In Deep (TV series)

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In Deep
InDeepNickBerryBBCDVD.jpg
Genre Crime drama
Created by Peter Jukes
Directed byColin Bucksey
Paul Marcus
Roberto Bangura
Martin Hutchings
Starring Nick Berry
Stephen Tompkinson
Lisa Maxwell
Karianne Henderson
Buster Reece
ComposersJoe Campbell
Paul Hart
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series3
No. of episodes22 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producersJohn Yorke
Mal Young
ProducerSteve Lanning
CinematographyPeter Sinclair
Howard Baker
EditorJake Lanning
Running time60 minutes
Production companyValentine Productions
Original release
Network BBC One
Release19 February 2001 (2001-02-19) –
4 March 2003 (2003-03-04)

In Deep is British crime drama series created by Peter Jukes, starring Nick Berry and Stephen Tompkinson as undercover detectives Liam Ketman and Garth O'Hanlon.

Contents

Three series, comprising a total of twenty-two episodes, aired on BBC One between 19 February 2001 and 4 March 2003. A complete box set containing all three series was released on 9 July 2012. [1]

Plot

Initial press releases of In Deep stated that life as an undercover detective is demanding. One slip-up can result in disaster, something that Liam Ketman (Nick Berry) and Garth O Hanlon (Stephen Tompkinson) know only too well. The pressure of leading complicated double lives means that sacrifices must be made for the job and the impact on their personal lives is immense." [2] Liam Ketman is described as a family man whose marriage is under strain because of his job as an undercover detective. Garth O'Hanlon is described as a character apparently devoid of emotional or family entanglements who deals with often extreme violence as part of his job.

Actor Stephen Tompkinson said of the series "In Deep is a very gritty drama and not the kind of thing that I'm normally associated with. I think if the audience are expecting Ballykissangel or Grafters they're in for a surprise. This is not just another police show, it was seat of the pants stuff for us and the dramatic possibilities are endless." Tompkinson also commented on the work of real life undercover police officers. "There are only about 30 of these officers in this country, and they've got no fixed abode and no safety net when things go wrong, and it's terrifying really. They're always acting, pretending to be somebody else, and I found that fascinating that here was a real job with lives at risk, but where they act all the time. So In Deep is sort of a drama within a drama. [3]

Tompkinson was forced to change his appearance radically for every episode to suit each individual undercover persona. Whilst researching material for the series, writer Peter Jukes spent several weeks with real-life undercover police officers that infiltrate hard-core criminal operations, in order to find out what life is really like for them. The first series was shot over the course of thirteen weeks in and around London.

Cast

Episode list

Series overview

Series 1 (2001)

No.TitleDirected byWritten byViewers
(millions)		Original release date
1"Blue on Blue – Part 1"Peter JukesRoberto Bangura7.7619 February 2001 (2001-02-19)
Garth goes undercover as a security consultant to track down Eva Richardson, the mind behind a powerful vice ring. He uncovers a link with the drug squad and, after one of Eva's girls is discovered dead in suspicious circumstances, an internal investigation is launched. This results in Liam being posted back to investigate his old drug squad colleagues. Attempting to infiltrate the web of corruption, Garth sets up a drugs deal. But, when this goes disastrously wrong, it becomes clear that someone of high rank is playing for the opposition.
2"Blue on Blue – Part 2"Peter JukesRoberto Bangura7.2420 February 2001 (2001-02-20)
Liam's allegiances are put to the test when it becomes apparent that his old friend, senior officer Craig Griffin, is also in on the deal. Garth must race against time to find a key witness held captive by two corrupt policemen.
3"Romeo Trap – Part 1"Peter JukesPaul Marcus7.0026 February 2001 (2001-02-26)
Liam and Garth try to crack a child sex ring that is operating through a sophisticated website. Liam befriends the wife of the webmaster and Garth goes undercover in prison to make contact with two of the principal players. After winning their confidence, he discovers that a grisly crime is about to be committed.
4"Romeo Trap – Part 2"Peter JukesPaul Marcus7.4127 February 2001 (2001-02-27)
Garth and Liam know the identity of the mastermind behind the child sex ring, but the problem is getting hard evidence. Liam attempts to get to him through his wife.
5"Ghost Squad – Part 1"Peter JukesColin Bucksey6.335 March 2001 (2001-03-05)
Liam infiltrates a white supremacist group, which has begun a systematic petrol tanker bombing campaign. Garth is assigned to provide backup and support to Liam's family; but, when a vengeful man – whose imprisonment Garth was responsible for – tracks him down, he finds instead that his presence is putting them in mortal danger.
6"Ghost Squad – Part 2"Peter JukesColin Bucksey7.146 March 2001 (2001-03-06)
Liam discovers that the leader of the white supremacist group is not who he seems. An unwelcome visitor from Garth's past mistakes Liam's family for Garth's – and sets out to exact his revenge on the man whose evidence put him in prison.

Series 2 (2002)

  1. ↑ "In Deep – the Complete Collection". Amazon UK. 9 July 2012.
  2. ↑ "BBC One – in Deep".
  3. ↑ "Tompkinson goes in Deep". 18 February 2001.
  4. ↑ "Broadcasters Audience Research Board". BARB. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
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No.TitleDirected byWritten byViewers
(millions) [4] 		Original release date