List of Heartbeat characters

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This is a list of characters from the British period police drama Heartbeat. The show first aired in 1992 and the 17th series began on 11 November 2007.

Within each category, characters are listed in order of first appearance. Only regular and recurring characters are included. Each episode typically also features half a dozen or more actors whose characters appear in that episode only.

Contents

[edit] Police

[edit] Aidensfield village "bobbies"

  • Nick Berry as Police Constable (PC) Nicholas "Nick" Rowan, later Sgt (1992–1998). Newly arrived from London to become Police Constable for Aidensfield, Nick was good-natured and, after some initial hostility, became popular with the people of Aidensfield. Nick was very happily married to Dr. Kate Rowan, with whom he had a daughter, Katie. He was affected deeply by Kate's subsequent death from leukaemia. About two years later, Nick met school teacher Jo Weston, and they started courting and later married. Several months after his wedding with Jo, Sgt. Rowan accepted an offer to join the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and left Aidensfield, with Jo and Katie, to go to Canada.
  • Jason Durr as PC Michael Dunstan "Mike" Bradley, later acting DC (1997–2003). An upstanding if somewhat wooden character, sometimes transforming into a square-jawed action hero, to be found grappling with armed villains, dragging survivors from collapsing quarry workings, jumping onto the roofs of moving trains etc. Like Nick Rowan he had previously worked for the Metropolitan Police in London. He married solicitor Jackie Lambert, but the pair later divorced as a result of her infidelity. Bradley then started dating Dr. Tricia Summerbee, and they were on the point of becoming engaged when she died tragically in a horse riding accident. Dr. Summerbee's death hit him very hard. Subsequently he was transferred to CID, and moved away from Aidensfield after promotion.
  • James Carlton as PC Stephen "Steve" Crane (2003–2004). During an investigation into the disappearance of a six year old girl, Steve found himself alone on a bridge with the girl and her father (who had arranged for his daughter's kidnapping). During the ensuing struggle between Steve and the father, Steve fell off the bridge (presumably pushed), and, in spite of all the efforts to save him, he plummeted to his death.
  • Jonathan Kerrigan as PC Robert "Rob" Walker, later Sgt (2004–2007). Rob was almost identical in character to his predecessor Mike Bradley. Originally local to Aidensfield, he had a tough upbringing (his father was in prison for theft), but his personality did not particularly reflect this. He began an affair with Dr Helen Trent after she separated from her husband. Subsequently Helen's divorce was finalised, and the two married in an episode first broadcast in June 2006. Helen died just weeks later, at the end of the 15th series. In series 16, Walker began a relationship with district nurse Carol Cassidy. When Walker passed his sergeant's exams he was offered a place on a fast-track training course in another part of the country. He was reluctant to leave Carol and asked her to accompany him. Carol refused, saying that their relationship could not work while he was still grieving for Helen. The two made a tearful farewell, and Walker rode off into the sunset at the end of Series 16.
  • Joseph McFadden as PC Joe Mason (2007–). Joe is described as a policeman "who sets his own rules, tackling crime in an idiosyncratic way that doesn't always sit well with those around him". He took over from PC Rob Walker in series 17. PC Mason came to Aidensfield on a temporary posting of a few weeks, pending the appointment of a permanent replacement for Walker and his own transfer to the Metropolitan Police. He had previously worked with Sergeant Miller in the York police force, where his insubordination, impetuousity and readiness to wade in with physical force earned him a reputation as a maverick. His cocky attitude initially alienated some of the Aidenfield locals, but his success in controlling local troublemakers and capturing a gang of armed robbers had won over most of the villagers by the end of his first episode. Finding Aidensfield to his liking, and feeling a growing attraction to Nurse Cassidy, he applied to stay on at the end of his posting, abandoning his plans to join the Met. His application was accepted and he was appointed permanent Aidensfield village bobby. His planned replacement, Don Wetherby, took the post of the recently deceased Phil Bellamy.

[edit] Ashfordly police sergeants

  • Derek Fowlds as Sgt Oscar Blaketon, now retired (1992–). A crotchety sergeant with a particular loathing for Claude Greengrass, whom he was perpetually trying to put behind bars. Often appearing cynical, suspicious and bad-tempered, he has mellowed somewhat with age. His softer side is occasionally apparent, and at various times he has been a voice of wisdom or shoulder to cry on for younger policemen facing moral dilemmas or personal traumas. After a near-fatal heart attack forced him to retire from the police force, Blaketon became proprietor of Aidensfield Post Office and General Stores. However, the writers found this hard to tie in to the plots, and to bring him back to the fore of the stories he was made owner of the Aidensfield Arms (pub), where he is now usually to be seen serving behind the bar with landlady and licensee Gina Ward. Blaketon was once married, but divorced some years before the series began. He has a son called Graham who is rarely mentioned but has appeared in a few episodes. Blaketon is also a local councillor and, since retirement, an occasional private investigator.
  • Philip Franks as Sgt Raymond Craddock (1998–2002). A decent but rather vain and pompous Welshman. Noted for his sarcasm, he delivered some of the more amusing lines in the show to date. His favourite hobby is ballroom dancing. Newly reconciled with previously estranged wife Penny, he left Ashfordly, and the series, when he gained promotion.
  • Georgie Glen as Sgt Jennifer Nokes (2000–2001, 2003–2004, 2005). A female stand-in sergeant who first appeared as cover for Sgt Craddock while he was on holiday. She takes a liking to young male officers, and once propositioned PC Bellamy.
  • Duncan Bell as Sgt Dennis Ian Merton (2002–2004). A strait-laced and honourable Scotsman to whom the men were loyal. Merton had previously worked for the CID but was demoted to uniformed sergeant and transferred to Ashfordly after punching a fellow officer during an argument. He married the much younger pharmacist Jenny Latimer. He eventually left the series to move nearer to the hospital where Jenny was being treated after her mental breakdown during series 14.
  • John Duttine as Sgt George Miller (2005–). Blunt Yorkshireman. Moved to the Ashfordly job from the York police force, and still lives in York. He has a wife and several children. His daughter Jo (played by Pip Ripley), who had walked out on the family due to disagreements, appeared in a Series 16 episode. She came face to face with her father after being arrested for anti-war activism, and the two reconciled their differences.

[edit] Other Ashfordly police

In one of the very first episodes, Sergeant Blaketon states that the Ashfordly police force comprises 12 officers. However, only four (or at times five) of these ever feature in the show—these being the Ashfordly sergeant and Aidensfield village constable of the day, plus Bellamy, Ventress (now in a civilian capacity), and, from time to time, another rookie PC. Occasionally other anonymous police officers are seen in the background (for example when the force is required to police a large demonstration or undertake a search of the moors), but they are never given names or any dialogue, and it is unclear whether or not they are Ashfordly police. Otherwise, the small contingent of regulars appears able to provide a continuous 24-hour service for the whole area, with someone always available to respond to any call-out at any time of the day or night.

[edit] Alf Ventress

William Simons as PC Alfred "Alf" Ventress (1992–). Likeable, soft-spoken Yorkshireman. Famed for his encyclopedic local knowledge, his smoking habit, and his occasional lapses (sleeping on the job) and eccentricities (penchant for hard-boiled eggs). In his younger years Ventress had a gambling problem, but that is now under control. He is now retired from active police duty, but remains working in a civilian capacity at Ashfordly police station.

His wife, "Mrs Ventress", is regularly referred to by name but has never appeared in person. However, the episode "Windows of Opportunity" included a number of shots of a ladies' keep fit group which Mrs Ventress was said to have attended, so she may have appeared on screen, albeit unidentified.

[edit] Phil Bellamy

Mark Jordon as PC Philip "Phil" Montgomery Bellamy (1992–2007). Phil is a pleasant, laid-back and somewhat goofy bloke with a good heart and a great sense of humour. He had been attracted to Gina Ward ever since she arrived in Aidensfield, but she rejected his advances for years before finally warming up to him. Phil and Gina were planning to marry, but when their baby died Gina called off the engagement and Phil was left alone again. Bellamy's police number is 426.

In series 11 Phil dated pharmacist Jenny Latimer. Some years later, in the 2006 series, he married Debbie Black, an apparently single mother of three children whom he met while investigating a burglary at her house. It was subsequently discovered that Debbie was in fact still legally married to her first husband, so her marriage to Phil was invalid. The two split up, and Debbie left for South Africa with her real husband. In Series 16 Phil's romance with Gina was restarted, but it suffered a further setback when Phil feared that he was suffering from heart disease (a condition that had killed his father and grandfather). This proved to be merely an ulcer, and after a successful operation Gina proposed to him in his hospital bed. The two were finally married in the Series 16 episode "The Dreams That You Dream" (broadcast June 2007). During the marriage ceremony it was revealed that Bellamy's middle name is Montgomery.

In episode 17.6 ("Touch And Go", broadcast 23rd December 2007[1]), Bellamy became involved in a confrontation with a shotgun-wielding man intent on abducting his son from his ex-wife's custody. As he tried to disarm the man he was shot dead. He was laid to rest with 'Hero' on his coffin, leaving the village, and his widow Gina, distraught. A one-off special, Heartbeat: Farewell to Phil, reliving his time on the series with contributions from Jordon and fellow actors, was broadcast on ITV on 24th December 2007.

[edit] Tom Nicholson

Ryan Early as PC Thomas "Tom" Nicholson. Nicholson arrives in Ashfordly from Scarborough on probation. He is keen and well-intentioned, but frequently get things wrong and is initially the butt of the other policemen's jokes. Despite his gauche manner with women he briefly dates Gina Ward and then Jenny Latimer. On Sgt. Craddock's orders, he moves into the Aidensfield Police House with Bradley.

On his 21st birthday, the villagers, pretending to ignore the event, have actually arranged a surprise party in the pub in the evening. However, during the day Nicholson becomes involved in a hunt for two thieves who are attempting to flee the country in a private plane, and volunteers himself as a hostage in exchange for a seriously injured PC Bellamy. At the airfield, Nicholson is shot dead in a scuffle. At his funeral, Merton gives a moving eulogy and, as a reflection of his love of brass bands, "Amazing Grace" is played.

[edit] Geoff Younger

Steven Blakeley as PC Geoff Younger (2004–). Newly recruited cop, keen to learn but often makes comical mistakes. Although used as a slightly comical character he does have a heart of gold. He has a fondness for Rosie Cartwright that is not (yet) reciprocated in the way he would like, though there were signs at the end of the first part of Series 16 that this might change. His parents (Sid and Mary, played by Graham Fellows and Karen Henthorn) appeared in the Series 16 episode "The medium is the message", in which his father was hospitalised for incurable alcoholism-related dementia.

[edit] Rachel Dawson

Clare Wille as Detective Sgt Rachel Dawson (2006–). A strict CID sergeant who transferred to the area from Middlesbrough, where some years previously she had had an affair with PC Rob Walker (which continued to cause some degree of tension between the two). Unlike the other regulars, she is not actually based in Ashfordly, but becomes involved from time to time (and with increasing frequency in series 17, in which Clare Wille is credited as a main cast member) in particularly serious cases that the Ashfordly police are dealing with, or when the officers are themselves being investigated for alleged misconduct. Sometimes she is portrayed as a slighly interfering character, dismissing theories put forward by her juniors that later prove to be correct.

[edit] Don Wetherby

Rupert Ward-Lewis as PC Don Wetherby (2007–). Wetherby arrived from Northallerton, originally to replace PC Joe Mason, the temporary Aidensfield village bobby. Soon after his arrival, Wetherby, PC Mason and PC Bellamy became involved in a confrontation with a man armed with a shotgun, during which Bellamy was shot dead. After initial guilt-ridden misgivings, Wetherby accepted a post to replace Bellamy at Ashfordly police station, allowing Joe Mason to keep his village job. In episode 17.8 ("Only Make Believe") it was revealed that Wetherby, a married man, had requested a transfer from Northallerton to escape harassment by a mentally ill woman (Lesley Ashton, played by Emma Atkins) who had become obsessed with him.

[edit] Medical staff

[edit] Aidensfield doctors

  • Frank Middlemass as Dr. Alex Ferrenby (1992–1993). A kindly, traditional, old-fashioned country doctor. He suffered a brain haemorrhage (possibly brought on by a head injury he received when attacked during a burglary at his surgery), which led to him becoming disorientated, falling into a river and drowning while fishing.
  • Niamh Cusack as Dr. Kate Rowan (1992–1995). Married to PC Nick Rowan, she moved with him from London to Aidensfield when he was made Police Constable for the area (Kate had some previous connection with the area, the nature of which was not made completely clear). A kind and caring person, tempered with occasional streaks of coyness and obstinacy, Kate expected to find a position practising medicine alongside Aidensfield's resident doctor, Dr. Ferrenby. Dr Ferrenby was not initially encouraging to Kate because he doubted that the locals would accept a female doctor. However, he later took her on as his junior partner, and gave her a brass plaque with her name on it (to be added beneath the plaque bearing Dr. Ferrenby's name at the medical practice). Kate took over the practice completely following Dr. Ferrenby's death. Although Kate and Nick were delighted when Kate found that she was pregnant, Kate was horrified to discover, during the pregnancy, that she was suffering from leukaemia, and she kept the information about her illness a secret from Nick and the townspeople. Kate also refused potentially life-saving medication because she was worried about its possible adverse effect on her unborn baby. Due to her sacrifice, she died, from the leukaemia, shortly after giving birth to her and Nick's daughter Katie. (When Katie was a pre-schooler, she was taken, by her father, Sgt. Nick Rowan, and her stepmother, Jo, to Canada with them, when her father joined the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Which became a one off special episode called Heartbeat: Changing Places)
  • Peter Firth as Dr. James Radcliffe (1994). Ran a practice in Whitby with the help of Kate Rowan.
  • David Michaels as Dr. Neil Bolton (1997–1999). Died trying to save a child from a house fire, leaving his pregnant wife Maggie to bring up their son.
  • Clare Calbraith as Dr. Tricia Summerbee (2000–2002). A very caring and compassionate doctor who had suffered from a heart condition since childhood. Her relationship with PC Mike Bradley began when she showed sympathy over the break-up of his marriage. She and PC Bradley were about to become engaged when her accidental involvement in one of the cases that he was working on as a DC led her to attempt to assist him and the police on horseback. She fell off the horse and died from her injuries in Series 12.
  • Francis Matthews as Dr. James Alway (2002–2003) appeared in only four episodes and also only appeared in 2 episodes of The Royal. The character is now retired.
  • Aislín McGuckin as Dr. Liz Merrick (2003–2004). Of Aidensfield's seven doctors to date, she is one of only three to survive her time in the district. She married Lord Ashfordly's estate manager Ben Norton and moved with him to Kenya.
  • Sophie Ward as Dr. Helen Walker, formerly Helen Trent (2004–2006). Another in the long line of caring medical characters. Classy Helen is noted for her flowing golden tresses and her soft, posh voice. Helen moved to the area with her oily husband Matthew (Trent), but they soon separated and she embarked upon an affair with PC Rob Walker while awaiting a divorce but still in fact married. Subsequently Helen's divorce was finalised and the two were married. She was killed in an explosion at the Aidensfield police house at the end of the 15th series (2nd July 2006). The explosion resulted from a homemade bomb planted by a disturbed schoolboy as revenge for the death of his dog during a police chase accident.

It is somewhat of a tradition that Aidensfield doctors should die in the series. To date, only two of the seven serving doctors has exited the series without meeting his or her maker. Dr. Alex Ferrenby (Frank Middlemass) died by drowning; Dr. Kate Rowan (Niamh Cusack) died of leukaemia; Dr. Neil Bolton (David Michaels) died rescuing a baby from a house fire; Dr. Tricia Summerbee (Clare Calbraith) died in a horse riding accident; and Dr. Helen Walker (Sophie Ward) died in a bomb explosion that ruined the Police house. This leaves Dr. Liz Merrick (Aislín McGuckin) and Dr. James Alway (Francis Matthews) as the only characters to date to serve as the doctor in Aidensfield and make it out alive.

[edit] Other medical staff

  • Kazia Pelka as Maggie Bolton (1995–2001). Caring district nurse. Married to Dr Neil Bolton, with whom she had a son, Sam, born after his death. Left the series after accepting a hospital job.
  • Sarah Tansey as Jenny Merton, formerly Jenny Latimer (2001–2004). Pharmacist who joined the series when she moved from a hospital job to help out at Dr Summerbee's Aidensfield surgey. Shortly after arriving in Aidensfield she began dating PC Phil Bellamy, and she later married Sgt Merton. She left the series when she suffered a mental breakdown and was taken into care.
  • Lisa Kay as Nurse Carol Cassidy (2006–). Nurse Carol was abandoned by her parents as a baby and grew up in an orphanage. She has lived in Aidensfield for the past two years, and took over the Aidensfield Surgery after the sudden death of Dr. Helen Trent. Shortly after her debut in the show she split up with her fiancé Frank, an often-absent naval officer. Like her predecessor Helen Trent, she became romantically involved with PC Rob Walker. The two parted tearfully when Walker left the show at the end of series 16, after Walker failed to persuade her to accompany him on a move away from Aidensfield linked to his promotion to sergeant.
  • Leon Ockenden as Dr Chris Oakley (2007–). Dr Oakley, a doctor at Ashfordly General Hospital, was introduced in series 17 when he was knocked off his bike by a myopic driver under the care of Nurse Cassidy. His blossoming romance with Nurse Cassidy is an ongoing storyline.

[edit] "Lovable rogue" lineage

  • Bill Maynard as Claude Jeremiah Greengrass (1992–2001). Dishevelled and curmudgeonly yet lovable old rogue, always getting into scrapes. He apparently had some sort of farm or smallholding, but seemed to spend little time working this, preferring instead to poach game from Lord Ashfordly's estate and engage in dubious dealings with local low-life. Although he often had troubles with the police, he did come to have a (slightly grudging) respect for Nick Rowan who would often warn him in advance to keep a low profile if his arch-nemesis, Sergeant Blaketon was on the warpath. He had a brother called Cyril, played by Stratford Johns, who has appeared a couple of times. Bill Maynard reluctantly left the series due to poor health, with the producers unwilling to take the risk of insuring him to be on set. The producers offered to have a departing episode written for him, but he declined and so the character's exit (to join his sister on a cruise in the Caribbean) was explained without his appearing. Maynard went on to reprise his popular role of Greengrass in the first series of The Royal.
  • Geoffrey Hughes as Vernon Scripps (2001–2005; 2007). Small-time businessman and entrepreneur, and half brother to Bernie Scripps (though the two are entirely dissimilar in both appearance and nature). A rotund, colourful, larger-than-life character, he replaced Claude Greengrass as the author of the hare-brained schemes which drive the show's various sub-plots. He landed a windfall by discovering very valuable modern art, and seemed set for life. But he agreed to insure an oil tanker, which was lost at sea, and so lost all the money he had gained. He was devastated, but it didn't take long before he began with his get-rich-quick schemes again. Vernon finally left the series in dramatic style – faking his own suicide to escape the taxman (though the taxman himself was in fact a con artist). In Series 16 he made a brief reappearance in Aidensfield, hoping to claim an inheritance from the estate of his recently deceased sister. It was revealed that he had established a new life running a beach bar in Spain, and wanted David to return with him. Aunt Peggy (see below) eventually persauded David to stay.
  • Gwen Taylor as Peggy Armstrong (2005–). David Stockwell's aunt (known as "Aunt Peggy"). Indomitable old battleaxe, created in the Claude Greengrass / Vernon Scripps tradition to dream up colourful wheezes and bully David Stockwell. She arrived in Aidensfield out of the blue and promptly proceeded to impose herself on David, moving in with him and ordering him about. Like Greengrass before her, she is often to be found poaching game from Lord Ashfordly's estate, but somehow always manages to avoid prosecution.

[edit] Other regular characters

  • Stuart Golland as George Ward, publican (1992–1996). Landlord of the Aidensfield Arms, and uncle of Gina. Now deceased.
  • Tricia Penrose as Georgina ("Gina") Ward (1993–). Spirited Liverpudlian, landlady of the Aidensfield Arms. The tearaway niece of publican George Ward, Gina was sent to Ashfordly by her parents to straighten her life out and to assist her ailing uncle with running the pub. Much to her own surprise, Gina found the pace of life in Ashfordly to her liking and rapidly dropped her previous rebellious ways. She became the licensee of the pub after the death of her uncle. Gina has been unlucky in love, and has had a string of failed romances. She was once engaged to PC Phil Bellamy and fell pregnant to him. She gave birth to a premature baby boy named Daniel who died in infancy, and their engagement was then broken off. Phil and Gina remained on good terms, even if sometimes a little awkward in each other's company. Bellamy went on to marry Debbie Black, and Gina found a steady boyfriend in Jack Hollins. However, neither of these relationships lasted, and Gina and Phil's romance was rekindled in Series 16. They were finally married in the Series 16 episode "The Dreams That You Dream" (broadcast June 2007). Due to police regulations she was obliged on her marriage to officially give up the licenceeship of the Aidensfield Arms to Oscar Blaketon, but in practice her role there remains unchanged. In series 17 her husband Bellamy was shot dead while on duty. Now a widow, Gina was contemplating leaving Aidensfield and its painful memories and returning to Liverpool, but she decided to stay, as shown at the end of episode 17.7 ("Burying The Past"). She is now pregnant again as Phil left her that gift, when she found out by a letter after his death.
  • Alice Jones as Katie Rowan (1995–1998). Daughter of PC Nick Rowan and the late Dr Kate Rowan. Katie lives with her Dad Nick and stepmother Jo in Canada.
  • Anne Stallybrass as Eileen Reynolds, Kate Rowan's aunt (1995–1998). Visited Nick and Kate Rowan in order to give Kate a legacy from her uncle (Eileen's late husband). After Kate died from leukaemia, Eileen returned to Aidensfield to assist Nick Rowan in the rearing of Katie, Nick's and Kate's daughter. Eileen then stayed on after the marriage of Nick and Jo Weston to continue to assist with Katie. Eileen left Aidensfield after rekindling a Second World War romance with a Frenchman.
  • Peter Benson as Bernard ("Bernie") Scripps (1995–). Proprietor of Aidensfield Garage, mechanic, taxi operator and funeral director, though he appears to be some way past retirement age. A melancholy, tall and gaunt individual, but level-headed and kind, he is often roped (reluctantly) into madcap escapades by Claude Greengrass and (later) his half-brother Vernon Scripps, and, more recently still, Aunt Peggy. The schemes inevitably go wrong, with Bernie usually left to pick up the pieces.
  • Juliette Gruber as Joanne "Jo" Rowan (née Weston) (1995–1998). Teacher. Nick Rowan met her a while after wife Kate had died. Although still recovering from the sudden loss of Kate, the pair struck up a friendship which led to romance. They eventually got married, and shortly after left the series to go to Canada where she continued her career as a teacher.
  • David Lonsdale as David Stockwell (first appeared as an occasional character 1993–1995, regular 1996–). Comical village buffoon. Originally it was subtly suggested that David had severe learning disabilities and possibly some kind of mental disability, having to be cared for by his mother. However, as his appearances became more regular these elements were toned down, and he grew into more of a comedy character: clumsy, slow-witted, easily-led and uneducated, but with the proverbial "heart of gold". Due to his gullible nature he became a dogsbody first to Claude Greengrass, then Vernon Scripps, then Peggy Armstrong. David's signature gesture is to whip his hat off when he meets another person, or to scrunch it up in his hands when he is nervous or worried. David earns a living of sorts by doing odd jobs such as making deliveries, digging graves, gardening, and driving a taxi (originally for Vernon Scripps, though since the latter's departure from the series David is now apparently self-employed as a taxi driver, with his base being Bernie's garage, where he also acts as a mechanic). David originally "worked" for and lived with Claude Greengrass, and he took on Greengrass' house when the latter emigrated. Later Vernon Scripps moved in with David, until he too left the series. David's latest "house guest" is his aunt Peggy (Armstrong), who took it upon herself to move in with him. For many years David was accompanied by a lurcher dog called Alfred, which originally belonged to Greengrass (q.v.). Alfred's death upset David greatly, but the grief was lessened by Peggy's gift of a new dog "Deefer" (from "D for dog").
  • Arbel Jones as Mary Ward (1998–1999). Gina Ward's aunt. She arrived in Aidensfield to help Gina run the Aidensfield Arms.
  • Fiona Dolman as Jacqueline "Jackie" Bradley (née Lambert) (1999–2001). Smart, hard-working and successful solicitor, often acting on behalf of individuals under arrest. She met PC Mike Bradley through her work, and they married, rather in haste. Jackie always seemed slightly ambiguous about the relationship, and she felt "suffocated" in the isolated rural community. Conflicts of interest also arose from her position defending criminals arrested by her husband. She later started an affair with one of her clients, whom she had known only a matter of weeks. Following this, she and Mike Bradley divorced and she left the series.
  • Martin Ledwith as Andy Ryan (1999–2000). Chunky smooth-talking itinerant Irish professional diver who worked on an oil rig and became romantically involved with Gina Ward. Gina ended the relationship when it transpired that he was also keeping a wife and family.
  • Oliver Pyrah (1999–2000) and Jack Ferguson (2000–2001) as baby Sam Bolton, son of Nurse Maggie Bolton and Dr Neil Bolton.
  • Vanessa Hehir as Rosemary ("Rosie") Cartwright (2004–2007). Mechanic, works for Bernie Scripps at Aidensfield Garage. Daughter of a local farmer. Implausibly young and pretty to be getting her nails dirty in Bernie's workshop. She has been unlucky in love despite her looks, with one suitor trying to hurry their physical relationship, another, a vet, having to move away to Birmingham to look after his dying father, and yet another, a motorcycling vicar, leaving to start a mission in India. PC Geoff Younger's keenness for Rosie is an ongoing storyline. Although she has generally not been interested and has knocked him back on occasion, there were signs towards the end of the first part of Series 16 (Jan 2007) that this might change. It is also suggested on occasion that David Stockwell has a crush on her. Rosie lives on a farm with her father and two brothers, though her family life is rarely touched upon. Bernie Scripps is the only person who calls her Rosemary; everyone else calls her Rosie. In the series 17 episode "Love Story", the vicar (Jamie Finn, played by Nolan Hemmings) returns. He tries to persuade Rosie to join him in India, but Rosie turns down the proposal and instead leaves Aidensfield to go travelling Britain with two Australian sheep shearers.
  • Murray Head as Jack Hollins (2005–2006, 2007). A liberal and somewhat intellectual artist and art teacher. After meeting Gina Ward in the Aidensfield Arms, Jack persuaded her to attend his art classes. Claiming to have recognised some talent, he continued to encourage her artistic aspirations and the two eventually became romantically involved – despite Jack being some years her senior. They fell out after he attempted to exhibit a nude portrait of her against her wishes (the painting was eventually burned by Gina and Rosie). He then left the series, but made a brief reappearance with his new fiancée in Series 16 (24 June 2007 : The Dreams That You Dream) when he attended Gina's wedding to wish her well.
  • Josefina Gabrielle as Debbie Black, also known as Debbie Bellamy (2005–2006). Former "wife" of PC Phil Bellamy, and mother of Jane, Susan and PJ Black. Her marriage to Phil eventually proved to be bigamous and therefore invalid. Barry Black, her previous husband and father of her children, had moved to South Africa to escape debt, and not died in a motorcycle accident as she had claimed. At the end of the 15th series, Barry turned up in Aidensfield to take Debbie and her children with him to start a new life in South Africa. Debbie suffered from incipient alcoholism, but she left the series before this storyline could be fully developed.
  • Lauren Drummond as Jane Black (2005–2006). Teenage stepdaughter of PC Phil Bellamy.
  • Gabriella Dixon as Susan Black (2005–2006). 11-year-old daughter of Debbie Bellamy, sister of Jane and Peter Black and stepdaughter of PC Phil Bellamy.
  • Jack Ferguson as Peter Black (2005–2006). Son of Debbie Bellamy and stepson of PC Phil Bellamy.
  • Nikki Sanderson as Dawn Bellamy (2008–). Dawn Bellamy, niece of the now deceased Phil Bellamy (Mark Jordon). The actress is filmed her scenes at the end of January, which will be shown later in the summer of 2008.

[edit] Recurring characters

  • Jack Deam as Alan Maskell (1992). Local tearaway lad, engaged and later married to Sandra Murray. PC Nick Rowan went out of his way to help Alan – providing references for a bank loan to start a motor repair business, and then supporting him when he was falsely accused of being an accessory to car theft.
  • Eileen O'Brien as Susan Maskell (credited as "Mrs Maskell") (1992). Mother of Alan Maskell. Careworn housewife, overburdened with children.
  • Barrie Rutter as Walter Maskell (credited as "Mr Maskell") (1992). Boorish husband of Susan Maskell and father of Alan Maskell.
  • Suzanne Hitchmough as Sandra Maskell, formerly Sandra Murray (1992). Girlfriend, later wife of Alan Maskell. She became pregnant soon after the marriage, but sadly lost the baby to a miscarriage.
  • Rupert Vansittart as Lord Ashfordly (1992–). Minor aristocrat. A "get off my land" character, his seat is Ashfordly Hall, an old country house surrounded by a large estate. Despite occasional complaints of lack of funds, he must have a bob or two since he employs numerous maids, housekeepers, gamekeepers, gardeners, chauffeurs etc. His first name is Charles and he appears to be a bachelor, though he has at least one son called Rupert (played by Marc Warren, who appeared in one early episode as an arrogant young toff). He also has a sister called Patricia ("Patty") who has appeared a few times. His valuable assets have made him something of a magnet for crime down the years and his house and lands are more often than not the targets of poachers and burglars, perhaps the most prolific of which being Claude Greengrass who often poached game on the Ashfordly estate. Despite this he still seems to have no concept of home security. One of his most amusing incidents was when he was sold some magic mushrooms and ran around Aidensfield with a shotgun.
  • Successively, "Tramp", "Rosie" and "Boots" as Alfred (1992–2005). A lurcher dog, originally belonging to Claude Greengrass and inherited by David Stockwell when Greengrass left the series. He became David's constant companion and appeared in numerous episodes. After a long and happy life, Alfred finally died of heart failure in the episode The End Of The Road (Series 15 episode 6) first broadcast on 30 October 2005
  • Elizabeth Bennett as Joyce Jowett. Local councillor. A formidable and opinionated lady who likes to have her own way. She insists on being addressed as "Councillor Jowett", as she very firmly tells anyone who dares to call her "Mrs. Jowett". She is a friend of Oscar Blaketon and the two appear to have a deeper though mostly unexpressed affection for each other.
  • Simon Molloy as DI Shiner, a keen CID boss.
  • Emily Wright as Various

[edit] Guest stars

Over the years, a number of well-known guest stars have made one-off appearances in Heartbeat, either in cameo roles or more substantial single-episode parts. These include David Essex (who played a traveller, or tinker), Charlotte Church, Geraldine Newman, Gary Barlow, David Dickinson, Lulu, Alan Price, George Cole, Ray Illingworth, Brian Close, Roy Dotrice, Ralf Little, Dickie Bird and impressionist Jon Culshaw.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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