"M.I.T.: Murder Investigation Team" (2003) TV series 2003-2005

Creator:

Paul Marquess

Seasons:

1 | 2

Release Date:

3 May 2003 (UK)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Plot:

A London MIT investigates a number of gruesome murders.

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Forensic | Drive By Shooting | Stolen Car | Police

Cast

Lindsey Coulson	...	DC Rosie MacManus / ... (12 episodes, 2003-2005)
Richard Hope	...	DS Barry Purvis (12 episodes, 2003-2005)
Michael McKell	...	DS Trevor Hands / ... (12 episodes, 2003-2005)
Samantha Spiro	...	DI Vivien Friend (8 episodes, 2003)
Richard Huw	...	Dr. John Cornell (8 episodes, 2003)
Steven Pacey	...	DCI Malcolm Savage (8 episodes, 2003)
Vincenzo Pellegrino	...	Dr. Fergus Gallagher (8 episodes, 2003)
Joe Shaw	...	DC Scott Granger (8 episodes, 2003)
Andrew Somerville	...	DC Patrick Lincoln (8 episodes, 2003)
Howard Ward	...	DS Jim Daws (8 episodes, 2003)

Also Known As:

Murder Investigation Team (Australia) (International: English title) (UK) (DVD title)
M.I.T. (UK) (promotional abbreviation)
Think Murder (UK) (working title)

Runtime:

48 min (8 episodes) (season 1) | 69 min (4 episodes) (season 2)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:M | USA:TV-PG | UK:15

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company:

Thames Television

Trivia:

Although it is the actual name of the police unit portrayed in the series, the "MIT" acronym was removed from the show's title for international (non-UK) release after complaints from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The show was retitled as simply "Murder Investigation Team" for the second season in the UK, as was the season one DVD release.

Movie Connections:

Spin off from "The Bill" (1984)

Soundtrack:

Sweet Bitter Love

Does This Show Have A Function Of Its Own ?

This show is a spin off from the hugely popular Brit cop drama THE BILL , a fact that had been publicised for months before its transmission . But - And it`s a very big but - its connection with THE BILL is very tenious . A major character from Sun Hill police station is murdered and it`s up to this murder investigation team to catch the killer which they do in the first episode , however in the following episodes there is absolutely no connection between the boys in blue from THE BILL and the characters in this show . In other words it`s not really a spin off from THE BILL it`s just another generic detective drama that uses a plot in its first episode to allow the TV company to con people into thinking they`re going to be watching a grittier version of Britain`s favourite cop show.

There`s two things I found irritating . The first is the zippy camera work which has the camera quickly panning acoss , up and down , in and out of the screen . Imagine the camera work of HILL STREET BLUES on speed and you`ve got the idea , it`s really annoying though this seems to be ditched the more the series goes on . Secondly the scenes never seem to last for a few seconds . Jump cut to the station where the woman detective puts two and two together . Jump cut to lead . Jump cut to suspect . Jump cut to detective confirming alibi . Jump cut to station where there`s a new lead . No doubt the producers will defend themselves saying that the show is tightly plotted and that the stories aren`t held up by the characters domestic problems like most detective shows , and the producers would be right to a great degree , but this gives MIT an entirely mechanical feel the way the story jumps about not allowing the audience to draw breathe

As I write there`s no news of a second series of MIT , and if the show`s not coming back I wouldn`t be too disappointed since there`s far too many cop shows on British television at the moment . On top of that I can`t help feeling if this wasn`t a spin off from THE BILL it probably wouldn`t have been made in the first place