBC will probably change that though, it's not on at the moment. It starts again in the new year. I'll be sure to let everybody know.

Seriously, everybody should watch this show. It's my favourite over everything we feature here, all my other obsessions, including Without a Trace. I just love it.

From reading what you've put in your other posts it seems like it could be quite interesting Just thinking I might give it a go

Will I need to see all the other season to understand whats going on in the new ones?? lol! Cuz I may try and watch them some how, do you know if they are repeating any of the older episodes anywhen?

Um well the cliffhanger from last season. They might repeat them before they show season four. You don't need to watch season one or two though or really anything but the last episode of season three and it's so ingrained into my memory I could recount anything you need to know and more besides.

I run a little mini fansite for New Tricks - End of the Line and I'm going to update it with some character profiles soon and I can write you a little synopsis for the last episode here if you like.

I didn't see the first series, but I love this show!!! I haven't seen this thread before though. You do have a fellow addict, Spy_Master!!

Yay Flick. How awesome.

Quote:

“ Lady's Pleasure Drama series featuring an eccentric bunch of ex-policemen, brought out of retirement to investigate unsolved crimes. Pullman is forced to re-investigate a case that has always haunted her. Nancy Murray, a suburban house wife with a seemingly perfect life, lost control of her car and plunged through a restaurant window, dying instantly. As the team start to uncover the shocking secrets that Nancy was hiding, it soon becomes clear that her death came down to more than dangerous driving. from the radio times ”

They're repeating season three, hopefully in preparation for season four. This is on between 9 and 10 on Tuesday 6th February BBC1.

I can't wait, it's been since last June when I last watched this season of New Tricks, probably since April since I last saw this episode and it's really annoying. I have the first two boxsets but I really need new episodes.

We have a start date for season four

Monday 9 April, 9pm, BBC One

I am so excited.

From the BBC

Spoiler:

Jack Halford decides to take revenge against his wife's killer by running him down, but luckily Pullman and the team manage to crash into him before he succeeds.

From the TV Times

Spoiler:

The explosive start to this series sees Jack Halford's (James Bolam) revenge on his wife's murder land the UCOS team in hospital. But that's the least of Pullman's worries - how will she react when temporary help is brought in? And efficient, sickly sweet help to boot. Guest starring Lynda Bellingham as the feather ruffler in question (DCI Karen Hardwick), it's a sensational return.

This fits with one of my theories. Hopefully though everything will be back to normal, not that I'm excepting the aftermath to not be brilliant either. I just love New Tricks.

Season 3 DVD is advertised as being released on the 14th of May.

I can not wait. The BBC showed one episode of the last season and then stopped but I really want to watch it again. I've seen the previous two seasons probably into double figures.

Ok just finished watching the first episode of season four, so if you haven't seen it yet and are planning to I'd stop reading now.

The boys are back. I hadn't realised how badly I'd missed watching New Tricks until I saw it again. It was funny, it was sad, it was interesting, it kept me hooked all the way through.

Ok so what happened? Well one of my theories came true. Sandra crashed into the side of Jack's car throwing him off course so he didn't hit Hansen. That landed the entire team in hospital. Sandra was discharged the next day and went back to the unit to find DCI Karen Hardwick being super efficient. She thinks she's a plant. When she tells the boys this they tell her they're working on a case their doctor, Dr Mc-something, told them about. The case of three men dying the same night on the same ward, one of whom, Alan White, was murdered.

Jack starts off a bit confused (he hit his head) but he soon snaps back although I think we should be a little concerned that he feels 'invigorated' by his run in with Hansen. Hansen wasn't hit at all in the crash, he just stood there and then got in his car and drove off, he was going to run over Jack (who'd got out of his car) but people came out of the pub and so he didn't. He really is a sadistic bastard. He went to the hospital later and tried to smother Jack. He woke him up first and said "Say hi to the wife" very evil. Brian saved Jack though by whacking Hansen on the head with his crutch. Jack then saved Brian from being strangled with an oxygen tank.

By the end of the episode Strickland had apologised to Jack for not acting sooner on Hansen trying to kill him. DCI Hardwick also appeared not to be a spy, or if she was she didn't give any dirt out on the team. Very enamored with Jack, two commendations for bravery and the queen's police medal, she wasn't going to ruin his repetition. Also another old colleague of Gerry's from the pedophile unit. Some great interaction between Sandra and Gerry. My mum reckons that Sandra was a little jealous of Gerry flirting with another female colleague. I don't personally believe that, not really but there was certainly something going on.

There was good continuity all episode with the injuries. With them all being bandaged up at the beginning and the then gradually getting less obvious, even the bruises changed colours properly. However, my one complaint is that they didn't follow up on the 'Gerry has a new daughter' storyline. It was briefly drawn attention to when Gerry told the male nurse who thought he was gay that he has four daughters but that was it.

A great episode though. I can not wait till next week

Season Six is airing this Thursday 16th at 9pm BBC1!!

Man I've missed this. I love this show, it's just too awesome for words. Last season ended with Brian falling off the wagon and the first episode deals with that.

Spoiler:

The War Against Drugs

Alcoholic Brian spectacularly fell off the wagon at the end of the last series right in front of his longsuffering wife Esther. As this hugely entertaining, grown-up hybrid of Scooby-Doo and the Famous Five, or in this case the Famous Four, returns for a new series, he's gone into rehab. But it wouldn't be New Tricks if Brian (Alun Armstrong) didn't find trouble in the oddest places, and he scents a mystery when he learns that a heroin addict died in suspicious circumstances at the clinic some years previously. The place is run by a sinister bunch of monks, headed by Victor Meldrew himself, Richard Wilson, so you know that nothing is what it seems. It doesn't take long for Brian's pals at the unsolved crimes unit - Sandra, Jack and Gerry - to join their old mate in lots of daft antics, including Gerry (Dennis Waterman) checking in as a sex addict. It's a silly but engaging yarn spun in typical New Tricks-style, mixing farce with murder. In lesser hands this could be a queasy concoction, but here, it works perfectly.

There's two cover pictures on the TV mags, one on Radio Times and one on TV Guide with interviews inside. They are great interviews actually and really show how the cast offscreen play off against each other in a similar way to on screen. They appear to be great friends and not in the way that TV people always go on about how everybody's so nice. I'll summarise them.

Radio Times
Alun Armstrong wasn't there as he's filming something else in Scotland. Amanda teases Dennis about the FA cup (he's a Chelsea fan) and they talk about exchanging text messages about it. Dennis: We won. Amanda: Read this text. I don't effing care. it sounds harsh but it's not. They said they are all like their characters though Dennis claims the only difference between him and Gerry is that he can't cook. Dennis says that keeping a straight face on set isn't hard for him. That Amanda and James have trouble. Amanda admits that she's had to have her complete makeup redone because she's cried it off laughing too hard. Dennis said that he got recognised in France because of this and he sent Amanda a text telling her about it and she texted him back that she got recognised in India at the Taj Mahal because of New Tricks. Basically the entire interview appeared to have them having multiple giggle fits and the pictures bear that out. Well worth a read.

TV Guide
In this they mention some of the upcoming guest stars.

• Richard Wilson
• Fay Ripley (as Gerry's sex therapist)
• Dempsey and Makepeace
• Babera Flynn
• Phil Daniels

The interviewer asks if they think the show has the potential to run and run and then they joke about running. James likens it to The Soprano's where a storyline gets forgotten and then picked up the following season. Amanda says the best thing about working on the show is there's no ego and then they joke about closeups. They then joke about Alun Armstrong (who wasn't in this interview either) saying the prop boys give him acting notes, that they all give him acting notes, even the tea lady.

Yeah great show. It's back

I've just noticed this thread. Yes, Spy_Master, there are other addicts. In Ontario, Canada, TVO carries "New Tricks" and I love it.

Cheers,
Cynthia

I think i could have missed a few episodes of Series 6, but it's out on dvd in September and i own every other Series on dvd I still love it as much as i used to.