"Cracker" (1993) TV series 1993-1996

Creator:

Jimmy McGovern
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Release Date:

27 September 1993 (UK)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

Plot:

An abrasively eccentric forensic psychologist aids in the solving of difficult police cases.

Awards:

20 wins & 14 nominations

Cast

Robbie Coltrane	...	Dr. Eddie 'Fitz' Fitzgerald (24 episodes, 1993-1996)
Geraldine Somerville	...	DS Jane 'Panhandle' Penhaligon (23 episodes, 1993-1995)
Kieran O'Brien	...	Mark Fitzgerald (21 episodes, 1993-1995)
Barbara Flynn	...	Judith Fitzgerald (20 episodes, 1993-1995)
Lorcan Cranitch	...	DS Jimmy Beck (19 episodes, 1993-1995)
Ricky Tomlinson	...	D.C.I. Charlie Wise / ... (15 episodes, 1994-1996)
Tess Thomson	...	Kate 'Katie' Fitzgerald / ... (12 episodes, 1993-1995)
Christopher Eccleston	...	DCI David Bilborough (10 episodes, 1993-1994)
Wil Johnson	...	D.C. Skelton (10 episodes, 1994-1995)

Series Directed by
Tim Fywell		(5 episodes, 1994-1995)
Andy Wilson		(3 episodes, 1993)
Julian Jarrold		(3 episodes, 1994)
Jean Stewart		(3 episodes, 1994)
Roy Battersby		(3 episodes, 1995)
Simon Cellan Jones		(2 episodes, 1993)
Michael Winterbottom		(2 episodes, 1993)
Charles McDougall		(2 episodes, 1995)
Richard Standeven		(1 episode, 1996)

Series Writing credits
Jimmy McGovern		(24 episodes, 1993-1996)
Paul Abbott		(5 episodes, 1995-1996)
Ted Whitehead		(3 episodes, 1994)

Series Produced by
Sally Head	....	executive producer (21 episodes, 1993-1995)
Gub Neal	....	producer / executive producer / ... (10 episodes, 1993-1996)
Paul Abbott	....	producer (9 episodes, 1994)
Hilary Bevan Jones	....	producer (8 episodes, 1995-1996)
Valery Ryan	....	assistant producer (5 episodes, 1995)
Delia Fine	....	executive producer: A&E Network (3 episodes, 1995-1996)

Series Original Music by
Rick Wentworth		(8 episodes, 1995-1996)
David Ferguson		(4 episodes, 1994)
Roger Jackson		(3 episodes, 1993)

Series Cinematography by
Ivan Strasburg		(16 episodes, 1993-1994)
Dick Dodd		(8 episodes, 1995-1996)

Series Film Editing by
Oral Norrie Ottey		(6 episodes, 1993-1994)
Tony Cranstoun		(6 episodes, 1994-1996)
Edward Mansell		(6 episodes, 1994-1995)
Chris Gill		(2 episodes, 1993)
Trevor Waite		(2 episodes, 1993)
Anthony Ham		(2 episodes, 1995)

Series Casting by
Gail Stevens		(16 episodes, 1993-1994)
Marilyn Johnson		(8 episodes, 1995-1996)

Series Production Design by
Stephen Fineren		(13 episodes, 1994-1995)
Chris Wilkinson		(8 episodes, 1993-1996)
Claire Kenny		(3 episodes, 1994)

Series Art Direction by
Deborah Morley		(7 episodes, 1993)
Bill Crutcher		(5 episodes, 1995)
David Butterworth		(4 episodes, 1994-1996)
Chris Coldwell		(3 episodes, 1994)
Nick Wilkinson		(3 episodes, 1994)
Mark Stonehouse		(2 episodes, 1995)

Series Costume Design by
Tudor George		(8 episodes, 1995-1996)
Janty Yates		(2 episodes, 1993)

Series Makeup Department
Anastasia Shirley	....	make-up assistant / make-up supervisor / ... (10 episodes, 1993-1996)
Sue Milton	....	make-up supervisor / make up design (6 episodes, 1995-1996)
Helen King	....	makeup supervisor (3 episodes, 1993-1994)
Sally O'Loughlin	....	make-up assistant (2 episodes, 1995)
Colin Ware	....	special makeup effects artist (unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Bill Leather	....	production supervisor (17 episodes, 1994-1996)
Des Hughes	....	production manager (16 episodes, 1994-1995)
Liam Foster	....	production manager (7 episodes, 1993)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jude Harrison	....	second assistant director (16 episodes, 1994-1995)
Peter Shaw	....	first assistant director (15 episodes, 1993-1996)
Emma Bodger	....	second assistant director (7 episodes, 1993)
John Friend Newman	....	first assistant director (5 episodes, 1993-1994)
Rachel Longhurst	....	second assistant director / third assistant director (4 episodes, 1993)
Simon Turner	....	third assistant director (3 episodes, 1995)
Vincent Fahy	....	first assistant director (2 episodes, 1995)

Series Art Department
Phil Buckley	....	graphic designer (24 episodes, 1993-1996)
Ron Pritchard	....	production buyer / prop buyer / ... (23 episodes, 1993-1995)
Frank Massey	....	chargehand asm (16 episodes, 1993-1994)
Peter O'Rourke	....	action props (9 episodes, 1993-1996)
Vic Shirovay	....	prop master / prop dresser (8 episodes, 1993-1995)
Tommy Lyons	....	chargehand asm (8 episodes, 1995-1996)
Nigel Place	....	prop master / prop dresser (7 episodes, 1993-1995)
Rod Gorwood	....	assistant designer / assistant art director (5 episodes, 1995)
Nick Thompson	....	standby carpenter (3 episodes, 1995)
Mark Stonehouse	....	assistant art director (2 episodes, 1993)
Mike McIntyre	....	standby painter (2 episodes, 1995)

Series Sound Department
Phil Smith	....	sound mixer (14 episodes, 1993-1995)
John Whitworth	....	dubbing mixer (13 episodes, 1993-1996)
John Senior	....	dubbing editor (12 episodes, 1994-1996)
Tony Cooper	....	boom operator (11 episodes, 1993-1996)
Mark Briscoe	....	dubbing editor (8 episodes, 1995-1996)
John Rutherford	....	dubbing editor (5 episodes, 1993-1994)
Andy Wyatt	....	dubbing mixer (3 episodes, 1993-1994)

Series Visual Effects by
Steve Tomkow	....	visual effects (1 episode, 1995)

Series Stunts
Peter Brayham	....	stunt coordinator (10 episodes, 1993-1994)
Dave Holland	....	stunt coordinator (2 episodes, 1993)
Chris Webb	....	stunt coordinator (2 episodes, 1993)
Terry Forrestal	....	stunt coordinator (2 episodes, 1995)
Rick Avery	....	stunts (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Richard Brierley	....	focus puller / first assistant camera (15 episodes, 1993-1996)
David Ratcliffe	....	lighting gaffer / chargehand electrician (11 episodes, 1993-1996)
Mandy Moles	....	clapper loader (9 episodes, 1994-1996)
Mike Fisher	....	grip (8 episodes, 1993-1996)
Mike Miller	....	camera operator (8 episodes, 1995-1996)
Gary Stanton	....	grip (8 episodes, 1995-1996)
Alf Tramontin	....	steadicam operator / Steadicam operator (3 episodes, 1993-1996)
Bob Gregory	....	grip (2 episodes, 1993-1994)
Matt Squire	....	still photographer (2 episodes, 1995)
Howard Smith	....	Steadicam operator (unknown episodes)

Series Casting Department
Andy Pryor	....	casting / casting assistant (13 episodes, 1993-1994)
Beverley Keogh	....	additional casting (4 episodes, 1993)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Michael Richards	....	wardrobe supervisor (7 episodes, 1995-1996)
Sally Mason	....	wardrobe supervisor (2 episodes, 1993)
Michael Stringer	....	dresser / wardrobe assistant (2 episodes, 1995-1996)

Series Editorial Department
Neil Parker	....	colorist (16 episodes, 1994-1996)
Chris Clarkson	....	assistant film editor / assistant editor (5 episodes, 1994-1996)
Bill Missett	....	on-line editor (3 episodes, 1995-1996)
Peter Christelis	....	assistant editor / assistant film editor (2 episodes, 1993)
Portia Napier	....	post-production consultant (2 episodes, 1993)
David Boyle	....	assistant editor / assistant film editor (2 episodes, 1995-1996)

Series Music Department
Roger Jackson	....	musician (1 episode, 1993)
Carol Kidd	....	singer: "Summertime" and "Stormy Weather" (1 episode, 1993)
Julian Wastall	....	musician (1 episode, 1993)
James Shearman	....	music assistant (1 episode, 1995)

Series Transportation Department
Dave Anforth	....	transport (1 episode, 1995)
Wolfie Booth	....	transport (1 episode, 1995)
Alan Eccleston	....	transport (1 episode, 1995)
Norman Jones	....	transport (1 episode, 1995)
Les Kidd	....	transport (1 episode, 1995)
Sam Pollard	....	transport (1 episode, 1995)
Paul Scaife	....	transport (1 episode, 1995)
Jeff Turner	....	transport (1 episode, 1995)
Martin Watling	....	transport (1 episode, 1995)

Series Other crew
Gwenda Bagshaw	....	script associate (21 episodes, 1993-1995)
Ken Mair	....	location manager (21 episodes, 1993-1995)
Craig McNeil	....	production executive (18 episodes, 1993-1996)
Dorothy Friend	....	continuity (16 episodes, 1993-1994)
Tracy Lee	....	production coordinator (14 episodes, 1993-1995)
Catriona McKenzie	....	script editor / script associate (10 episodes, 1993-1996)
Eileen Wood	....	production coordinator (9 episodes, 1994)
Nicola Shindler	....	script editor (7 episodes, 1993)
Sue Wild	....	continuity (7 episodes, 1995)
Debbie Shewell	....	script editor (6 episodes, 1994)
Roxy Spencer	....	script editor (6 episodes, 1994)
Gareth Williams	....	production financing (5 episodes, 1993)
Patrick Spence	....	script editor (5 episodes, 1995)
Chris Wheeler	....	production financing (4 episodes, 1993-1995)
John Stretch	....	script research (4 episodes, 1995)
Mark Borkowski	....	unit publicist (3 episodes, 1993)
Ian Stephen	....	forensic psychology consultant (3 episodes, 1995)
Maria Grimley	....	producer secretary / producer's secretary (2 episodes, 1993)
Sue de Beauvoir	....	location manager (2 episodes, 1995)
Jason Payne-James	....	forensic medical advisor (2 episodes, 1995)
Russell Stockdale	....	forensic advisor (2 episodes, 1995)
Wayne Docksey	....	animal master (unknown episodes)
Neil MacDonald	....	production supervisor: Hong Kong (unknown episodes)
Valery Ryan	....	script editor (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• A&E Television Networks
• Granada Television

Distributors

• Independent Television (ITV) (1993-1996) (UK) (TV)
• A&E Television Networks (1994-1996) (USA) (TV)
• Acorn Media Group (2009) (USA) (DVD) (complete collection)
• Elephant Films (2009) (France) (all media)
• Home Box Office Home Video (HBO) (2003-2004) (USA) (DVD)
• ITV DVD (2008) (UK) (DVD) (complete series)
• Koch Media (2006) (Germany) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Compuhire  computer and video playback
• Karaoke AV Ltd.  karaoke
• Pioneer LDCE  karaoke

Also Known As:

Runtime:

Germany:90 min (9 episodes) | UK:60 min (22 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:MA (DVD rating) | UK:18 (DVD rating) | New Zealand:R16 (seasons 1-3)

Filming Locations:

Manchester, Greater Manchester, England, UK

Company:

A&E Television Networks

Trivia:

Robert Lindsay was the original choice for Fitz but turned it down.

Quotes:

Fitz:I drink too much, I smoke too much, I gamble too much. I *am* too much.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Ideal: The Christians (#3.2)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

Summertime

Apt title

If you had to choose one ITV-made psychological thriller series from the Nineties for a desert island, what would it be?

Some may plump for Prime Suspect but for many, Cracker wins hands down - not least because of its star.

Robbie Coltrane has always been good value for money in comedy roles, but as the criminal psychologist Eddie Fitzgerald, he shone brighter than most stars of his generation.

Scripts by Jimmy McGovern (among others) did no harm and with a knockout supporting cast including Barbara Flynn, Lorcan Cranitch and Christopher Eccleston, it was little wonder the show won a string of awards.

When the Americans decided to remake the show almost word for word with Robert Pastorelli in the lead, it was a pretty fruitless attempt to sell a great series to a wider audience.

Although not bad, the star was lighter in more ways than one and the whole thing gave many fans a nagging sense of deja vu.