"Blackpool" (2004) TV series

Director:

Julie Anne Robinson

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

24 October 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Musical | Mystery | Romance

Plot:

Soon after local entrepreneur Ripley Holden (Morrissey) opens his arcade in his beloved home town of Blackpool, a murder investigation makes tears at the fabric of his personal and professional lives.

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Arcade | Investigation | Blackpool | Drugs

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 2 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

David Morrissey	...	Ripley Holden (6 episodes, 2004)
Sarah Parish	...	Natalie Holden (6 episodes, 2004)
Thomas Morrison	...	Danny Holden (6 episodes, 2004)
David Tennant	...	D.I. Peter Carlisle (6 episodes, 2004)
Georgia Taylor	...	Shyanne Holden (6 episodes, 2004)
Steve Pemberton	...	Adrian Marr (6 episodes, 2004)
David Bradley	...	Hallworth (6 episodes, 2004)
Bryan Dick	...	D.C. Blythe (6 episodes, 2004)
Kevin Doyle	...	Steve (6 episodes, 2004)
David Hounslow	...	DCI Jim Allbright / ... (6 episodes, 2004)
Jacqueline Pilton	...	Ruth (6 episodes, 2004)
Lisa Millett	...	Hailey (6 episodes, 2004)
John Thomson	...	Terry Corlette (6 episodes, 2004)
Michelle McCaw	...	Chantelle (6 episodes, 2004)
Jim Whelan	...	Deaf Barry (5 episodes, 2004)
Connie Walker	...	Karen (4 episodes, 2004)
Joe Armstrong	...	Mark Reed (3 episodes, 2004)

Also Known As:

Viva Blackpool (USA) (new syndication title)

Runtime:

352 min (6 parts)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:M | UK:12 (parts 1, 2, 4-6) | UK:15 (part 3) | Greece:K

Filming Locations:

Blackpool, Lancashire, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Quotes:

D.I. Peter Carlisle: Ah, Freud would say that your jokes reveal a truth buried in your subconscious.
Ripley Holden: Oh, what do you know, a copper who's read a book.
D.I. Peter Carlisle: Well, if I'd read two books, maybe I'd run an amusement arcade.
Ripley Holden: Yeah, well I wouldn't know about that. I run a family entertainment arcade.
D.I. Peter Carlisle: And I'm a crime-citizen-interface consultant.

Movie Connections:

Remade as "Viva Laughlin" (2007)

Unusual drama

Blackpool is an unusual drama (with touches of comedy) which tells the story of an amusement arcade owner who finds himself and his family at the centre of a murder investigation when a body is found in his arcade. From time to time the actors burst into song (a la Singing Detective) & are transported into fantasy sequences which work quite well as an integral part of the plot. The actors' faces are well known to UK TV audiences from their regular appearances in supporting roles in other TV vehicles. As in all BBC productions, the performances are uniformly good. The real star of the show however is Blackpool itself. The wonderfully seedy holiday resort is well used as the backdrop and well known places/landmarks appear in most scenes. An enjoyable serial. (The soundtrack's pretty good too!)