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Prime Suspect

Prime Suspect is a British police procedural television series devised by Lynda La Plante. It stars Helen Mirren as Jane Tennison, one of the first female Detective Chief Inspectors in Greater London's Metropolitan Police Service, who rises to the rank of Detective Superintendent while confronting institutionalised sexism within the police force.

Prime Suspect
Prime Suspect title
GenrePolice procedural
Created byLynda La Plante
StarringHelen Mirren
ComposerStephen Warbeck
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series7
No. of episodes15 (list of episodes)
Production
Running time100 minutes
Production companiesGranada Television/ITV Productions
WGBH Boston/Masterpiece Mystery
Original release
NetworkITV
Release7 April 1991 (1991-04-07) –
22 October 2006 (2006-10-22)

Plot edit

Prime Suspect focuses on a no-nonsense female Detective Chief Inspector (DCI), Jane Tennison (played by Helen Mirren), who is an officer in the Metropolitan Police, initially at the fictional Southampton Row police station.

The series follows her constant battles to prove herself within a male-dominated profession in which many of her colleagues are determined to see her fail, though she has the support of her boss, Detective Chief Superintendent Mike Kernan (John Benfield), and the loyalty of Detective Sergeant Richard Haskons (Richard Hawley).

In later series, Tennison is reassigned to rotating duties, including a vice squad in Soho and a gang squad in Manchester. She is promoted to Detective Superintendent in series 4 and retires from policing at the end of series 7.

Cast edit

Main cast edit

  • Helen Mirren as Detective Chief Inspector Jane Tennison, initially of Southampton Row Police Station in Central London, later Detective Superintendent in series 4. Mirren has described Tennison as "extremely directed, ambitious, talented and very uncompromising. Therefore she is deeply frustrated by her job; the way her sex is a barrier."[1]
  • John Benfield as Detective Superintendent Michael Kernan (series 1–4), Tennison's supervisor, later Detective Chief Superintendent
  • Richard Hawley as Detective Constable Richard Haskons (series 1–4), later Detective Sergeant and Detective Inspector
  • Tom Bell as Detective Sergeant Bill Otley (series 1, 3, 7)
  • Jack Ellis as Detective Inspector Tony Muddyman (series 1–2, 4)
  • Craig Fairbrass as Detective Inspector Frank Burkin (series 1–2)
  • Mossie Smith as Constable Maureen Havers (series 1, 4)
  • Ian Fitzgibbon as Detective Constable Jones (series 1–2)
  • Philip Wright as Detective Constable Lillie (series 1–3)
  • Andrew Tiernan as Detective Constable Rosper (series 1–2)
  • Gary Whelan as Detective Sergeant Terry Amson (series 1)
  • Stephen Boxer as Detective Chief Inspector Thorndike, later Detective Superintendent (series 2–4)
  • Stafford Gordon as Commander Traynor (series 2–4)
  • Mark Strong as Detective Inspector Larry Hall (series 3, 6), later Detective Chief Superintendent in series 6
  • Robert Pugh as Detective Sergeant Alun Simms (series 6–7)

Supporting cast, including notable guest stars edit

Episodes edit

SeriesEpisodesOriginally airedAvg. UK viewers
(millions)
First airedLast aired
127 April 1991 (1991-04-07)8 April 1991 (1991-04-08)14.02
2215 December 1992 (1992-12-15)16 December 1992 (1992-12-16)14.35
3219 December 1993 (1993-12-19)20 December 1993 (1993-12-20)14.15
4330 April 1995 (1995-04-30)15 May 1995 (1995-05-15)12.73
5220 October 1996 (1996-10-20)21 October 1996 (1996-10-21)14.52
629 November 2003 (2003-11-09)10 November 2003 (2003-11-10)10.19
7215 October 2006 (2006-10-15)22 October 2006 (2006-10-22)8.21

Concept and development edit

Themes edit

The first series features sexism in the workplace as a significant subplot and a barrier to the investigation. Sequels have tended to downplay this theme, relying on straight procedure or on other subplots, such as institutional racism in Prime Suspect 2 or child sexual abuse and prostitution in Prime Suspect 3, but they continue to demonstrate the determination of some of Tennison's male peers and those in upper echelons to see her fail.

Tennison's difficulty in achieving a balance between her work and her life outside the job, and her difficulty in maintaining stable relationships, are recurring themes within the series. Towards the end of Prime Suspect 3 she arranges to have her pregnancy terminated. As the series progresses, she increasingly relies on alcohol to help her cope. This culminates in the final episode of the series in her attending meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous, where she finally acknowledges and confronts her addiction.

Setting edit

Prime Suspect is set mostly in London and surrounding areas, but series 5 is set in Manchester.

Production edit

Every series of Prime Suspect except series 4 follows a single case and runs around 312 hours (excluding commercials). It has usually been shown in two or four parts. Prime Suspect 4 is an exception at slightly over five hours, with three separate cases.

The first five series were produced annually from 1991 to 1996, until Mirren left the role, supposedly to avoid typecasting (according to a PBS interview). She returned to play the character in 2003 and again in 2006.

Prime Suspect was produced by Granada Television for the ITV network. Series four to seven were co-produced by WGBH Boston for its Masterpiece Mystery anthology series.

Music edit

The first five series were scored by the Academy Award-winning composer Stephen Warbeck, who was nominated for a BAFTA TV Award for Prime Suspect series one. Rob Lane composed the music for Series 6. Nicholas Hooper won a BAFTA TV Award for his score for Series 7.

Reception and impact edit

Prime Suspect was voted 68th in the list of 100 Greatest British Television Programmes as compiled by a poll given by the British Film Institute, and in 2007 it was listed as one of Time magazine's "100 Best TV Shows of All-TIME."[2] The series has won multiple BAFTA Awards, Emmy Awards, and a Peabody Award.

Awards and nominations edit

Prime Suspect won the BAFTA TV Award for Best Drama Serial over G.B.H. in 1991.[3] Afterwards, four of the seven voting members of the jury raised a discrepancy to jury chairperson Irene Shubik,[4] and later signed a public statement declaring that they had voted for G.B.H. to win.[3] BAFTA Chairman Richard Price stated that the ballot papers passed on to him by Shubik had shown four votes for Prime Suspect and three for G.B.H.[3] Price claimed that the ballot papers could not be recounted as they had subsequently been destroyed.[4] Prime Suspect won Best Drama Serial once more for series three, and was nominated four other times.[5] The series won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Miniseries three times, and was nominated twice more.[6]

Mirren won three BAFTA TV Awards for Best Actress for the role, and has been nominated three other times.[5] She won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie twice, with four additional nominations.[6]

Prime Suspect 3 was awarded a Peabody Award in 1993 for its realistic scenes and dialogue.[7][8] Writer/creator Lynda La Plante received an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for series one in the category of Best TV Feature or Miniseries. The following year, Allan Cubitt won in the same category for series two. Prime Suspect was later nominated for series three and six.[9]

Series Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
Series 1 (1991) British Academy Television Awards Best Drama Serial Christopher Menaul, Lynda La Plante, Don Leaver Won [5]
Best Actress Helen Mirren Won
Zoe Wanamaker Nominated
Best Actor Tom Bell Nominated
Best Film or Video Editor – Fiction Edward Mansell Won
Best Film or Video Photography – Fiction Ken Morgan Won
Best Sound – Fiction Ray French, Brian Saunders, John Rutherford, Paul Griffiths-Davies Nominated
Best Design Roy Stonehouse Nominated
Best Original Television Music Stephen Warbeck Nominated
Edgar Awards Best TV Feature or Miniseries Lynda La Plante Won [9]
Royal Television Society Awards Best Single Drama Prime Suspect Won [10]
Performance Award Helen Mirren Won
Writer's Award Lynda La Plante Won
Series 2 (1992) British Academy Television Awards Best Drama Serial Paul Marcus, John Strickland, Allan Cubitt Nominated [5]
Best Actress Helen Mirren Won
Best Film or Video Editor – Fiction Edward Mansell Nominated
Best Sound – Fiction Nick Steer, John Rutherford, John Thomas, John Senior, Jaquie Ophir, John Whitworth Nominated
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Miniseries Sally Head, Paul Marcus Won [6]
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Special Helen Mirren Nominated
Edgar Awards Best TV Feature or Miniseries Allan Cubitt Won [9]
Series 3 (1993) British Academy Television Awards Best Drama Serial Paul Marcus, David Drury, Lynda La Plante Won [5]
Best Actress Helen Mirren Won
Best Film or Video Editor – Fiction Edward Mansell Nominated
Best Design Chris Truelove Nominated
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Miniseries Sally Head, Paul Marcus Won [6]
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Special Helen Mirren Nominated
Outstanding Writing in a Miniseries or Special Lynda La Plante Nominated
Peabody Award Prime Suspect Won [7]
Edgar Awards Best TV Feature or Miniseries Lynda La Plante Nominated [9]
Series 4 (1995) British Academy Television Awards Best Drama Series Paul Marcus Nominated [5]
Best Actress Helen Mirren Nominated
Photography and Lighting – Fiction David Odd Nominated
Best Sound – Fiction/Entertainment Nick Steer, John Rutherford, John Senior, John Whitworth Nominated
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Special Helen Mirren (for "Scent of Darkness") Won [6]
Series 5 (1996) British Academy Television Awards Best Actress Helen Mirren Nominated [5]
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Miniseries Gub Neal, Rebecca Eaton, Lynn Horsford Won [6]
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Special Helen Mirren Nominated
Series 6 (2003) British Academy Television Awards Best Drama Serial David Boulter, Peter Berry, Tom Hooper Nominated [5]
Best Actress Helen Mirren Nominated
British Academy Television Craft Awards Editing – Fiction/Entertainment St John O'Rorke Nominated
Best Sound – Fiction/Entertainment Simon Okin, Ben Baird, Nick Roberts Nominated
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Miniseries or Movie David Boulter, Rebecca Eaton, Andy Harries Nominated [6]
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie Helen Mirren Nominated
Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries Movie or a Dramatic Special Tom Hooper Nominated
Edgar Awards Best TV Feature or Miniseries Peter Berry Nominated [9]
Royal Television Society Craft & Design Awards Make Up Design - Drama David Myers Nominated [11]
Series 7 (2006) British Academy Television Awards Best Drama Serial Andrew Benson, Philip Martin, Frank Deasy, Andy Harries Nominated [5]
British Academy Television Craft Awards Best Writing Frank Deasy Nominated
Best Original Music Nicholas Hooper Won
Best Editing – Fiction/Entertainment Trevor Waite Nominated
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Miniseries or Movie Andrew Benson, Philip Martin, Frank Deasy, Andy Harries Nominated [6]
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie Helen Mirren Won
Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries or Movie Frank Deasy Won
Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries or Movie Philip Martin Won
Golden Globe Awards Best Miniseries or Television Film Andrew Benson, Philip Martin, Frank Deasy, Andy Harries Nominated [12]
Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film Helen Mirren Nominated
Royal Television Society Awards Drama Serial Prime Suspect Nominated [13]
Best Actor - Female Helen Mirren Won

Influence on other programmes edit

Many observers have viewed Prime Suspect as the inspiration for female characters in U.S. TV series, particularly noting strong similarities between this series in general—and the character of Jane Tennison in particular—and the later American series The Closer, starring Kyra Sedgwick in the role of Deputy Chief of Police Brenda Leigh Johnson. Critics noted the similarities between the series in a stronger way during the first seasons of The Closer, with one 2006 article in USA Today calling The Closer "an unofficial Americanization" of the British series,[14] and a later reviewer noting that, "When The Closer was first shown, critics were quick to compare it to Prime Suspect...[and] there's something in that...."[15]

In interviews Sedgwick has acknowledged that The Closer owes "a debt" to Prime Suspect, and that her admiration for that show and for Mirren were factors that first interested her in the role.[16] According to Sedgwick, Prime Suspect was one of the shows that "paved the way" for The Closer,[17] and her manager got her interested in the series by saying that it was "a little bit like Prime Suspect."[18][19] Sedgwick is quoted as saying that the Tennison character did become her inspiration in some ways for her portrayal of Brenda Leigh Johnson.[20]

Reviewers in U.S. papers, including the Christian Science Monitor, have noted that The Closer, while not a direct remake of the British series, "owes" much to it,[21] or that it "echoes many of the elements" of it.[22] One The New York Times article refers to The Closer as a "direct descendant" of Prime Suspect, although less hard-hitting than the original:

There is one show, however, that is a direct descendant, however different its tone might be: The Closer, on which Kyra Sedgwick’s Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson obsesses over her cases, tramples feelings and battles the old-boy network. Her vice, however, is candy; no booze or one-night stands. If you want the hard stuff, you need to head back to Prime Suspect.[23]

Other reviewers have also made the point that the differences between Tennison and Johnson are as important as their similarities:

But then there's the locker-room pissiness of her [Johnson's] all-male department, which she navigates like an estrogen version of Prime Suspect's Jane Tennison. (That's not a running gag error, either: Sedgwick plays Johnson as if her toughness, intelligence and wit blossomed naturally from her Southern femininity, whereas Helen Mirren plays the dogged Tennison as if womanhood were a liability.)[24]

NBC picked up an adaptation of the British series for the 2011–2012 season.[25] It was taken off the schedule after 13 episodes were produced.[26]

Spoofs edit

In 1997 a short spoof episode Prime Cracker was produced for the BBC's biennial Red Nose Day charity telethon in aid of Comic Relief. A crossover with ITV stablemate crime drama Cracker, the spoof starred Mirren and Cracker lead Robbie Coltrane as their characters from the respective series, sending up the perceived ultra-seriousness of both shows.

Dead Ringers featured a parody with Queen Elizabeth II in the lead role, as a reaction to Helen Mirren's portrayal of her in the 2006 film The Queen.

Prequel series edit

A six-part prequel, Prime Suspect 1973, was announced in 2015 by ITV, based on the book Tennison by Lynda La Plante, adapted by Glen Laker. It tells the story of a 22-year-old Jane Tennison as a probationary WPC in Hackney, London, investigating her first murder case.[27] The series began airing on 2 March 2017. The role of Tennison is played by Stefanie Martini.[28] In June 2017, ITV confirmed that the series had not been recommissioned for a second series.[29]

Home media edit

On 1 October 2013, Netflix made the Series 1–6 available online for streaming.[30] On 27 August 2013, Acorn Media released the entire series in a seven-disc Blu-ray Disc set. Each disc contains the individual programme, upscaled to 1080p HD and converted to 16:9 Widescreen (apart from season 4 episode 1 which remains in 4:3 aspect ratio). Bonus material includes a 50-minute behind-the-scenes special, a 23-minute Series 6 behind-the-scenes featurette, a photo gallery and cast filmographies.[31]

The DVD format of the series was released in 2010 by ITV Studios/Global entertainment. It has an overall running time of 1,437 minutes approximately, and encompasses ten discs, with each Series set on one disc except the triple-episode Series 4, which is set over three discs. As with the Blu-ray production, the final disc contains a Behind-the-Scenes of Series 7.

References edit

  1. ^ . PBS. Archived from the original on 6 November 2016. Retrieved 10 September 2018 – via pbs.org.
  2. ^ Poniewozik, James (6 September 2007). . Time. Archived from the original on 28 October 2007. Retrieved 4 March 2010.
  3. ^ a b c Wittstock, Melinda (8 April 1992). "Confusion becomes the BAFTA prime suspect". The Times. London. p. 1.
  4. ^ a b Wittstock, Melinda (2 May 1992). "'Fibs' slur incenses BAFTA award judges". The Times. London. p. 18.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i "BAFTA Awards Search: Prime Suspect". BAFTA TV Awards. Retrieved 10 September 2018 – via awards.bafta.org.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h "Awards Search: Prime Suspect". Emmy Awards. Retrieved 10 September 2018 – via emmys.com.
  7. ^ a b "Mystery! Prime Suspect (1993)". Peabody Awards. Retrieved 10 September 2018 – via peabodywards.com.
  8. ^ "Peabody Awards Archives". Retrieved 10 September 2018 – via libs.uga.edu.
  9. ^ a b c d e "Search the Edgars Database: Prime Suspect". Edgar Awards. Retrieved 10 September 2018 – via theedgars.com.
  10. ^ "Awards Archive" (PDF). Royal Television Society. February 2011. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  11. ^ "CRAFT & DESIGN AWARDS 2004". Royal Television Society. 24 January 2011. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  12. ^ "Golden Globe Awards for Prime Suspect: The Final Act". Golden Globe Awards. Retrieved 10 September 2018 – via goldenglobes.com.
  13. ^ . 16 March 2007. Archived from the original on 16 March 2007. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  14. ^ Bianco, Robert (12 June 2006). "Call 911 for TNT's 'Saved'; 'Closer' still beats strong". USA Today. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
  15. ^ Bernhard, Brendan (19 June 2007). "Who Needs David Caruso?". The New York Sun. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
  16. ^ Boedeker, Hal (25 July 2007). . Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, Florida: Tronc. Archived from the original on 7 September 2015. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
  17. ^ Ulaby, Neda (12 July 2010). "Power Player: Kyra Sedgwick Returns In The Closer". NPR Morning Edition. NPR. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
  18. ^ Poniewozik, James (26 July 2007). . Time. New York City: Meredith Corporation. Archived from the original on 7 March 2008. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
  19. ^ Taped interview with Kyra Sedgwick, along with other cast members and creators of The Closer, Fancast.com. 17 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  20. ^ Heffernan, Virginia (10 July 2006). "The Closer's Kyra Sedgwick, a Study in Nuance". The New York Times. new York City. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
  21. ^ Goodale, Gloria (12 July 2010). "The Closer opened doors for women – and for basic cable". The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
  22. ^ Stanley, Alessandra (10 November 2006). "Swan Song for a Tough Old Bird". The New York Times. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
  23. ^ Hale, Mike (3 September 2010). "A Complete Look at a Complex Character". The New York Times. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
  24. ^ Abele, Robert (23 June 2005). "Wounded Souls". LAweekly.com. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
  25. ^ Seidman, Robert (6 July 2011). . TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on 9 July 2011. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
  26. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (14 November 2011). "NBC To Give Harry's Law Full-Season Order; Prime Suspect Gone?". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
  27. ^ "Prime Suspect prequel sees return of Jane Tennison on ITV". The Guardian. 18 June 2015. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  28. ^ "Tennison cast list: Stefanie Martini to play the young Jane Tennison in Prime Suspect prequel". Radio Times. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  29. ^ "Prime Suspect 1973 won't return for a second series". Digital Spy. 21 June 2017. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  30. ^ Cruz, Gilbert (1 October 2013). "What's New on Netflix Streaming This Month: October 2013". vulture.com. Retrieved 2 October 2013.
  31. ^ Lambert, David (6 June 2013). . TVShowsOnDVD.com. Archived from the original on 10 June 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2013.

External links edit

prime, suspect, series, american, series, police, term, prime, suspect, other, uses, prime, suspect, disambiguation, british, police, procedural, television, series, devised, lynda, plante, stars, helen, mirren, jane, tennison, first, female, detective, chief,. For the U S series see Prime Suspect American TV series For the police term see Prime suspect For other uses see Prime suspect disambiguation Prime Suspect is a British police procedural television series devised by Lynda La Plante It stars Helen Mirren as Jane Tennison one of the first female Detective Chief Inspectors in Greater London s Metropolitan Police Service who rises to the rank of Detective Superintendent while confronting institutionalised sexism within the police force Prime SuspectPrime Suspect titleGenrePolice proceduralCreated byLynda La PlanteStarringHelen MirrenComposerStephen WarbeckCountry of originUnited KingdomOriginal languageEnglishNo of series7No of episodes15 list of episodes ProductionRunning time100 minutesProduction companiesGranada Television ITV ProductionsWGBH Boston Masterpiece MysteryOriginal releaseNetworkITVRelease7 April 1991 1991 04 07 22 October 2006 2006 10 22 Contents 1 Plot 2 Cast 2 1 Main cast 2 2 Supporting cast including notable guest stars 3 Episodes 4 Concept and development 4 1 Themes 4 2 Setting 4 3 Production 4 4 Music 5 Reception and impact 5 1 Awards and nominations 5 2 Influence on other programmes 5 3 Spoofs 6 Prequel series 7 Home media 8 References 9 External linksPlot editPrime Suspect focuses on a no nonsense female Detective Chief Inspector DCI Jane Tennison played by Helen Mirren who is an officer in the Metropolitan Police initially at the fictional Southampton Row police station The series follows her constant battles to prove herself within a male dominated profession in which many of her colleagues are determined to see her fail though she has the support of her boss Detective Chief Superintendent Mike Kernan John Benfield and the loyalty of Detective Sergeant Richard Haskons Richard Hawley In later series Tennison is reassigned to rotating duties including a vice squad in Soho and a gang squad in Manchester She is promoted to Detective Superintendent in series 4 and retires from policing at the end of series 7 Cast editMain cast edit Helen Mirren as Detective Chief Inspector Jane Tennison initially of Southampton Row Police Station in Central London later Detective Superintendent in series 4 Mirren has described Tennison as extremely directed ambitious talented and very uncompromising Therefore she is deeply frustrated by her job the way her sex is a barrier 1 John Benfield as Detective Superintendent Michael Kernan series 1 4 Tennison s supervisor later Detective Chief Superintendent Richard Hawley as Detective Constable Richard Haskons series 1 4 later Detective Sergeant and Detective Inspector Tom Bell as Detective Sergeant Bill Otley series 1 3 7 Jack Ellis as Detective Inspector Tony Muddyman series 1 2 4 Craig Fairbrass as Detective Inspector Frank Burkin series 1 2 Mossie Smith as Constable Maureen Havers series 1 4 Ian Fitzgibbon as Detective Constable Jones series 1 2 Philip Wright as Detective Constable Lillie series 1 3 Andrew Tiernan as Detective Constable Rosper series 1 2 Gary Whelan as Detective Sergeant Terry Amson series 1 Stephen Boxer as Detective Chief Inspector Thorndike later Detective Superintendent series 2 4 Stafford Gordon as Commander Traynor series 2 4 Mark Strong as Detective Inspector Larry Hall series 3 6 later Detective Chief Superintendent in series 6 Robert Pugh as Detective Sergeant Alun Simms series 6 7 Supporting cast including notable guest stars edit Tom Wilkinson as Peter Rawlins series 1 Tennison s divorced live in boyfriend Zoe Wanamaker as Moyra Hanson series 1 George Marlow s common law wife Ralph Fiennes as Michael series 1 John Bowe as George Marlow series 1 Maxine Audley as Doris Marlow series 1 Colin Salmon as Detective Sergeant Bob Oswalde series 2 George Harris as Vernon Allen series 2 Lloyd McGuire as Sergeant Calder series 2 Peter Capaldi as Vera Vernon Reynolds series 3 Andrew Woodall as Detective Inspector Brian Dalton series 3 David Thewlis as James Jackson series 3 James Frain as Jason Baldwin series 3 an adult child abuse victim Struan Rodger as Superintendent Halliday series 3 Chris Fairbank as Detective Chief Inspector David Lyall series 3 Ciaran Hinds as Edward Parker Jones series 3 the manager of a community centre Kelly Hunter as Jessica Smithy series 3 a reporter Jonny Lee Miller as Anthony Field series 3 an adult victim of child abuse Mark Drewry as Detective Inspector Ray Hebdon series 3 Danny Dyer as Martin Fletcher series 3 a homeless street boy Stuart Wilson as Dr Patrick Schofield series 4 a psychologist whom Tennison consults and then dates Anthony Daniels as a pathologist series 4 Sophie Stanton as Detective Sergeant Christine Cromwell series 4 Beatie Edney as Susan Covington series 4 a young mother whose child is kidnapped Robert Glenister as Chris Hughes series 4 Lesley Sharp as Anne Sutherland series 4 Jill Baker as Maria Henry series 4 a lawyer Kelly Reilly as Polly Henry series 4 Maria s daughter Christopher Fulford as Detective Chief Inspector Tom Mitchell series 4 Tim Woodward as George Marlow series 4 Joyce Redman as Doris Marlow series 4 David Ryall as Oscar Bream series 2 4 Marc Warren as Detective Constable Andy Dyson series 4 Steven Mackintosh as Clive Norton a k a The Street series 5 David O Hara as Detective Sergeant Gerry Rankine series 5 Marsha Thomason as Janice Lafferty series 5 Ray Emmet Brown as Michael Johns series 5 John McArdle as Detective Chief Superintendent Ballinger series 5 Julia Lane as Detective Inspector Claire Devanney series 5 Liam Cunningham as Robert West series 6 Ben Miles as Detective Chief Inspector Simon Finch series 6 Sam Hazeldine as Detective Constable David Butcher series 6 Barnaby Kay as Detective Constable Michael Philips series 6 Ingeborga Dapkunaite as Jasmina Blekic series 6 Tanya Moodie as Detective Constable Lorna Grieves series 6 Velibor Topic as Dusan Zigic series 6 Oleg Menshikov as Milan Lukic Dragan Yankovich series 6 Clare Holman as Mrs Lukic series 6 Frank Finlay as Arnold Tennison series 6 Phoebe Nicholls as Shaw series 6 Rad Lazar as Kasim Ibrahimovic series 6 Gary Lewis as Tony Sturdy series 7 Stephen Tompkinson as Sean Philips series 7 Laura Greenwood as Penny Philips series 7 Eve Best as Linda Philips series 7 Brendan Coyle as DCS Mitchell series 7 Robbie Gee as Detective Inspector Traynor series 7 Ellie Kendrick as Melanie series 7 Russell Mabey as Detective Inspector Cox series 7 Carolyn Pickles as Pauline Hammond series 7 Episodes editMain article List of Prime Suspect British TV series episodes SeriesEpisodesOriginally airedAvg UK viewers millions First airedLast aired127 April 1991 1991 04 07 8 April 1991 1991 04 08 14 022215 December 1992 1992 12 15 16 December 1992 1992 12 16 14 353219 December 1993 1993 12 19 20 December 1993 1993 12 20 14 154330 April 1995 1995 04 30 15 May 1995 1995 05 15 12 735220 October 1996 1996 10 20 21 October 1996 1996 10 21 14 52629 November 2003 2003 11 09 10 November 2003 2003 11 10 10 197215 October 2006 2006 10 15 22 October 2006 2006 10 22 8 21Concept and development editThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed September 2018 Learn how and when to remove this template message Themes edit The first series features sexism in the workplace as a significant subplot and a barrier to the investigation Sequels have tended to downplay this theme relying on straight procedure or on other subplots such as institutional racism in Prime Suspect 2 or child sexual abuse and prostitution in Prime Suspect 3 but they continue to demonstrate the determination of some of Tennison s male peers and those in upper echelons to see her fail Tennison s difficulty in achieving a balance between her work and her life outside the job and her difficulty in maintaining stable relationships are recurring themes within the series Towards the end of Prime Suspect 3 she arranges to have her pregnancy terminated As the series progresses she increasingly relies on alcohol to help her cope This culminates in the final episode of the series in her attending meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous where she finally acknowledges and confronts her addiction Setting edit Prime Suspect is set mostly in London and surrounding areas but series 5 is set in Manchester Production edit Every series of Prime Suspect except series 4 follows a single case and runs around 31 2 hours excluding commercials It has usually been shown in two or four parts Prime Suspect 4 is an exception at slightly over five hours with three separate cases The first five series were produced annually from 1991 to 1996 until Mirren left the role supposedly to avoid typecasting according to a PBS interview She returned to play the character in 2003 and again in 2006 Prime Suspect was produced by Granada Television for the ITV network Series four to seven were co produced by WGBH Boston for its Masterpiece Mystery anthology series Music edit The first five series were scored by the Academy Award winning composer Stephen Warbeck who was nominated for a BAFTA TV Award for Prime Suspect series one Rob Lane composed the music for Series 6 Nicholas Hooper won a BAFTA TV Award for his score for Series 7 Reception and impact editPrime Suspect was voted 68th in the list of 100 Greatest British Television Programmes as compiled by a poll given by the British Film Institute and in 2007 it was listed as one of Time magazine s 100 Best TV Shows of All TIME 2 The series has won multiple BAFTA Awards Emmy Awards and a Peabody Award Awards and nominations edit Prime Suspect won the BAFTA TV Award for Best Drama Serial over G B H in 1991 3 Afterwards four of the seven voting members of the jury raised a discrepancy to jury chairperson Irene Shubik 4 and later signed a public statement declaring that they had voted for G B H to win 3 BAFTA Chairman Richard Price stated that the ballot papers passed on to him by Shubik had shown four votes for Prime Suspect and three for G B H 3 Price claimed that the ballot papers could not be recounted as they had subsequently been destroyed 4 Prime Suspect won Best Drama Serial once more for series three and was nominated four other times 5 The series won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Miniseries three times and was nominated twice more 6 Mirren won three BAFTA TV Awards for Best Actress for the role and has been nominated three other times 5 She won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie twice with four additional nominations 6 Prime Suspect 3 was awarded a Peabody Award in 1993 for its realistic scenes and dialogue 7 8 Writer creator Lynda La Plante received an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for series one in the category of Best TV Feature or Miniseries The following year Allan Cubitt won in the same category for series two Prime Suspect was later nominated for series three and six 9 Series Award Category Nominee s Result Ref Series 1 1991 British Academy Television Awards Best Drama Serial Christopher Menaul Lynda La Plante Don Leaver Won 5 Best Actress Helen Mirren WonZoe Wanamaker NominatedBest Actor Tom Bell NominatedBest Film or Video Editor Fiction Edward Mansell WonBest Film or Video Photography Fiction Ken Morgan WonBest Sound Fiction Ray French Brian Saunders John Rutherford Paul Griffiths Davies NominatedBest Design Roy Stonehouse NominatedBest Original Television Music Stephen Warbeck NominatedEdgar Awards Best TV Feature or Miniseries Lynda La Plante Won 9 Royal Television Society Awards Best Single Drama Prime Suspect Won 10 Performance Award Helen Mirren WonWriter s Award Lynda La Plante WonSeries 2 1992 British Academy Television Awards Best Drama Serial Paul Marcus John Strickland Allan Cubitt Nominated 5 Best Actress Helen Mirren WonBest Film or Video Editor Fiction Edward Mansell NominatedBest Sound Fiction Nick Steer John Rutherford John Thomas John Senior Jaquie Ophir John Whitworth NominatedPrimetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Miniseries Sally Head Paul Marcus Won 6 Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Special Helen Mirren NominatedEdgar Awards Best TV Feature or Miniseries Allan Cubitt Won 9 Series 3 1993 British Academy Television Awards Best Drama Serial Paul Marcus David Drury Lynda La Plante Won 5 Best Actress Helen Mirren WonBest Film or Video Editor Fiction Edward Mansell NominatedBest Design Chris Truelove NominatedPrimetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Miniseries Sally Head Paul Marcus Won 6 Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Special Helen Mirren NominatedOutstanding Writing in a Miniseries or Special Lynda La Plante NominatedPeabody Award Prime Suspect Won 7 Edgar Awards Best TV Feature or Miniseries Lynda La Plante Nominated 9 Series 4 1995 British Academy Television Awards Best Drama Series Paul Marcus Nominated 5 Best Actress Helen Mirren NominatedPhotography and Lighting Fiction David Odd NominatedBest Sound Fiction Entertainment Nick Steer John Rutherford John Senior John Whitworth NominatedPrimetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Special Helen Mirren for Scent of Darkness Won 6 Series 5 1996 British Academy Television Awards Best Actress Helen Mirren Nominated 5 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Miniseries Gub Neal Rebecca Eaton Lynn Horsford Won 6 Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Special Helen Mirren NominatedSeries 6 2003 British Academy Television Awards Best Drama Serial David Boulter Peter Berry Tom Hooper Nominated 5 Best Actress Helen Mirren NominatedBritish Academy Television Craft Awards Editing Fiction Entertainment St John O Rorke NominatedBest Sound Fiction Entertainment Simon Okin Ben Baird Nick Roberts NominatedPrimetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Miniseries or Movie David Boulter Rebecca Eaton Andy Harries Nominated 6 Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie Helen Mirren NominatedOutstanding Directing for a Miniseries Movie or a Dramatic Special Tom Hooper NominatedEdgar Awards Best TV Feature or Miniseries Peter Berry Nominated 9 Royal Television Society Craft amp Design Awards Make Up Design Drama David Myers Nominated 11 Series 7 2006 British Academy Television Awards Best Drama Serial Andrew Benson Philip Martin Frank Deasy Andy Harries Nominated 5 British Academy Television Craft Awards Best Writing Frank Deasy NominatedBest Original Music Nicholas Hooper WonBest Editing Fiction Entertainment Trevor Waite NominatedPrimetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Miniseries or Movie Andrew Benson Philip Martin Frank Deasy Andy Harries Nominated 6 Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie Helen Mirren WonOutstanding Writing for a Miniseries or Movie Frank Deasy WonOutstanding Directing for a Miniseries or Movie Philip Martin WonGolden Globe Awards Best Miniseries or Television Film Andrew Benson Philip Martin Frank Deasy Andy Harries Nominated 12 Best Actress Miniseries or Television Film Helen Mirren NominatedRoyal Television Society Awards Drama Serial Prime Suspect Nominated 13 Best Actor Female Helen Mirren WonInfluence on other programmes edit Many observers have viewed Prime Suspect as the inspiration for female characters in U S TV series particularly noting strong similarities between this series in general and the character of Jane Tennison in particular and the later American series The Closer starring Kyra Sedgwick in the role of Deputy Chief of Police Brenda Leigh Johnson Critics noted the similarities between the series in a stronger way during the first seasons of The Closer with one 2006 article in USA Today calling The Closer an unofficial Americanization of the British series 14 and a later reviewer noting that When The Closer was first shown critics were quick to compare it to Prime Suspect and there s something in that 15 In interviews Sedgwick has acknowledged that The Closer owes a debt to Prime Suspect and that her admiration for that show and for Mirren were factors that first interested her in the role 16 According to Sedgwick Prime Suspect was one of the shows that paved the way for The Closer 17 and her manager got her interested in the series by saying that it was a little bit like Prime Suspect 18 19 Sedgwick is quoted as saying that the Tennison character did become her inspiration in some ways for her portrayal of Brenda Leigh Johnson 20 Reviewers in U S papers including the Christian Science Monitor have noted that The Closer while not a direct remake of the British series owes much to it 21 or that it echoes many of the elements of it 22 One The New York Times article refers to The Closer as a direct descendant of Prime Suspect although less hard hitting than the original There is one show however that is a direct descendant however different its tone might be The Closer on which Kyra Sedgwick s Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson obsesses over her cases tramples feelings and battles the old boy network Her vice however is candy no booze or one night stands If you want the hard stuff you need to head back to Prime Suspect 23 Other reviewers have also made the point that the differences between Tennison and Johnson are as important as their similarities But then there s the locker room pissiness of her Johnson s all male department which she navigates like an estrogen version of Prime Suspect s Jane Tennison That s not a running gag error either Sedgwick plays Johnson as if her toughness intelligence and wit blossomed naturally from her Southern femininity whereas Helen Mirren plays the dogged Tennison as if womanhood were a liability 24 NBC picked up an adaptation of the British series for the 2011 2012 season 25 It was taken off the schedule after 13 episodes were produced 26 Spoofs edit In 1997 a short spoof episode Prime Cracker was produced for the BBC s biennial Red Nose Day charity telethon in aid of Comic Relief A crossover with ITV stablemate crime drama Cracker the spoof starred Mirren and Cracker lead Robbie Coltrane as their characters from the respective series sending up the perceived ultra seriousness of both shows Dead Ringers featured a parody with Queen Elizabeth II in the lead role as a reaction to Helen Mirren s portrayal of her in the 2006 film The Queen Prequel series editMain article Prime Suspect 1973 A six part prequel Prime Suspect 1973 was announced in 2015 by ITV based on the book Tennison by Lynda La Plante adapted by Glen Laker It tells the story of a 22 year old Jane Tennison as a probationary WPC in Hackney London investigating her first murder case 27 The series began airing on 2 March 2017 The role of Tennison is played by Stefanie Martini 28 In June 2017 ITV confirmed that the series had not been recommissioned for a second series 29 Home media editOn 1 October 2013 Netflix made the Series 1 6 available online for streaming 30 On 27 August 2013 Acorn Media released the entire series in a seven disc Blu ray Disc set Each disc contains the individual programme upscaled to 1080p HD and converted to 16 9 Widescreen apart from season 4 episode 1 which remains in 4 3 aspect ratio Bonus material includes a 50 minute behind the scenes special a 23 minute Series 6 behind the scenes featurette a photo gallery and cast filmographies 31 The DVD format of the series was released in 2010 by ITV Studios Global entertainment It has an overall running time of 1 437 minutes approximately and encompasses ten discs with each Series set on one disc except the triple episode Series 4 which is set over three discs As with the Blu ray production the final disc contains a Behind the Scenes of Series 7 References edit Masterpiece Theatre Prime Suspect 1 PBS Archived from the original on 6 November 2016 Retrieved 10 September 2018 via pbs org Poniewozik James 6 September 2007 The 100 Best TV Shows of All TIME Time Archived from the original on 28 October 2007 Retrieved 4 March 2010 a b c Wittstock Melinda 8 April 1992 Confusion becomes the BAFTA prime suspect The Times London p 1 a b Wittstock Melinda 2 May 1992 Fibs slur incenses BAFTA award judges The Times London p 18 a b c d e f g h i BAFTA Awards Search Prime Suspect BAFTA TV Awards Retrieved 10 September 2018 via awards bafta org a b c d e f g h Awards Search Prime Suspect Emmy Awards Retrieved 10 September 2018 via emmys com a b Mystery Prime Suspect 1993 Peabody Awards Retrieved 10 September 2018 via peabodywards com Peabody Awards Archives Retrieved 10 September 2018 via libs uga edu a b c d e Search the Edgars Database Prime Suspect Edgar Awards Retrieved 10 September 2018 via theedgars com Awards Archive PDF Royal Television Society February 2011 Retrieved 11 March 2022 CRAFT amp DESIGN AWARDS 2004 Royal Television Society 24 January 2011 Retrieved 8 February 2023 Golden Globe Awards for Prime Suspect The Final Act Golden Globe Awards Retrieved 10 September 2018 via goldenglobes com Royal Television Society Latest news 16 March 2007 Archived from the original on 16 March 2007 Retrieved 4 March 2022 Bianco Robert 12 June 2006 Call 911 for TNT s Saved Closer still beats strong USA Today Retrieved 17 November 2012 Bernhard Brendan 19 June 2007 Who Needs David Caruso The New York Sun Retrieved 17 November 2012 Boedeker Hal 25 July 2007 Kyra Sedgwick The Closer owes a debt to Prime Suspect but don t look for my idol Helen Mirren on the show Orlando Sentinel Orlando Florida Tronc Archived from the original on 7 September 2015 Retrieved 13 June 2014 Ulaby Neda 12 July 2010 Power Player Kyra Sedgwick Returns In The Closer NPR Morning Edition NPR Retrieved 17 November 2012 Poniewozik James 26 July 2007 Antiheroine Chic Time New York City Meredith Corporation Archived from the original on 7 March 2008 Retrieved 17 November 2012 Taped interview with Kyra Sedgwick along with other cast members and creators of The Closer Fancast com Archived 17 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine Heffernan Virginia 10 July 2006 The Closer s Kyra Sedgwick a Study in Nuance The New York Times new York City Retrieved 17 November 2012 Goodale Gloria 12 July 2010 The Closer opened doors for women and for basic cable The Christian Science Monitor Retrieved 17 November 2012 Stanley Alessandra 10 November 2006 Swan Song for a Tough Old Bird The New York Times Retrieved 17 November 2012 Hale Mike 3 September 2010 A Complete Look at a Complex Character The New York Times Retrieved 17 November 2012 Abele Robert 23 June 2005 Wounded Souls LAweekly com Retrieved 13 June 2014 Seidman Robert 6 July 2011 NBC Announces Fall Premiere Dates Chuck Grimm Premiere 21 October Early Premiere for Parenthood TV by the Numbers Archived from the original on 9 July 2011 Retrieved 10 September 2018 Andreeva Nellie 14 November 2011 NBC To Give Harry s Law Full Season Order Prime Suspect Gone Deadline Hollywood Retrieved 10 September 2018 Prime Suspect prequel sees return of Jane Tennison on ITV The Guardian 18 June 2015 Retrieved 20 August 2015 Tennison cast list Stefanie Martini to play the young Jane Tennison in Prime Suspect prequel Radio Times Retrieved 18 July 2016 Prime Suspect 1973 won t return for a second series Digital Spy 21 June 2017 Retrieved 22 June 2017 Cruz Gilbert 1 October 2013 What s New on Netflix Streaming This Month October 2013 vulture com Retrieved 2 October 2013 Lambert David 6 June 2013 Prime Suspect Blu ray Disc Release of the Complete Collection Starring Helen Mirren TVShowsOnDVD com Archived from the original on 10 June 2013 Retrieved 19 June 2013 External links editPrime Suspect at the British Film Institute s Screenonline Prime Suspect at IMDb nbsp Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Prime Suspect amp oldid 1209052477, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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