"Pie in the Sky" (1994) TV series 1994-1997

Creator:

Andrew Payne
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Release Date:

13 March 1994 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Drama

Plot:

Henry Crabbe, an intelligent, sensible, mild-mannered man, desperately wants to retire from the police...

Plot Keywords:

Restaurant | Police | Retirement | Cooking | Detective

Cast

Richard Griffiths	...	Henry Crabbe (40 episodes, 1994-1997)
Maggie Steed	...	Margaret Crabbe (33 episodes, 1994-1997)
Malcolm Sinclair	...	Freddy Fisher / ... (33 episodes, 1994-1997)
Nick Raggett	...	Henderson / ... (27 episodes, 1994-1997)
Bella Enahoro	...	Cambridge / ... (26 episodes, 1994-1996)
Samantha Womack	...	Nicola (22 episodes, 1995-1996)
Joe Duttine	...	Steve / ... (21 episodes, 1994-1995)
Nicholas Lamont	...	Gary Palmer (20 episodes, 1995-1997)
Ashley Russell	...	John (20 episodes, 1994-1995)

Series Directed by
Martin Hutchings		(6 episodes, 1994-1996)
David Innes Edwards		(5 episodes, 1996-1997)
Lawrence Gordon Clark		(4 episodes, 1994-1995)
Colin Gregg		(4 episodes, 1994)
Danny Hiller		(4 episodes, 1995-1996)
Jim Hill		(3 episodes, 1995)
Bill Pryde		(3 episodes, 1996-1997)
George Case		(2 episodes, 1994)
Keith Boak		(2 episodes, 1996)
Malcolm Mowbray		(2 episodes, 1996)
Rob Evans		(2 episodes, 1997)

Series Writing credits
Andrew Payne		(40 episodes, 1994-1997)
John Milne		(8 episodes, 1994-1997)
Richard Maher		(6 episodes, 1994-1996)
Robert Jones		(4 episodes, 1996-1997)

Series Produced by
Chrissy Skinns	....	producer / associate producer (39 episodes, 1994-1997)
Allan McKeown	....	executive producer (30 episodes, 1994-1996)
Joanna Willett	....	executive producer (30 episodes, 1994-1996)
Ken Baker	....	associate producer (30 episodes, 1995-1997)
David Wimbury	....	producer (15 episodes, 1994-1995)
Andrew Payne	....	executive producer (10 episodes, 1996-1997)
Jacky Stoller	....	producer (6 episodes, 1994)

Series Original Music by
Colin Towns		(34 episodes, 1994-1997)

Series Cinematography by
Paul Bond		(14 episodes, 1995-1997)
Ian Punter		(11 episodes, 1995-1997)
Derek Suter		(8 episodes, 1994)
Ken Westbury		(7 episodes, 1994-1995)

Series Film Editing by
Jeremy Strachan		(16 episodes, 1994-1996)
Nick McPhee		(8 episodes, 1995-1997)
William Webb		(7 episodes, 1996-1997)
Brian Freemantle		(5 episodes, 1995-1996)
Belinda Cottrell		(4 episodes, 1994)

Series Casting by
Sarah Bird		(24 episodes, 1995-1997)
Doreen Jones		(8 episodes, 1994)
Susie Parriss		(2 episodes, 1994)
Paddy Stern		(2 episodes, 1994)

Series Production Design by
Tom Brown		(10 episodes, 1995-1996)
Chris Burke		(10 episodes, 1995)
Martyn Hebert		(8 episodes, 1994)
Rod Stratfold		(4 episodes, 1996-1997)

Series Art Direction by
Mike Joyce		(10 episodes, 1995)
Andrew Rothschild		(5 episodes, 1994)
Julie Sheppard		(5 episodes, 1994)
Ricky Eyres		(5 episodes, 1995-1996)
Julian Parry		(5 episodes, 1996)
Simon Lamont		(2 episodes, 1996)
Madeleine Rogers		(2 episodes, 1997)

Series Costume Design by
Pat Godfrey		(20 episodes, 1995-1996)
Alyson Ritchie		(10 episodes, 1994)
Lance Milligan		(4 episodes, 1996-1997)

Series Makeup Department
Jan Hope-Kavanagh	....	makeup designer (32 episodes, 1994-1997)
Anita Rudyj	....	make-up assistant / makeup artist / ... (7 episodes, 1995-1997)
Val Akrill	....	make-up assistant (2 episodes, 1994-1995)
Renee Baker	....	make-up assistant / makeup artist (2 episodes, 1996)

Series Production Management
Louise Hussey	....	post-production supervisor (20 episodes, 1994-1995)
Lars MacFarlane	....	production supervisor (10 episodes, 1994)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Marcus Catlin	....	second assistant director / first assistant director (16 episodes, 1995-1997)
Matthew Sharp	....	second assistant director (15 episodes, 1995-1997)
Peter Bennett	....	first assistant director (12 episodes, 1995-1997)
Richard Styles	....	third assistant director (10 episodes, 1994)
Richard Whelan	....	second assistant director (10 episodes, 1994)
Gary Talbot	....	third assistant director (7 episodes, 1995-1997)
Sean Guest	....	first assistant director (5 episodes, 1995)
Nick Heckstall-Smith	....	first assistant director (4 episodes, 1994)
Terry Madden	....	first assistant director (4 episodes, 1994)
Ken Shane	....	first assistant director (2 episodes, 1994)

Series Art Department
Gillie Delap	....	production buyer (10 episodes, 1994)
Thomas Martin	....	supervising carpenter (10 episodes, 1994)
Grahame Ménage	....	scenic artist (10 episodes, 1994)
Charles Torbett	....	property master (10 episodes, 1994)
Deborah Melsom	....	production buyer (10 episodes, 1995-1996)
Steve Wheeler	....	property master (10 episodes, 1995-1996)
Gina Cromwell	....	production buyer (10 episodes, 1995)
Sarah Hauldren	....	assistant art director (10 episodes, 1995)
Mike Killman	....	property master (10 episodes, 1995)
Greg Mason	....	painter (8 episodes, 1997)
David Horrill	....	property master (4 episodes, 1996-1997)
Sara Wan	....	production buyer (4 episodes, 1996-1997)
Les Andrews	....	stand-by props (3 episodes, 1995-1996)
Andrea Hefford	....	assistant art director / stand-by art director (3 episodes, 1995-1996)
Dave Sugden	....	dressing props (3 episodes, 1995-1996)
Steve Allett	....	stand-by props (3 episodes, 1996-1997)
Russell Hanson	....	dressing props (3 episodes, 1996-1997)
Lee Hubbard	....	stand-by props (3 episodes, 1996-1997)
Tim Watkins	....	dressing props (3 episodes, 1996-1997)
Colin Mutch	....	dressing props (2 episodes, 1996)
Madeleine Rogers	....	assistant art director (2 episodes, 1996)
Micky Swift	....	stand-by props (2 episodes, 1996)
Paul Booth	....	stand-by art director (unknown episodes)
Robin Heinson	....	painter (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Steve Cookman	....	dubbing mixer (30 episodes, 1994-1997)
Terry Sharratt	....	boom operator (28 episodes, 1994-1996)
Bruce White	....	sound recordist (28 episodes, 1994-1996)
Paul Evans	....	dubbing editor (10 episodes, 1994)
Matt Grimes	....	dubbing editor (10 episodes, 1995)
Dave McGrath	....	dubbing mixer (10 episodes, 1995)
Andrew Sissons	....	sound recordist (10 episodes, 1996-1997)
Glenn Freemantle	....	dubbing editor (5 episodes, 1995-1996)
Max Hoskins	....	dubbing editor (5 episodes, 1996)
Kim Harding	....	boom operator (4 episodes, 1996-1997)
Bill Dodkin	....	sound recordist (2 episodes, 1994)
David Vroegindeweij	....	boom operator (2 episodes, 1994)

Series Special Effects by
Tim Baxter	....	optical effects (1 episode, 1994)

Series Stunts
Rocky Taylor	....	stunt coordinator / stunt arranger / ... (10 episodes, 1995-1997)
Paul Heasman	....	stunts (6 episodes, 1994-1996)
Sy Hollands	....	stunts (5 episodes, 1994-1996)
Ray De-Haan	....	stunts (4 episodes, 1994-1997)
Nick Powell	....	stuntman / stunts (4 episodes, 1994-1996)
Colin Skeaping	....	stunts / stunt coordinator (4 episodes, 1994-1996)
Andy Bradford	....	stunt coordinator (4 episodes, 1994)
Roy Alon	....	stunt coordinator / stunts (4 episodes, 1995-1996)
Gabe Cronnelly	....	stunts (3 episodes, 1994-1997)
Eddie Stacey	....	stunts (3 episodes, 1996)
Elaine Ford	....	stunts (2 episodes, 1994-1997)
David Cronnelly	....	stunts (2 episodes, 1994-1996)
Stuart Clark	....	stunts (2 episodes, 1995-1997)
Dorothy Ford	....	stunts (2 episodes, 1995-1996)
Alan Stuart	....	stunts (2 episodes, 1995-1996)
Peter Diamond	....	stunt coordinator / stunts (2 episodes, 1995)
Valentino Musetti	....	stunts (2 episodes, 1995)
Rod Woodruff	....	stunt coordinator / stunts (2 episodes, 1995)
Marc Cass	....	stunts (2 episodes, 1996-1997)
Andy Smart	....	stunts (2 episodes, 1996-1997)
Steve Dent	....	stunts (2 episodes, 1996)
Steve Griffin	....	stunts (2 episodes, 1996)
Mark McBride	....	stunts (2 episodes, 1996)
Terry Walsh	....	stunt coordinator (2 episodes, 1997)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Vince Goddard	....	gaffer (30 episodes, 1995-1997)
Giles Christopher	....	focus puller (24 episodes, 1995-1997)
Paul Hanning	....	second focus puller / camera assistant (20 episodes, 1995-1997)
Keith Mead	....	grip (14 episodes, 1995-1997)
Ian Jackson	....	camera operator (10 episodes, 1995-1996)
Joe Martin	....	grip (10 episodes, 1995)
Trevor Coop	....	camera operator (8 episodes, 1994)
John Deaton	....	focus puller (8 episodes, 1994)
Ronnie Rampton	....	gaffer (8 episodes, 1994)
Gary Romaine	....	grip (8 episodes, 1994)
Ken Lowe	....	camera operator (6 episodes, 1995)
Mike Frift	....	camera operator (4 episodes, 1995)
Steve Murray	....	camera operator (4 episodes, 1996-1997)
Les Weighell	....	gaffer / best boy (3 episodes, 1994)
Ken Redford	....	best boy (3 episodes, 1995-1996)
Peter Wing	....	best boy (3 episodes, 1996-1997)
John Campbell	....	camera operator (2 episodes, 1994)
Jim Crowther	....	grip (2 episodes, 1994)
Tim Wooster	....	focus puller (2 episodes, 1994)
Adam Dale	....	aerial camera operator (unknown episodes)
Simon Mills	....	focus puller: second unit (unknown episodes)
Brad Watson	....	assistant camera (unknown episodes)

Series Casting Department
Marianne Elliott	....	casting assistant (1 episode, 1994)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Del Colley	....	wardrobe master (20 episodes, 1995-1996)
Nancy Thompson	....	wardrobe mistress (10 episodes, 1994)
Susan Mewton	....	wardrobe assistant / wardrobe mistress (4 episodes, 1996-1997)
Donna Nicholls	....	wardrobe assistant (3 episodes, 1995-1996)
Mark Foster	....	wardrobe master (3 episodes, 1996-1997)

Series Editorial Department
Richard Wilding	....	on-line editor (32 episodes, 1994-1996)
Alasdair Whitelaw	....	assistant editor (14 episodes, 1995-1997)

Series Other crew
James Hayward	....	supervising chef (34 episodes, 1994-1997)
Michael Larkins	....	production accountant (34 episodes, 1994-1997)
Sally Mackay	....	production secretary (25 episodes, 1994-1996)
Lindsey Bareham	....	food advisor / food adviser / ... (24 episodes, 1995-1997)
Mandy Dalton	....	production coordinator (24 episodes, 1995-1997)
Scott Rowlatt	....	location manager (22 episodes, 1994-1997)
Sharon Moran	....	production secretary (15 episodes, 1996-1997)
Victoria Fea	....	script editor (14 episodes, 1995-1997)
Bi Benton	....	production coordinator (10 episodes, 1994)
Lorely Farley	....	continuity (10 episodes, 1995)
Valerie Rosewell	....	finance assistant (8 episodes, 1994-1997)
Nikki Robinson	....	location manager (8 episodes, 1994-1995)
Sarah Garner	....	continuity (7 episodes, 1995-1996)
Suzanne McGeachan	....	continuity (6 episodes, 1994)
Ann Simpson	....	continuity (4 episodes, 1994)
Terry Blyther	....	location manager (4 episodes, 1995-1996)
Lisa Mail	....	continuity (4 episodes, 1996-1997)
Steve Morrison	....	police adviser (3 episodes, 1996-1997)
Peter Tullo	....	location manager (3 episodes, 1996-1997)
Tim Baish	....	production assistant (3 episodes, 1996)
Caroline O'Reilly	....	continuity (3 episodes, 1996)

Production Companies

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) (for)
• Nicework
• SelecTV
• Witzend Productions

Distributors

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) (1994) (UK) (TV)

Other Companies

• Capital FX  titles
• Palmbrokers  greenery (uncredited)
• Reelsound  sound editing
• Sylvia Wheeler Film Services  negative cutting

Runtime:

50 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:PG (some episodes) | Australia:M (some episodes)

Filming Locations:

Old Town High Street, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

The sign and awning of the "Pie In The Sky" restaurant has changed from season to season.

Feelgood vibe that is only enhanced with time

One of those yearnings for simpler, happier times led me to reflect on life in the nineties and seeing this a few times lately on ITV3 only helped to foster sentimental memories of a less complex age.

It may only be lightweight, but that's its beauty and delight. Richard Griffiths is excellent and was made for his role as the wise, phlegmatic and unconventional inspector. His portly frame hardly lends itself to much frenetic activity, but his facial expressions are a joy and all you need.

A good mix of stories, not always featuring murder, and the slice of restaurant life is a warm counter to the police activity. Plenty of understated humour from a cast of colourful characters.

In 1995 I thought that the century was ending at a pretty fast and bewildering pace, with technology and media beginning to impose itself in almost every walk of life. But watching "Pie" and remembering it all as if it were only yesterday makes me think that maybe life wasn't so fast after all. Fifteen years on and what I find so curious now is that it was made just before the world went nuts with mobile phones and The Internet. It's a show that has dated well in terms of story, but to never see anybody use a mobile phone and scant mention of computers seems strange and rather sweet.

All in all, a really good example of BBC light drama at its best, when the Corporation considered subtlety and intelligence as important as glamour and ratings.