NCS: Manhunt

NCS: Manhunt

Title card
Genre Crime drama
Created by Malcolm McKay
Written by Malcolm McKay
Directed by Michael Whyte
Paul Unwin
Starring David Suchet
Keith Barron
Samantha Bond
Melanie Hill
Sara Stewart
Jonathan Phillips
Gerard Horan
Country of origin United Kingdom
Original language(s) English
No. of series 2
No. of episodes 8 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s) Fred Tammes
Producer(s) Sue Austen
Cinematography Fred Tammes
Editor(s) Ian Sutherland
Running time 60 minutes
Production company(s) BBC Home Entertainment
Release
Original network BBC One
Picture format 16:9
Audio format Stereo
Original release 26 March 2001 (2001-03-26) – 19 March 2002 (2002-03-19)

NCS: Manhunt is a British television crime drama series, starring David Suchet, and based on the National Crime Squad. Created by Malcolm McKay, the series premiered with a two-part pilot episode on BBC One on March 26, 2001.[1] A full series of six episodes debuted on March 4, 2002,[2] and concluded on March 19, 2002.[3] Despite the series popularity, and strong viewing figures, a second series was never commissioned. Notably, neither the pilot nor the complete series have ever been issued on DVD, although the series was repeated in its entirety on Forces TV in 2016.[4] The series notably starred Michael Fassbender in one of his earliest television roles, after appearing in Band of Brothers the previous year.[5] Kenneth Cranham and Phyllis Logan also co-starred in the pilot episode.[6]

David Suchet said of his role in the series, "I don't ever recollect reading a script like this and I've certainly never seen anything like it on television before. When I read it, I was mesmerised. It was quite impossible to say no. Borne is probably the most complex character in the team. He is a man who fascinates by being endlessly enigmatic. He uses language sparingly, but with him everything is going on underneath the surface. And in a sense, I'm not playing another detective at all. I'm merely playing a different, complex human being who just happens to be a detective. You may find him in a police station, but I'd like to think that the audience are aching to see him too."[7]

Cast

Regular cast

Supporting cast

Episodes

Pilot (2001)

Episode Title Written by Directed by Viewers
(millions)[9]		 Original airdate
1"Pilot: Part 1"Malcolm McKayMichael Whyte7.4126 March 2001 (2001-03-26)
When convicted criminal Ricky Valesi kidnaps the mother of Inspector Anne Warwick, a link between the officer and Valesi is unveiled.
2"Pilot: Part 2"Malcolm McKayMichael Whyte7.3027 March 2001 (2001-03-27)
Bourne and the team continue their investigation and make a surprising discovery about Anne Warwick's personal life. What appeared to be a straightforward kidnapping soon escalates into a harrowing case of murder, conspiracy and betrayal.

Series (2002)

Episode Title Written by Directed by Viewers
(millions)		 Original airdate
1"Collision Course: Part 1"Malcolm McKayMichael Whyte6.084 March 2002 (2002-03-04)
The team ambushes a group of drug smugglers who have landed in a Norfolk field and seize a consignment of cocaine. They plan to track the drugs to source through the pilot and one of the crew, but are taken off the case to deal with a series of contract killings by two leather-clad scooter riders using silenced handguns.
2"Collision Course: Part 2"Malcolm McKayMichael Whyte5.415 March 2002 (2002-03-05)
The team struggles to come to terms with the loss of one of their own. A series of arrests helps to raise spirits, and a tip-off leads Borne to an old acquaintance. Borne becomes convinced that a criminal whom he convicted five years earlier holds the key to the contract killings.
3"Tinderbox: Part 1"Malcolm McKayPaul Unwin5.2211 March 2002 (2002-03-11)
A new member joins the team, which is dispatched to investigate a series of apparently straightforward armed robberies on Indian restaurants in Birmingham. MI5 gets involved when a paratrooper is killed.
4"Tinderbox: Part 2"Malcolm McKayPaul Unwin4.6012 March 2002 (2002-03-12)
It becomes clear that the crimes are racially motivated, and the team uncovers a secretive right-wing organisation bent on starting a race war.
5"Out of Time: Part 1"Malcolm McKayMichael Whyte4.9318 March 2002 (2002-03-18)
The team attempts to bring down the Colombian cocaine smuggling ring. Information has been received that a shipment is on its way. To get to the elusive "Number One", the detectives go after dealers further down the supply chain, but one of the team is kidnapped outside Benny Luck's club.
6"Out of Time: Part 2"Malcolm McKayMichael WhyteUnder 4.3319 March 2002 (2002-03-19)
The team sets up a deal to sell the shipment of drugs to Benny Luck, who arranges to meet the Colombians at Tilbury docks, setting up a dramatic showdown.

References

  1. ↑ Nightingale, Julie (26 March 2001). "So PC". New Statesman. Retrieved 2 March 2010.
  2. ↑ Hodgson, Jessica (5 March 2002). "Beckham brings 8m to ITV1". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 March 2010.
  3. ↑ Cozens, Claire (20 March 2002). "C5's Armageddon flattens BBC". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 March 2010.
  4. ↑ http://www.forces.net/65881722
  5. ↑ "Melanie is armed and ready; NCS: Manhunt BBC1, 9pm". Evening Times. 12 March 2002. p. 21. Retrieved 2 March 2010.
  6. 1 2 Virtue, Graeme (25 March 2001). "Plod devices; A new crime drama looks set to earn its stripes, but put that down to the stars rather than their hi-tech tactics". Sunday Herald. p. 46. Retrieved 2 March 2010.
  7. ↑ http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Desperate+race+against+time%3B+NCS%3A+Manhunt+BBC1,+9.00pm.-a072193114
  8. ↑ Beacom, Brian (26 March 2001). "Pick of the Day NCS: Manhunt BBC1, 9pm". Evening Times. p. 19. Retrieved 2 March 2010.
  9. ↑ http://www.barb.co.uk/whats-new/weekly-top-30?
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