Heartbeat:
The Complete Sixth Series
“The
terrific multiple-award winning
ITV Yorkshire period police drama
Heartbeat, set in the 1960s in the fictional
North Yorkshire village of Aidensfield,
is as compelling and exciting as ever
in the sixth series, which is available
now
on DVD...”
THE SIXTIES HERALDED a new era and a time of change. It was a remarkable time;
having the diverseness of precociousness and naïveté. The evocative Heartbeat
encapsulates the decade perfectly, with the fabulous music, a relaxed and easier
way of life, interesting characters, the progressive attitudes of the age and
the now-classic cars.
In Heartbeat: The Complete Sixth Series, Aidensfield's local PC Nick
Rowan (Nick Berry: EastEnders) is coming to terms with the loss of his
wife Kate (played by Niamh Cusack) and is bringing up their daughter Katie with
the help of his mother-in-law Eileen (Anne Stallybrass).
His cases include a missing stallion belonging to Lord Ashfordly (Rupert Vansittart);
schoolboy Len Schofield (Christopher Maffei) who has suspicious bruising and
goes missing; and a grieving father searching for his daughter's killer.
Nick has begun to date primary school teacher Jo Weston (Juliette Gruber), but
she begins to think his job comes first as he investigates the gambling debts
of PC Alf Ventress (William Simons); Claude Greengrass (Bill Maynard) and his
dodgy dealings; disturbing anonymous letters, a hit-and-run involving District
Nurse Maggie Bolton (Kazia Pelka); and theft from a wine merchant while clashing
with Sgt Blaketon (Derek Fowlds), who often gets it wrong.
Romance for Gina (Tricia Penrose), niece of Aidensfield Arms landlord George
Ward (Stuart Golland), comes in the shape of chef Anton (Peter Washington) —
a love rival for Nick's colleague PC Phil Bellamy (Mick Jordan). Nick's mother
Ruby (Diane Langton) turns up out of the blue; but giving her son more cause
for concern is a young black man, Errol Jones (Shaun Parker), who may have stolen
the significant sum of money he has in his possession.
Along with murders, thefts, poaching, stalking, escaped convicts and a serious
coach crash in which a young woman is killed, Nick has to contend with the pretty
Sandra Croft (Alison Fielding), who is dangerously obsessed with him and also
financial consultant Nigel Wheeler (Pavel Douglas), who uses his association
with Jo's father to try to get money from the recently-widowed Joyce Jowett
(Elizabeth Bennett).
Nick is also considering taking his Sergeant's exam, which would take him away
from Aidensfield, and Jo will have to make some decisions about her future if
Nick's plans go ahead. He has already clashed with Jo's parents, Fiona (the
wonderful Wanda Ventham) and Graham Weston (Bernard Gallagher).
Heartbeat is compulsive viewing, nostalgic, witty and intriguing; well
acted and most of all totally believable. This enduringly popular series interweaves
crime and medical storylines with a host of colourful characters that viewers
have taken to their heart. The wonderfully nostalgic soundtrack is sung by Nick
Berry.
Other well-chosen songs include: As Tears Go By; Spirit In The Sky;
Itchycoo Park (Small Faces); Dedicated Follower Of Fashion; Magical
Mystery Tour; Gotta Go; Pretty Woman (Roy Orbison); the marvellous
Night Of Fear; Hang On Sloopy; The Long And Winding Road;
Pretty Flamingo (Manfred Mann); Sunshine Girl; Who Needs Paradise?;
It Takes Two; Chain Gang; and the fabulous Green Door.
Also featured is David Bamber (Television's Pride & Prejudice) as Adrian
Shaw and Michael Jayston as Michael Harvey. Heartbeat is devised by Johnny
Byrne, based on a book by Nicholas Rhea. Writers include: Keith Temple; Brian
Finch; Peter Gibbs; Guy Meredith and Jane Hollowood. Producer is Gerry Mill;
Director Ken Horn.
• The multiple-award winning ITV Yorkshire
police drama Heartbeat: The Complete Sixth Series is available from Network
Releasing for the first time on DVD on 15 August 2011. Certificate: 15 | Running
Time: 850 Minutes Approximately | 5-Disc Set | RRP: £49.99 | Catalogue Number:
7953563.
"Heartbeat is compulsive viewing, nostalgic, witty and intriguing; well
acted and totally believable"
— Maggie Woods, MotorBar
