Where Do I Know That Actor?

The MASTERPIECE crime drama UNFORGOTTEN is back for a fifth season with a new face in one of the prime positions. Old favorites return as well but you can’t recognize the players without a score card so let’s see who’s who on this hit series.

Sanjeev Bhaskar stars as DI Sunny Khan, co-leader of a team investigating cold cases. He’s guested on Midsomer Murders, Indian Summers and Inspector Lewis but he may be best known for playing Dr. Prem Sharma on The Indian Doctor (currently Saturdays at 6pm).

Sinéad Keenan co-stars as DCI Jess James, the new team co-leader (replacing Nicola Walker’s DCI Cassie Stuart for obvious reasons if you’ve viewed the first four series). Sadly, she has not been a major player in anything we’ve broadcast yet. She did pop up as a secretary named Nora Brent on an episode of Poirot (“The Clocks”) and appeared as Nina on Being Human, a cool series that we unfortunately never aired but you may have seen it elsewhere on US television.

Where Do I Know That Actor?

There’s a new series on Sunday nights, kicking off prime time. It’s RIDLEY, starring Adrian Dunbar in the title role as a retired detective inspector brought back in as a consultant. Certainly, sounds intriguing as a premise so we’ll see if it holds up. Each episode is split into two parts making for an 8-part series. So far, we’ve been treated to the first investigation and got to see a few faces that you may know from elsewhere.

Before we start, I will note that RIDLEY gives us a lot of actors who have appeared in other series we’ve aired but none who really rise to the level of main star. Still, that’s why I do this. You’re bound to recognize a Dame Judi Dench when she shows up on something but the bit players and character actors are harder to pin down. So let’s see who’s who…

Adrian Dunbar, of course, starts as former DI Alex Ridley. While there have been a few guest roles on shows like Death In Paradise, Scott & Bailey and Inspector Morse, it’s possible you may have seen him as Plantagenet in The Hollow Crown.

Wednesday Trivia Question

Who starred in the US version of PRIME SUSPECT?

PRIME SUSPECT was a critically-acclaimed drama series that aired across seven series from 1991 to 2006. Created by Lynda La Plante, the show was a police procedural in which the lead character was a a female DCI confronting institutionalized sexism within the force. Helen Mirren starred as DCI Jane Tennison, a role that made her a household name for many in the US after the series ran on PBS on MYSTERY (and later MASTERPIECE).

As any regular viewer of commercial television knows, a successful program on British telly is bound to be considered for an American adaptation. Sometimes the show doesn’t make it pass the initial discussion or pilot stage (RED DWARF, BEANE’S OF BOSTON, THE IT CROWD), sometimes it becomes as successful, if not more so, than its British counterpart (ALL IN THE FAMILY, GHOSTS, WHOSE LINE IS IT ANYWAY?). Quite often, the show can make it to series but end after one season (or less) because the same magic wasn’t quite there (GRACEPOINT, AMANDA’S BY THE SEA, LIFE ON MARS).

Sounds Familiar

“I’m a police officer. I’m a police officer and I want a cup of tea.” – DI Richard Poole (Ben Miller), throwing his weight around, DEATH IN PARADISE

Wednesday Trivia Question

Where was John Barnaby stationed before transferring to Midsomer’s Causton CID?

MIDSOMER MURDERS is a Saturday night staple ’round these parts. PBS NC has been airing the UK import since the summer of 2014. It’s proven to be very popular with viewers and so far we’ve broadcast 21 seasons. The show initially followed DCI Tom Barnaby (John Nettles) but when he left after series 13 his cousin John stepped in to fill his shoes. So DCI John Barnaby (Neil Dudgeon) is the current detective on duty when the quaint county of Midsomer falls victim to the odd case of manslaughter.

The character of John Barnaby first appeared in Nettles’ last season when the copper cousins joined forces. It seemed a natural fit then for the DCI to move to Midsomer when Tom retired.

So the question concerns John’s original posting (original as seen in the series). Where was it? Where was DCI John Barnaby stationed before transferring to Midsomer’s Causton CID on MIDSOMER MURDERS?

Wednesday Trivia Question

What is the name of the dog featured in series two of VAN DER VALK?

The British drama set in Amsterdam returned for a brief second series (just three episodes) last month and in among the crime and suspects and romance viewers got to meet a new canine character. Sadly, the dog that belonged to Hoofdcommissaris Julia Dahlman in season one passed away (his name was Trojan) so Piet got his his boss a new hound, an an ex-sniffer dog trained to track out marijuana.

So what was the canine’s name? What was the name of the dog featured in series two of VAN DER VALK?

Sounds Familiar

“Now let’s get to the bottom of all this aristocratic flummery.” – DCI Endeavour Morse (John Thaw), INSPECTOR MORSE

Sounds Familiar

“Who in their right mind chooses to be surrounded by death?” – Dr. Fleur Perkins (Annette Badland), to herself as she is examines a murder scene, MIDSOMER MURDERS

Where Do I Know That Actor?

It started out as a case of burglary and arson but quickly evolved into the usual batch of killings. Of course, DCI Barnaby and a very heroic DS Winters were on the case, wading through a colorful cast of characters at Carver Valley’s comic book festival. Such was the plot of “Drawing Dead” – the third entry into the latest season of MIDSOMER MURDERS. A fantastic foursome of featured guest stars were along for the journey. Let’s see who’s who…

Ruby Bentall played Stella Starling, daughter of the local sheriff. She’s also been seen as Minnie Mude in Lark Rise To Candleford, Pauline in The Paradise and Verity in Poldark.

Will Brown portrayed Stella’s stepbrother and comicfest organizer, Timothy Argo. You may remember him as Jason Walker in series two of Unforgotten.

Sounds Familiar

“Coded messages, murder – right up my street. It’s not a bad way to start the day.” – Inspector Endeavour Morse (John Thaw), INSPECTOR MORSE