Collision (TV series)

Last updated

Collision
Genre
Created by Anthony Horowitz
Written byAnthony Horowitz and Michael A. Walker
Directed by Marc Evans
Starring
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series1
No. of episodes5
Production
ProducersEve Gutierrez and Jill Green
Running time46 mins (inc. adverts)
Production companyGreenlit Productions
Original release
Network ITV
Release9 November (2009-11-09) –
13 November 2009 (2009-11-13)

Collision is a five-part British television drama serial, which debuted on ITV in November 2009. In the same month, it was also on PBS as a series in two parts. It tells the story of a group of strangers whose lives intertwine following a devastating car crash. The crash opens a number of startling revelations as stories of everything from government cover-ups and smuggling, to embezzlement and murder start to unravel. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

The original British broadcast of Collision was edited from the original 5 hours (shown in five parts) down to three and a half hours (210 minutes, shown in two parts). The American broadcast on PBS's Masterpiece Contemporary, the Australian broadcast on ABC1 and the Region 1 (America and Canada) DVD release all featured the shortened version. [4] In Australia, Foxtel and Austar's W Channel aired Collision in its original format of five 45-minute episodes (excluding advertisements), Tuesday, 15 March 2011. [5]

Cast

Episodes

EpisodeTitleWritten byDirected byViewers
(millions) [6] 		Original airdate
1"Episode 1"Anthony Horowitz and Michael A. WalkerMarc Evans8.409 November 2009 (2009-11-09)
DI John Tolin returns from leave to investigate a traffic collision where two people have died. His superiors have concerns as the two traffic officers were in a high-speed chase at the time of the collision and the department is now being sued by Alice Jackson's family. Jackson was in the car being pursued, and was killed, and the family thinks racial profiling might be involved in choosing her car to pursue. All of the victims of the crash and the first layer of their back stories are introduced, but nothing is as it first seems. There is a strong hint that Tolin's leave was due to some sort of tragedy, and that it might involve events similar to this investigation. The episode ends with Tolin, in his office, imagining the crash itself.
2"Episode 2"Anthony Horowitz and Michael A. WalkerMarc Evans7.1310 November 2009 (2009-11-10)
DI Tolin goes to the scene, where the office in charge of the investigation is Insp. Ann Stallwood. Tolin and Stallwood had a relationship a year earlier, which went sour and seems related to events linked to Tolin's having taken leave. The backstory of Danny Rampton, driver of a white van, indicates he is transporting something illegal, and dealing with shady characters. A PC at the crash scene mentions Jackson's car window being rolled down while the air conditioning was on, leading Tolin to deduce that Jackson was smoking pot, as was her boyfriend, the driver. Jackson's father drops the lawsuit, pleasing the police administration. They want to reassign him to a new case. Tolin, though, wants to investigate other matters and tie up loose ends. It is also revealed that Tolin has a daughter in a wheelchair.
3"Episode 3"Anthony Horowitz and Michael A. WalkerMarc Evans6.9911 November 2009 (2009-11-11)
The driver of a white van that crashed, Danny Rampton, who ran from the scene, is found to be trafficking illegal immigrants. The one in his van, Tsegga, is found a week later, dead, by police forensics working on the vehicles. There is a back story about him, his journey, and his wife, who is in London and waiting for him. Karen Donnelly, the personal secretary at a large chemical company, had stolen documents from her boss revealing exploitation of East Africa and dangerous pesticide use just before being involved in the crash. With the help of unknown people she checks out of the hospital and is later found in the bathtub of her apartment, an apparent suicide. Tolin is not so sure. Jane Tarrant, a waitress at a rest stop near the accident, begins a dalliance with a rich businessman Richard Reeves.
4"Episode 4"Anthony Horowitz and Michael A. WalkerMarc Evans7.2512 November 2009 (2009-11-12)
It is revealed that a drunk driver killed Tolin's wife a year before and put his daughter in a wheelchair. The driver, Henry, is released from prison and seeks forgiveness from Tolin. Tolin beats the man up when he won't leave Tolin's home. In a conversation with his daughter about the incident it is revealed that Tolin was having an affair with Stallwood at the time. Sandra Rampton, Danny's sister-in-law who sees Danny as a screw up jeopardising her family, arranges for Danny to get a passport so he can disappear, but the traffickers kill him instead. It is implied that Sandra knew that this, and not the passport, would be the result. Karen Donnelly had stolen documents for a reporter calling himself James Taylor, but all might not be as it seems. Jane Tarrant's relationship with Richard Reeves gets more serious.
5"Episode 5"Anthony Horowitz and Michael A. WalkerMarc Evans7.4813 November 2009 (2009-11-13)
Joyce Thompson is the mother of Christine Edwards. Thompson died while in a car with Brian Edwards, Christine's husband. Her death puts a strain on the marriage. Mrs. Edwards blames him, and it is slowly revealed how much Mr. Edwards hated his mother-in-law and how she treated Ms. Edwards. Finally, he admits that, after the crash, Mrs. Thompson was alive but her nagging voice pushed him to slam her head against the dashboard repeatedly. Jane Tarrant and Richard Reeves decide to leave their partners and travel to Europe, but Reeves' wife shows up at the station instead to tell Tarrant that her husband has made promises before but will never leave; he's a coward. Tarrant screws up her courage and goes anyway, living her dream. Tolin finds a thumb drive on Karen Donnelly's keychain that contain the stolen documents. After revealing the man Donnelly thought was reporter James Taylor is not, Tolin gives the documents to the real Guardian reporter the man was impersonating to give Donnelly's death—and the risk she took to reveal injustice—meaning. Previously, throughout, it's hinted at that Sidney Norris, the piano instructor and main cause of the accident, might be a paedophile. (However this is just another red herring, as ...) Tolin and Stallwood track down a suspicious friend of Norris' only to discover their "secret" is that they have bootleg Star Trek episodes, which explains the amount of time Norris spent on his computer. Tolin and Stallwood reconcile, with Tolin finally coming to peace with his wife's death. In the end, Stallwood realises Norris was distracted by a wasp, causing the collision and consequent entire change in the sequence of events. The last scene is an alternative timeline 'what if' : showing that if Tarrant, back at the roadside diner, had squashed the wasp (as almost seen in the first episode) and the entire crash had been avoided, as they all continued on their 'pre-existing' path...

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ITV (TV network)</span> TV network in the United Kingdom

ITV, legally known as Channel 3, is a British free-to-air public broadcast television network. It is branded as ITV1 in most of the UK except for central and northern Scotland, where it is branded as STV. It was launched in 1955 as Independent Television to provide competition, eliminating what had hitherto been the monopoly of BBC Television. ITV is the oldest commercial network in the UK. Since the passing of the Broadcasting Act 1990, it has been legally known as Channel 3 to distinguish it from the other analogue channels at the time: BBC1, BBC2 and Channel 4.

<i>Masterpiece</i> (TV series) Drama anthology television series

Masterpiece is a drama anthology television series produced by WGBH Boston. It premiered on PBS on January 10, 1971. The series has presented numerous acclaimed British productions. Many of these are produced by the BBC, but the lineup has also included programs shown on the UK commercial channels ITV and Channel 4.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ITV Granada</span> Channel 3 regional service for North West England

ITV Granada, formerly known as Granada Television, is the ITV franchisee for the North West of England and Isle of Man. From 1956 to 1968 it broadcast to both the north west and Yorkshire on weekdays only, as ABC Weekend Television was its weekend counterpart. Granada's parent company Granada plc later bought several other regional ITV stations and, in 2004, merged with Carlton Communications to form ITV plc.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BBC America</span> American pay television network

BBC America is an American basic cable network that is jointly owned by BBC Studios and AMC Networks. The channel primarily airs sci-fi and action series and films, as well as selected programs from the BBC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alibi (TV channel)</span> Digital television channel broadcasting in the United Kingdom

Alibi is a British premium television channel that was launched on 1 November 1997 as UK Arena. It was renamed UK Drama in 2000, and then UKTV Drama in 2004, and assumed its current name on 7 October 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ITV3</span> British free-to-air television channel

ITV3 is a British free-to-air television channel owned by ITV Digital Channels, a division of ITV plc. The channel was first launched on Monday 1 November 2004 at 9 pm, replacing Plus (Granada). ITV3 is the sixth-largest UK television channel by audience share and the largest after the five main terrestrial services, the position which was previously held by its sister station ITV2. The channel is known for repeats of ITV dramas, and including sequential reruns of Agatha Christie's Poirot, Classic Coronation Street, Classic Emmerdale, Heartbeat, Inspector Morse and A Touch of Frost, amongst others as well as formerly showing repeats of Kojak, Numb3rs, Columbo, Cagney & Lacey and The Bill.

<i>Midsomer Murders</i> British television detective drama series

Midsomer Murders is a British crime drama television series, adapted by Anthony Horowitz and Douglas Watkinson from the novels in the Chief Inspector Barnaby book series created by Caroline Graham, and broadcasts on the ITV Network since its premiere on 23 March 1997. The series focuses on various murder cases that take place within small country villages across the fictional English county of Midsomer, and the efforts of the senior police detective and his partner within the fictional Midsomer Constabulary to solve the crime by determining who the culprit is and the motive for their actions. It differs from other detective dramas in featuring a mixture of lighthearted whimsy and dark humour, as well as a notable soundtrack with a title theme that includes a theremin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wall to Wall Media</span> British television production company

Wall to Wall Media, part of Warner Bros. Television Studios UK, is a television production company that produces event specials and drama, factual entertainment, science and history programmes for broadcast by networks in both the United Kingdom and United States. Its productions include Who Do You Think You Are?, New Tricks, Child Genius, and Long Lost Family.

Sarah Parish is an English actress. She is known for her work on television series including The Pillars of the Earth, Peak Practice, Hearts and Bones, Cutting It, Doctor Who, Mistresses, Merlin, Atlantis, Monroe, HBO's Industry, Stay Close, Trollied,W1A and, as the titular character, Bancroft.

Television in Scotland mostly consists of UK-wide broadcasts, with regional variations at different times which are specific to Scotland. The BBC and ITV networks both began broadcasting in the country during the 1950s. There were further expansions in the early 1960s with the arrival of Grampian, Border and BBC2 television.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Douglas Henshall</span> Scottish actor (born 1965)

Douglas “Dougie” James Henshall is a Scottish television, film and stage actor. He is best known for his roles as Professor Nick Cutter in the science fiction series Primeval (2007–2011) and Detective Inspector Jimmy Pérez in the crime drama Shetland (2013–2022).

<i>Lewis</i> (TV series) British television detective series (2006–2015)

Lewis is a British television detective drama produced for ITV, first airing in 2006 (pilot) then 2007. It is a spin-off from Inspector Morse and, like that series, it is set in Oxford. Kevin Whately reprises his character Robert "Robbie" Lewis, who was Morse's sergeant in the original series. Lewis has now been promoted to detective inspector and is assisted by DS James Hathaway, portrayed by Laurence Fox, who was promoted to inspector before the eighth series. The series also stars Clare Holman as forensic pathologist Dr. Laura Hobson, likewise reprising her role from Inspector Morse; and, from the eighth season, Angela Griffin as DS Lizzie Maddox.

Zoe Telford is an English actress.

<i>The Deal</i> (2003 film) 2003 television film directed by Stephen Frears

The Deal is a 2003 British television film directed by Stephen Frears from a script by Peter Morgan, based in part upon The Rivals by James Naughtie. The film depicts the Blair–Brown deal, a well-documented pact that Tony Blair and Gordon Brown made, whereby Brown would not stand in the 1994 Labour Party leadership election, so that Blair could have a clear run at becoming leader of the party and later Prime Minister instead. The film begins in 1983, as Blair and Brown were first elected to Parliament, and ends in 1994 at the Granita restaurant—the location of the supposed agreement—with a brief epilogue following the leadership contest.

<i>Primeval</i> (TV series) 2007 British science-fiction drama television series

Primeval is a British science fiction television series produced for ITV by Impossible Pictures. Primeval follows a team of scientists tasked with investigating the appearance of temporal anomalies across the United Kingdom through which prehistoric and futuristic creatures enter the present, while simultaneously trying to stop a terrorist plot to bring about the end of the world. Primeval was created by Tim Haines, who previously created the Walking with... documentary series, and Adrian Hodges. It ran for five series, originally broadcast from 2007 to 2011.

<i>DCI Banks</i> British television crime drama series

DCI Banks is a British television crime drama series produced by Left Bank Pictures for the ITV network. Originally broadcast over five series in 2010–2016, the series was based on Peter Robinson's Inspector Alan Banks novels and stars Stephen Tompkinson as Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks. In 2013, the series won in the drama category at the regional Royal Television Society Yorkshire Programme Awards.

<i>Shetland</i> (TV series) BBC Scotland crime drama television series, 2013–

Shetland is a Scottish crime drama television series produced by ITV Studios for BBC Scotland. First broadcast on BBC One on 10 March 2013, it is originally based upon the novels of Ann Cleeves and adapted by David Kane. The first seven series starred Douglas Henshall as DI Jimmy Pérez, whilst Ashley Jensen stars as DI Ruth Calder from the eighth series. The cast also includes Alison O'Donnell as DS Alison "Tosh" McIntosh and Steven Robertson as DC Sandy Wilson, as well as Lewis Howden and Anne Kidd. Henshall won the 2016 BAFTA Scotland award for Best Actor and the series received the award for Best TV Drama.

<i>Doors Open</i> (film) British TV series or programme

Doors Open is a 2012 Scottish thriller heist film directed by Marc Evans, starring Douglas Henshall, Stephen Fry, Lenora Crichlow and Kenneth Collard. It is based on the 2008 novel of the same name by Ian Rankin, about a self-made millionaire, an art professor and a banker, who come together to undertake an audacious art heist. The film was commissioned by ITV and produced by Stephen Fry's Sprout Pictures production company. It was officially released on 26 December 2012 in the UK.

<i>In Plain Sight</i> (British TV series) Scottish TV series or programme

In Plain Sight is a Scottish television drama series covering the crimes committed by serial killer Peter Manuel in Lanarkshire, Scotland in the 1950s. The three-part series was first broadcast on ITV on 7 December 2016. The series is distributed worldwide by BBC Worldwide.

References

  1. ↑ "Collision ITV Drama Series". Douglas Henshall. Archived from the original on 14 April 2009. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
  2. ↑ "ITV greenlights Anthony Horowitz 'collision' drama | TV Scoop". TV Scoop. 18 July 2008. Archived from the original on 12 August 2009. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
  3. ↑ "Collision Credits". www.greenlit.co.uk. Archived from the original on 1 November 2009.
  4. ↑ Knox, David. "Airdate: Collision". TV Tonight. Retrieved 7 January 2011.
  5. ↑ [w Channel: Collision Synopsis| ".: W Channel :. Collision : Synopsis". Archived from the original on 17 February 2011. Retrieved 16 March 2011.]
  6. ↑ "Weekly top 30 programmes on TV sets (July 1998 – Sept 2018)". BARB. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.