Lovejoy (1986–1994)

Lovejoy is a loveable rogue and an antiques dealer with an amazing talent for spotting hidden treasures. When not looking for the odd collectible, Lovejoy spends most of his time using his ... See full summary »

Creator:

Ian La Frenais

Stars:

Ian McShane, Dudley Sutton, Chris Jury

1 nomination.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Ian McShane	...	Lovejoy (73 episodes, 1986-1994)
Dudley Sutton	...	Tinker (70 episodes, 1986-1994)
Chris Jury	...	Eric (55 episodes, 1986-1994)
Phyllis Logan	...	Lady Jane (47 episodes, 1986-1994)

Storyline

Lovejoy is a loveable rogue and an antiques dealer with an amazing talent for spotting hidden treasures. When not looking for the odd collectible, Lovejoy spends most of his time using his con-artist skills to help out the less fortunate. His partners in crime are wealthy Lady Jane, his dim assistant Eric, and the genially intoxicated Tinker.

---

Plot Keywords:

antique | based on novel | based on book | character name in title

---

Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Mystery

---

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 January 1986 (UK)

Also Known As:

Les règles de l'art

Filming Locations:

Elm Hill, Norwich, Norfolk, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

BBC Drama Productions, McShane Productions, Tamariska Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

50 min 50 min (71 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

During filming in series one to three, several scenes were shot inside the Six Bells pub, Walsham Le Willows. For some strange reason, the films were reversed, and actors wore their watches on their RIGHT wrists, jackets with right-hand breast pockets were made, and there was even a reverse-replica of the pub clock.

---

Quotes

Lovejoy: Do we have to bring mistrust and suspicion into this.

---

Connections

Referenced in Clatterford: Missing Persons (2009)

User Reviews

Like a pair of comfortable shoes ...

Having moved from the UK to Asia approximately 10 years ago, I have found myself collecting quality British TV series on DVD, most of which I had grown up with during my school and college days. These are great to while away an hour or so on a Sunday evening when pangs of homesickness occur. Series like Fawlty Towers, Only Fools and Horses, Men Behaving Badly, Auf Weidersehen Pet and of course ... Lovejoy!

These series bring a smile to the face, a fair number of laughs and that warm fuzzy feeling like putting on a pair of comfortable shoes.

I had almost given up hope that Lovejoy would be released on DVD and while back in the UK on a business trip last week, was overjoyed to find that the first three series were already on the shelves (and had been since Spring 2004). I bought all three!

On first impressions, I wasn't all that enamoured with the image quality, as it comes across as quite grainy. This is a shame and can be a little distracting at times (especially during night scenes). By comparison, I had a totally different experience when I purchased the first series of Cheers on DVD with an amazing remastering job done on the image that just takes your breath away. The sound is also a bit touch-and-go and it can be difficult to hear some of the lines being delivered, particularly if the character is facing away from the camera.

The three-part interview with Ian McShane comes across as a little amateurish, although the effort was appreciated.

The real winner though is the show itself. As the series is set in the English countryside, it is fairly devoid of fashion, technology and modern cars. The result is that there's very little to date it. Only the occasional blast of background music gives the game away. At the end of the first episode, I had a smile on my face and a satisfaction that Lovejoy is back in my life.