Juliet Bravo
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Juliet Bravo | |
 Juliet Bravo Titles |
|
| Format | Police procedural |
|---|---|
| Created by | Ian Kennedy Martin |
| Starring | Stephanie Turner Anna Carteret |
| Country of origin | UK |
| No. of episodes | 88 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 50 minutes |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | BBC |
| Original run | 30 August 1980 – 31 December 1985 |
Juliet Bravo was a British television series which ran on BBC1 between 1980 and 1985. The theme of the series concerned a female police inspector who took over control of a police station in a fictional town of Hartley in Lancashire.
Contents |
[edit] Programme Name
Despite popular misunderstanding, there never was any character named "Juliet Bravo" in the show. The name of the show is the inspector's radio call sign, "J-B", or "Juliet Bravo" in the phonetic alphabet as practiced in European NATO states. The working title of the programme employed by series creator Ian Kennedy Martin was "Inspector, Ma'am", a reference to the lead character's rank and title - a title whose use she was forced to insist upon from one of her Sergeants in the first episode of series 1, due to his preference for the informal, and possibly derogatory, "Boss". However, "Inspector, Ma'am" was dropped during filming of the first series, and replaced by "Juliet Bravo".
[edit] Concept
The series was devised by Ian Kennedy Martin, who had already enjoyed success with another police drama series, The Sweeney. The genre of police/crime dramas was well established on British TV by 1980, however the BBC's Juliet Bravo, along with London Weekend Television's The Gentle Touch, dealt with female officers as lead characters having to fight both crime and the prejudice of male colleagues.
[edit] Production
Seasons 1 and 2 were produced by Terence Williams. From season 3, the producer changed to Jonathan Alwyn, and was script edited by Chris Boucher. Series Four, Five and Six were produced by Geraint Morris.
The fast moving theme tune for the programme was arranged by Derek Goom. Bob Cosford was the initial graphic designer who matched the theme tune to opening and closing graphics centred around a revolving police 'star and crown' cap badge which bore the familiar "ER II" device of English police forces, but in place of the force name around the blue circle had instead the generic words "County Constabulary".
[edit] Regular cast
The lead role of Inspector Jean Darblay was played by Stephanie Turner between 1980 and 1982, and her replacement Inspector Kate Longton was played by Anna Carteret between 1983 and 1985.
- Stephanie Turner (Inspector Jean Darblay) (Series 1–3)
- Anna Carteret (Inspector Kate Longton) (Series 4–6)
- David Ellison (Sergeant Joseph Beck)
- Noel Collins (Sergeant George Parrish)
- C.J Allen (Police Constable Brian Kellehar)
- Mark Botham (Police Constable Danny Sparks)
- Mark Drewry (Police Constable Roland Bentley)(Series 1)
- Edward Peel (Detective Chief Inspector Mark Perrin) (Series 5 & 6)
- Tony Caunter (Detective Chief Inspector Jim Logan) (Series 1–3)
- John Ringham (Divisional Superintendent Lake)(Series 1)
- James Grout (Divisional Superintendent Albert Hallam)(Series 2)
- David Hargreaves (Tom Darblay)(Series 1–3)
- Tom Georgeson (John Holden) and (Mark Peake)
- Bob Davidson (Tim Forbes)
[edit] Episode list
[edit] Trivia
 |
Lists of miscellaneous information should be avoided. Please relocate any relevant information into appropriate sections or articles. (February 2009) |
- Exterior scenes filmed in the Lancashire towns of Bacup Nelson Burnley, and in Todmorden, West Yorkshire. Other locations around east Lancashire and West Yorkshire were also used.
- Bacup police station was only ever used as an external view, the interior is fictional and studio based. When leaving the police station to go on mobile patrol, the vehicles were driven from the front of the police station, to the left, which in reality, leaves them driving into a wall and shuttered warehouse.
- The existing and currently operational Bacup police station is likely to be sold soon as alternate accommodation for the police is currently being sought.
- Juliet Bravo refers to a radio callsign (based on the NATO phonetic alphabet as used by UK police forces). However at first many viewers assumed it was the name of the lead character. Many people, however, still referred (and still do) refer to both Jean Darblay and Kate Longton's characters as "Juliet Bravo"
- In the Big Finish Doctor Who audio drama Deadline, Juliet Bravo has become a cult phenomenon in a world where Doctor Who never caught on; in a bit of satire, we learn there's an official magazine and even audio dramas with the old cast.
- In 1989, Anna Carteret reprised her role as Kate Longton in Alexei Sayle's Stuff (episode 5, series 2). Viewers were fooled into believing that the first few minutes of the programme was a real Juliet Bravo episode, the illusion being broken only when one of her male colleagues appears not to "know what a woman is".
- In one episode a stolen car is seen reversing into another parked vehicle in the car park of a public house. As the car draws away after the shunt a clear view of the cameraman and his camera can be seen.
- A 4 minute electropop dance version of the familiar theme music was featured as a bonus track on the album Hello Children Everywhere, by Evils.
[edit] DVD Release
All six series of Juliet Bravo have now been released on DVD (region 2/4) by 2|Entertain/Cinema Club.
