Serious & Organised

Last updated

Serious & Organised
SeriousandOrganised.jpg
Genre Crime drama
Written by
Directed by
  • Lance Kneeshaw
  • Diarmuid Lawrence
Starring
Country of origin
  • United Kingdom
Original language
  • English
No. of series1
No. of episodes6 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
  • Steve Christian
  • George Faber
  • Charles Pattinson
ProducerMatt Jones
Production location
  • United Kingdom
Running time45 minutes
Production companies
Original release
Network
Release2 January (2003-01-02) 
6 February 2003 (2003-02-06)

Serious and Organised is a British crime drama television series, created by Matt Jones, and broadcast on ITV from 2 January to 6 February 2003. [1] Created as a star vehicle for lead actor Martin Kemp, only one series was commissioned owing to the show not achieving the ratings expected by the network, despite a consistent consolidated viewing audience of between 6 and 7 million. [2] A total of six episodes were broadcast. The complete series has since been released for streaming on YouTube by production company All3Media on 8 April 2011. [3]

Contents

Plot

Jack (Martin Kemp) and Tony Finn (Joe Duttine) are two brothers working together in the same division of the National Serious and Organised Crime Unit. Being the only officers of their kind, they are feared by colleagues and criminals alike. Jack, however, is leading a secret double life – having fallen in love with Tony's wife, Rachel (Esther Hall). Forced to put their personal differences aside for the sake of their profession, Jack and Tony investigate the likes of crime families, Triads, gangland killings, extortion and major drug suppliers, all whilst trying to battle with their own demons.

The series begins with the arrival of a new boss, DI Dennis Clifton (Danny Sapani), who replaces the outgoing DI Kitchen (Sidney Livingstone). Clifton immediately makes it clear that he will not stand for any nonsense, and is determined to lead the unit his way. Alongside the Finn brothers are DC Joanna Granger (Emily Bruni) and DC Graham Reid (James Hillier). During the team's second case, it transpires that Reid has secret connections to a gangland murderer, forcing him to go on the run. Granger also finds herself under the spotlight after embarking on an affair with Tony Finn, which subsequently sparks a relationship between Jack Finn and his brother's wife, Rachel. DC Pete Gordon (Mark Leadbetter) is a junior member of the team who also assists the Finn brothers on various cases.

Production

Valerie Lilley was initially announced to play the part of Jeannie Finn, Jack and Tony's mother. However, Lilley pulled out shortly before filming began, forcing every episode to be partially re-written. Her part was not re-cast. Although credited on IMDb, Lilley did not appear in the series.

D.C. Pete Gordon (Mark Leadbetter) is also sometimes erroneously referred to as D.C. Pete Burns, but was never credited as such in the series.

Danny Dyer, Nina Sosanya, Neil Stuke and Amanda Mealing all guest starred in the series.

Cast

Episode list

No.TitleDirected byWritten byBritish air dateUK viewers
(million) [4]
1"Unfaithful"Diarmuid LawrenceMatt Jones2 January 2003 (2003-01-02)6.05m
Jack and Tony resort to no-nonsense, unconventional methods after a security van heist, and Jack discovers Tony is being unfaithful.
2"Deal with the Devil"Diarmuid LawrenceTom Grieves9 January 2003 (2003-01-09)6.06m
The squad are on the tail of Jimmy Fisk, a gangland criminal responsible for a series of gruesome murders. They arrest one of his heavies, hit man Steve Fallon, in the hope of doing a deal to secure information which could lead to Fisk's arrest. Fallon reveals that Fisk has ordered him to murder his brother, following a recent betrayal in which he stole a substantial amount of money. Tony is sent undercover during an illegal boxing match arranged by Fisk, during which the hit is due to take place – but somehow the operation is blown, and the murder is committed. Fisk is arrested, but Tony is blamed for the botched operation. Fallon, on the run, decides to take revenge on Tony by threatening Rachel and the children with a knife. They are moved into a safehouse with Joanna. Later, during a CCTV review of the operation, Jack realises that it wasn't Tony who blew it, and that Fisk spotted someone else – Graham Reid. Tony and Jack confront Graham, who confirms that he recently discovered that a bookmaker he owed money to was an employee of Fisk. When they discover Reid was forced to give up the location of the safehouse whilst at gunpoint, Tony and Jack realise Rachel may be in grave danger.
3"Human Trade"Lance KneeshawMatt Jones16 January 2003 (2003-01-16)6.41m
Jack and Tony track a heroin dealer through customs, but unwittingly stumble upon a network trading in human organs. They deliver a live heart to its intended recipient in order to find out who is involved with the British side of the operation. They discover that a desperate father, Wilson, has paid for the heart to be shipped from Brazil for his son, who doctors say has less than a week to live. Jack strikes a deal with Wilson, allowing the operation to go ahead, in return for information on the dealers who sold him the heart. Jack strikes up a rapport with doctor Emma Brown, who offers to investigate her boss, Shearer. Meanwhile, Jack's true feelings for Rachel continue to grow when one of the children accidentally inhales rat poison, and has to be taken to casualty. Tony and Jack go undercover to meet with the organ suppliers, before Emma closes the net on Shearer. Wilson is worried that, with all of the main suspects in custody, his son's operation might be in jeopardy – and so he decides to take drastic measures by taking Shearer hostage until he has completed the operation. Clifton is unsure whether Jack's methods will pay off – and they are soon put to the test during a complication in the operation.
4"Nice Little Earner"Lance KneeshawMatthew Graham23 January 2003 (2003-01-23)6.17m
Jack and Tony are involved in a raid on an antiques warehouse which is being used for money laundering. Drugs and vice baron John Creeves isn't happy that his nice little earner has been ruined – and he's determined heads will roll. Jack's main priority is to protect his informant, company employee Claire. However, when the warehouse auctioneer, Richie, is found with both his arms amputated, Jack realises that Creeves isn't messing around. When Claire later disappears, Jack suspects she may have arranged to meet a mystery lover, and discovers that it is none other than Joe Margolis, Creeves' second in command. When Margolis is stabbed by a heavy sent by Creeves, Claire is taken into witness protection, and Jack offers to look after her four-month-old baby, but instead palms him off on Rachel. Tony is tasked with ensuring Claire's safety, but his suspicions grow when he discovers that she has been taking private IT classes, and has given her tutor private copies of company files. When Tony discovers that Claire has siphoned more than £90,000 from Creeves' accounts, he realises that Jack and the team have been double-crossed, and that Claire is using them for her own agenda.
5"Greed"Lance KneeshawOliver Brown30 January 2003 (2003-01-30)6.67m
Jack is determined to nail seedy John Sands after four teenage prostitutes from Albania are killed in a massage parlour blaze. With evidence relating young Darren Evans to the scene of the crime, Jack suspects that Evans may have been set-up by Sands, but he needs the help of a former prostitute, Maggie King, to prove his theory. Jack and Tony interview a former customer of the massage parlour, who claims that shortly after his visit, he was blackmailed for £2,000 to prevent his wife from finding out about his illicit wrongdoing. When he receives a second blackmail letter ordering him to drop a further £2,000 at Liverpool Street station, Jack and Tony organise surveillance on the drop and discover the blackmailer is none other than Maggie King. They subsequently discover that under the watchful eye of Evans, a further four girls have entered the country, and organise a raid in the hope of catching both Evans and Sands in the act. Meanwhile, Jack struggles to contain his feelings for Rachel, unaware that Tony is watching on as the pair share a passionate kiss, leaving Tony with no option but to reluctantly approach Clifton and ask for a transfer out of the squad.
6"Room on My Horse"Diarmuid LawrenceMatt Jones6 February 2003 (2003-02-06)6.61m
With the ever increasing number of dealers on the streets, Jack and Tony decide to well and truly plant a bomb underneath the Abbott brothers, a pair of the most notorious drug dealers ever to operate in East London. They discover that heroin is being smuggled in through an electrical trade dealer operating in a warehouse close to a private airport. After they force him to reveal his links to the Abbotts, Clifton organises a dawn raid. Colin Abbott is arrested, but Phillip Abbott manages to escape, shooting Joanne Granger in the arm. Meanwhile, Jack discovers Tony's request for a transfer, and confronts him, unaware of the fact that his infidelity has been discovered. Tony responds by storming off, unaware that Phillip Abbott is firmly on his tail, determined to secure his brother's freedom. Tony is kidnapped, forcing Jack to break all of the rules in order to secure his safety. After assaulting a suspect, threatening a brief and having a showdown with Clifton, Jack finally pinpoints a location where he suspects Tony may be being held. But with armed response more than five minutes away, will he risk his own safety to save his brother's life? Or is it already too late?

Related Research Articles

<i>A Touch of Frost</i> British television detective series (1992–2010)

A Touch of Frost is a British television detective mystery drama series starring David Jason produced by Yorkshire Television for ITV from 6 December 1992 until 5 April 2010, initially based on the Frost novels by R. D. Wingfield. Writing credit for the three episodes in the first 1992 series went to Richard Harris.

<i>Touching Evil</i> Television series

Touching Evil is a British television drama serial following the exploits of a crack squad on the Organised & Serial Crime Unit, a rapid response police force that serves the entire country.

<i>Taggart</i> Scottish television detective series (1985–2010)

Taggart is a Scottish detective fiction television programme created by Glenn Chandler, who wrote many of the episodes, and made by STV Studios for the ITV network. It originally ran as the miniseries Killer from 6 until 20 September 1983, before a full series was commissioned that ran from 2 July 1985 until 7 November 2010. The series revolved around a group of detectives initially in the Maryhill CID of Strathclyde Police, though various storylines were set in other parts of Greater Glasgow and in other areas of Scotland. The team operated out of the fictional John Street police station. Mark McManus, who played the title character Jim Taggart, died in 1994. However, the series continued under the same name. Taggart is one of the UK's longest-running television dramas.

<i>Ultimate Force</i> UK television series

Ultimate Force is a British television action drama series that was shown on ITV, which deals with the activities of Red Troop of the SAS. The first episode was broadcast on 16 September 2002, and a total of four series were produced. The series starred Ross Kemp as central character Staff Sergeant Henry 'Henno' Garvie. The show was initially described as a star vehicle for Kemp, who had been lured away from the BBC to ITV with a multimillion-pound contract. Kemp appeared in every episode of the four series.

<i>The Jury</i> (TV serial) 2002 British TV series or programme

The Jury is a British television serial broadcast in 2002. The series was the first ever to be allowed to film inside the historic Old Bailey courthouse.

Water Rats is an Australian TV police procedural broadcast on the Nine Network from 1996 to 2001. The series was based on the work of Sydney Water Police who fight crime around Sydney Harbour and surrounding locales. The show was set on and around Goat Island in Sydney Harbour.

<i>Murder Investigation Team</i> (TV series) British police procedural TV series (2003–2005)

Murder Investigation Team was a British police procedural drama/cop thriller series produced by the ITV network as a spin-off from the long-running series The Bill. The series recounts the activities of the Metropolitan Police's Murder Investigation Team, who are led in Series 1 by D.I. Vivien Friend and her more intuitive colleague D.C. Rosie MacManus. Series 2 sees old-school copper Trevor Hand taking the reins under D.C.I. Anita Wishart and manage the newly transferred D.C. Eva Sharpe. The series produced 12 episodes between 3 May 2003 and 1 August 2005. In September 2005, The Sun reported that ITV would not be commissioning a third series.

<i>Burnside</i> (TV series) 2000 British police procedural TV series

Burnside is a British television police procedural drama, broadcast on ITV in 2000. The series, a spin-off from ITV's long-running police drama The Bill, focused on DCI Frank Burnside, formerly a detective at Sun Hill and now working for the National Crime Squad. Burnside ran for one series of six episodes, structured as three two-part stories.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shaz Granger</span> Ashes to Ashes character

WPC/DC Sharon "Shaz" Granger is a fictional character in BBC One's science fiction/police procedural drama, Ashes to Ashes. The character is portrayed by Montserrat Lombard. The character's look and style are based on Joanne Catherall of The Human League in 1981.

Joe Duttine, sometimes credited as Jo Duttine, is an English film, theatre and television actor.

<i>Out of the Blue</i> (1995 TV series) 1995 "`UNIQ--templatestyles-00000002-QINU`" TV series or program

Out of the Blue is a British television crime drama series, set and filmed in Sheffield, and broadcast on BBC One between 23 May 1995, and 9 September 1996. A total of twelve episodes were broadcast across two series. John Hannah and David Morrissey starred as the main protagonists in each respective series. Out of the Blue follows a team of detectives at Brazen Gate CID through grisly murder cases, clashes with an already-divided community and through the dramas of their personal lives. The series ultimately received acclaim from critics, but did not pull in the expected viewing figures, and was subsequently axed after the second series. The complete series is due for release on DVD by Simply Media 10 July 2017.

<i>The Paradise Club</i> Television series

The Paradise Club is a BBC television crime drama series, broadcast between 19 September 1989 and 27 November 1990. The series starred Don Henderson and Leslie Grantham as Frank and Danny Kane, siblings who inherit a nightclub from their mother, Ma Kane, a matriarch of a criminal South London gang, after she tragically dies. At the start of the series, Frank is working as a priest but decides to return to London to steer his brother Danny away from crime. The series featured a large supporting cast, with Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden notably making an appearance in the episode "Rock and Roll Roulette". A total of 20 episodes were broadcast over the course of 2 series. The first two episodes of series 1 were partly filmed in Broadway Market, London, the location was apparently chosen for its authentic London character. Around the time of original broadcast, there was some criticism for possible negative stereotyping of ethnic minorities in the series.

<i>Vexed</i> British television series

Vexed is a British comedy-drama, police procedural television series for BBC Two that aired in 2010 and 2012.

<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>WPC 56</i> British drama television series

WPC 56 is a British television police procedural series, created and partly written by Dominique Moloney and broadcast on BBC One. The stories feature the first woman police constables (WPC) to join the fictional Midlands Constabulary at Brinford Police Station in 1956.

<i>Without Motive</i> 2000 British TV series or programme

Without Motive is a British crime drama series broadcast on ITV, starring Ross Kemp as the main protagonist, Detective Constable Jack Mowbray, a born and bred Bristol detective whose world is turned upside down when he is assigned to a major murder enquiry involving a serial killer, who is randomly attacking young women, apparently without motive. Two series of the programme were produced. The first was produced by HTV, and the second by Meridian Broadcasting. Both series aired consecutively between 2 October 2000 and 1 November 2001. Both series were issued on DVD on 11 October 2011, exclusively in the United States by Acorn Media.

City Central is a British television police procedural drama series, written and created by Tony Jordan, that first broadcast on BBC One on 4 April 1998.

References

  1. "Serious and Organised (TV Series 2003– )". IMDb .
  2. "Serious and Organised".
  3. "- YouTube". YouTube .
  4. "BARB | Broadcasters Audience Research Board".