City Central (TV series)

City Central
Genre	Police Procedural, Drama
Created by	Tony Jordan
Written by	Various
Directed by	Various
Starring	Paul Nicholls Ian Aspinall Dave Hill Ashley Jensen Sarah Kirkman Sean McKenzie Terence Harvey Michael Begley Lorraine Ashbourne Philip Martin Brown
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language(s)	English
No. of seasons	3
No. of episodes	32 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)	Mal Young Laura Mackie
Producer(s)	John Yorke Ken Horn
Location(s)	United Kingdom
Running time	50 minutes
Release
Original network	BBC One
Picture format	16:9
Audio format	Stereo
Original release	4 April 1998 – 19 June 2000

City Central was a BBC's police procedural television drama series, created by Tony Jordan, and broadcast on BBC One between 4 April 1998 and 19 June 2000. Three series of the programme were produced. The series was initially described as a "star vehicle" for actor Paul Nicholls, but focus slowly shifted away from his character and later focused on an ensemble cast.^[1]

The series is notable for having never been released on DVD; and also having never been repeated since its original broadcast.

Synopsis

City Central follows the everyday public and private lives of the detectives, policemen and policewomen who work at the inner-city Christmas Street police station in Manchester. Although heavily focusing on the uniform relief working at the station, the series featured a small number of CID officers, a factor which was later reduced in the third and final series, after creator Tony Jordan noted that The Bill had started focusing more on the storylines featuring their CID detectives rather than focusing on the everyday officer on the beat.^[2]

The series saw actor Paul Nicholls specifically step away from his role as Joe Wicks on Eastenders to take up the part of P.C. Terry Sydenham, after Nicholls described feeling "troubled and depressed", and felt that a change of character would help him with his own lifestyle. Many at the BBC described the series as a "star vehicle" for Nicholls. However, Nicholls soon began to feel that he was "trapped" by the series, and asked for his character to be written out mid-way through series two.^[3]

Cast

Paul Nicholls as P.C. Terry Sydenham (Series 1—2) Ian Aspinall as P.C. Colin Jitlada Dave Hill as P.C. Pete Redfern Ashley Jensen as P.C. Sue Chappell Sarah Kirkman as P.C. Mary Sutcliffe Sean McKenzie as P.C. Nick Green Martin Walsh as P.C. Clive Gardener Michael Begley as P.C. Richard Law Lorraine Ashbourne as Sgt. Yvonne Mackey Philip Martin Brown as Sgt. Paul Dobson Terence Harvey as Ch. Insp. Barnard

John Brobbey as D.C. Danny Abbott (Series 1) Ian Burfield as D.S. Ray Pickering (Series 1—2) Kate Gartside as D.S. Jane McCormack (Series 1—2) Connie Hyde as D.S. Janet Miller (Series 3) Ray Stevenson as D.I. Tony Baynham (Series 1—2) George Costigan as D.I. Jack Carter (Series 3) Andrew Redman as Inspector Mike Willis (Series 1) Jennifer Luckraft as P.C. Kate Foster (Series 1—2) Stephen Lord as P.C. Steve Jackson (Series 1—2) Katie Blake as P.C. Judy Byrd (Series 2)

Episode list

Series 1 (1998)

Episode	Title	Written by	Directed by	Viewers (millions)	Original airdate
1	"Parallel Lines"	Tony Jordan	Sallie Aprahamain	TBA	4 April 1998
The team come across the body of a young woman and a murder inquiry is set up, but for an already overworked CID team, resources are being stretched to their limit. Meanwhile, there's an armed siege in an old peoples' home, and the team help out a new recruit on his first day on the job.
2	"Pressure"	Tony Jordan	Sallie Aprahamain	TBA	11 April 1998
When a member of the Police Authority is burgled, he expects instant results. An empty baby-seat in a car involved in a traffic accident sends Terry on a frantic search for the missing child. Jane's arrival puts Ray's nose out of joint. And a robber sporting a bright-red comedy wig and glasses has escaped with cash from a betting shop.
3	"Justice Has to Be Done"	Matthew Graham	Simon Meyers	TBA	18 April 1998
Terry returns from his morning shift to find an intruder in his house, but realises first impressions can be deceptive. CID are desperate to find Geoff Morrison, the father of Hayley and the prime suspect for her murder. Sue and Steve are faced with an emergency situation.
4	"Throwing it All Away"	Matthew Graham	Simon Meyers	TBA	25 April 1998
Sue faces an armed robber, but the subsequent interview leaves her shaken, and questioning her future in the force. Richard gets a visit from a deranged young man looking for his brother. Sue is determined to celebrate her 25th birthday in style, and ends up in the arms of Ray.
5	"A Quiet Evening In"	Tony Jordan	Keith Boak	TBA	2 May 1998
The relief shift on night duty is being kept busy with a prostitute and her client causing a disturbance, a case of wife battery and constant reports of UFO sightings. Meanwhile, the murder case is going no-where and Tony has nothing left to go on.
6	"Nothing Like a Dame"	Tony Jordan	Keith Boak	TBA	9 May 1998
During a quiet shift, which is only helped by the bad weather, Pete and Terry have to go looking for Colin, who always avoids working in a downpour. The paperwork for the murder inquiry is almost complete and, although Jane has doubts about the confession, Tony refuses to listen to her opinion.
7	"A Night on the Town"	Simon Ashdown	Martin Hutchings	TBA	23 May 1998
Out shopping on his day off with his girlfriend Alison, Terry plays the hero when he nabs a shoplifter. Back on the beat, though, he bumps into an old school pal and realises being a boy in blue has its downside. A second body has been discovered and a new incident room is set up. To Ray's disappointment, Jane is recalled to the case. Progress is hampered by the loss of some important pathology reports. Meanwhile, Steve and Colin are on patrol when they see a chance to catch a recently released prisoner.
8	"Picking up the Pieces"	Tony Jordan	Ken Horn	TBA	30 May 1998
The murders of the two girls are finally linked by forensic evidence, forcing Ray and Jane to get the investigation back on track.
9	"Only Love Can Break Your Heart"	Ashley Pharaoh	Martin Hutchings	TBA	6 June 1998
Ray wakes up to a wrecked flat and some more bad news. Terry gets into trouble after arresting his mum's boyfriend, while Sue has a big decision to make. They both have to come to the rescue when Steve is stabbed and thrown into a canal. Meanwhile, Tony gets the murder investigation off the ground by interviewing all male students.
10	"Life and Death"	Tony Jordan	Ken Horn	TBA	20 June 1998
Tony and his team are sent on a wild goose chase in pursuit of their murder suspect. The murder team are playing a game of wait and see as their prime suspect disappears. Meanwhile, the team go in search of Steve's attacker, and Terry pleads for his job back.

Series 2 (1999)

Episode	Title	Written by	Directed by	Viewers (millions)[4]	Original airdate
1	"The Grace of God"	Tony Jordan	Kenneth Gleenan	8.19m	27 February 1999
A major operation is launched to catch a maniac who is attacking clergymen. New recruit PC Judy Byrd joins the Christmas Street team. Yvonne is having trouble with her son.
2	"Moving On"	Tony Jordan	Ken Horn	7.11m	6 March 1999
Terry has gone and those he's left behind have all been affected in a big way. His mum is beside herself with grief and Pete doesn't know what to do with himself. A hot-headed Steve has decided the best thing to do is join the Armed Response Team. Tony and Ray chase a vigilante who hunts down drug dealers.
3	"Neighborhood Botch"	Tony Jordan	Ken Horn	6.18m	13 March 1999
Judy has the thankless task of stepping into Terry's shoes when she's paired with his former partner, Pete. To make matters worse, the whole team's still in mourning and she doesn't know how to deal with their grief. Meanwhile, a seemingly drugs-related death at the hands of an angry mob, on a supposedly crime-free estate, baffles Tony and Ray, whose investigations are also hampered by a pair of hapless street robbers intent on pulling a major job in the city centre.
4	"Second Time Around"	Stephen Brady	Tim Leandro	7.41m	20 March 1999
Tony's wedding day arrives, bringing more than a few surprises. As he prepares to tie the knot with Maggie, he thinks all he's got to worry about is being late. He hasn't taken into account the flooded reception, an old mate who wants to kill himself or the return of his ex, Lucy. The suspicious death of a baby leads Steve to believe that the father is responsible, leading to a touching encounter for Sue.
5	"Paradise Lost"	Tony Jordan	Tim Leandro	7.27m	27 March 1999
The Christmas Street team have to control a riot among residents on a estate who have discovered that pedophile Michael Dennison is living among them. The hunt is on to find Dennison when he kidnaps Sue and takes her down into the city's dingy underground tunnels.
6	"Blue Legume"	Tony Hoare	Ken Horn	TBA	3 April 1999
A man dressed as an aubergine robs a building society and a man in a carrot costume mugs a customer in a restaurant. Tony returns home early from his honeymoon.
7	"The Killing Moon"	Doug Briggs	Ken Horn	6.61m	10 April 1999
CID prepares surveillance on Les Glover, a club owner and drugs dealer who is gathering cash for a big deal. Meanwhile, the uniform team lays bets on the identity and gender of Colin's new partner.
8	"Northern Soul"	Jeff Povey	Kenneth Gleenan	6.69m	17 April 1999
A call comes in to Christmas Street station, warning that an officer will die by 5.00pm that day. Not much notice is taken until it is discovered that David Crane, who has been in prison for stabbing Pete's partner Mance, is on his way north.
9	"No Son of Mine"	Jeff Povey	Terry McDonough	TBA	24 April 1999
Barnard is furious when he finds out that Ray has got to know his young daughter in the biblical sense. Loose cannon Steve, having been booted out of the Armed Response Unit, decides he wants to start a family. A 15-year-old boy is reported missing, and Colin and Nick have to sort out a hen party.
10	"Someone to Watch Over Me"	Tony Jordan	Terry McDonough	6.11m	1 May 1999
A team from the station stakes out a post office, hoping to foil an armed robbery, but the plan is compromised when Jane gets caught up in the action.
11	"Fair and Foul"	Patrick Wilde	Martin Hutchings	6.24m	8 May 1999
A man who claims to know the identity of Terry's murderer is brought in to Christmas Street station. Nick leaves a car as a decoy and it is stripped by thieves.
12	"Life, Liberty and Pursuit"	Tony Jordan	Martin Hutchings	6.47m	15 May 1999
DSI Gagan of the murder squad continues to interrogate Connor Rice, but with no hard evidence available there's a chance the thoroughly nasty drugs dealer could walk free, which is not something that Terry's mentor, Pete, wants to hear as he prepares to retire. Steve and Sue are caught in a pursuit through the city centre. Tony receives bad news.

Series 3 (2000)

The final episode of the series was due for broadcast on 17 June 2000, but was moved due to overrunning coverage of Euro 2000.

Episode	Title	Written by	Directed by	Viewers (millions)	Original airdate
1	"No Direction Home"	TBA	TBA	6.88m	15 April 2000
Christmas Street's new CID chief, Jack Carter, immediately upsets Barnard by arresting local dignitaries. Colin and Nick become involved with a homeless young couple who are being chased by an armed bounty hunter.
2	"Half Man, Half Cop"	TBA	TBA	TBA	22 April 2000
A one-man crime wave hits in the form of an impostor, and Jack and Janet investigate local drugs dealers – one of whom turns out to be the son of Barnard's new love.
3	"Everything Must Go"	TBA	TBA	TBA	29 April 2000
Jack and the team are after ambitious small-time dealer Gerald Ridley, but chances of them getting look slight after a bungled drugs bust, leaving Jack left to salvage something from the few scraps he has. Later, Colin goes to help social services take two children into care. However, it turns out they're ill-prepared and unequipped to deal with the mother and find themselves in the middle of a hostage situation.
4	"Respect"	TBA	TBA	TBA	6 May 2000
Clive tries some some heroics to help one of Mulholland's tenants, while Jack leads an operation hoping to finally nail the dodgy landlord. Meanwhile, Andy offers to work for Mulholland to offset his debt, but ends up having to set fire to a house.
5	"Nutcase"	TBA	TBA	TBA	13 May 2000
Alfie Stokes is a sadistic, underworld-type who now claims to have found God, and he's Jack's star witness in the prosecution of Barry Roberts, a local drug dealer, but then former sergeant Yvonne turns up - with some difficult questions. Nick is livid that Paul forgot to enter him for his sergeant's exams and threatens to take action.
6	"Above and Beyond"	TBA	TBA	TBA	20 May 2000
Jack's confidence is shaken to its core when he pushes his luck too far. Janet finds herself having to go beyond the bounds of duty when she tries to stop two brothers dealing in stolen videos. A girl tries to have her dad arrested to end his life of crime – but her plan has tragic consequences.
7	"She's the One"	TBA	TBA	6.46m	27 May 2000
Two young burglars break into Jack's house and steal his illegally held replica Colt 45 pistol, leaving everyone involved in hot water. Meanwhile, Colin is drawn into a couple's kinky fantasies while on a surveillance operation.
8	"Death Becomes Her"	TBA	TBA	6.09m	3 June 2000
The team are called in to break up a bare-knuckle fight but, in the ensuing fracas, an old woman collapses and dies. When her body goes missing, the team pursue a modern artist who wants to use a corpse in his latest masterpiece.
9	"Community Spirit"	TBA	TBA	5.45m	10 June 2000
Pete is having a rough couple of days. Nobody attends his police Q & A session on the Carcroft Estate, he's splattered with 'water' bombs and then he's suspended for clipping a 'lippy' boy around the ear. Then local lad Euan, one of the bombers, goes missing, but the Christmas Street cops don't get involved until late in the day – perhaps too late - and Pete's knowledge is sorely missed when the team try to find him.
10	"History"	TBA	TBA	5.18m	19 June 2000
Jack is put in a safe house after an arch enemy, Mark Dixon, is released from a psychiatric unit intent on revenge, convinced that Jack set him up. Dixon, a vicious rapist and murderer Jack put away some years ago, has already killed his old sergeant. Meanwhile, Colin and Richard are assigned an undercover operation to find a local bootlegger.

References

1. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0147756/fullcredits?ref_=tt_cl_sm#cast
2. http://www.londonscreenwritersfestival.com/speakers/tony-jordan
3. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1040315/How-EastEnder-Paul-Nicholls-bounced-drugs-drink-depression-TV-doctor.html
4. http://www.barb.co.uk/viewing-data/weekly-top-30/

External links

• City Central at the Internet Movie Database