State of Play (2003– )

A thriller set in London, in which a politician's life becomes increasingly complex as his research assistant is found dead on the London Underground and, in a seemingly unrelated incident, a teenage pickpocket is shot dead.

Stars:

John Simm, Kelly Macdonald, Bill Nighy

16 wins & 10 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
John Simm	...	Cal McCaffrey (6 episodes, 2003)
Kelly Macdonald	...	Della Smith (6 episodes, 2003)
Bill Nighy	...	Cameron Foster (6 episodes, 2003)
Philip Glenister	...	DCI William Bell (6 episodes, 2003)
David Morrissey	...	Stephen Collins (6 episodes, 2003)
James McAvoy	...	Dan Foster (6 episodes, 2003)
Amelia Bullmore	...	Helen Preger (6 episodes, 2003)
Benedict Wong	...	Pete Cheng (6 episodes, 2003)
Marc Warren	...	Dominic Foy (6 episodes, 2003)
Rebekah Staton	...	Liz (6 episodes, 2003)
Polly Walker	...	Anne Collins (6 episodes, 2003)
Michael Feast	...	Andrew Wilson (5 episodes, 2003)
Johann Myers	...	Sonny Stagg (5 episodes, 2003)
Tom Burke	...	Syd (4 episodes, 2003)
Maureen Hibbert	...	Olicia Stagg (4 episodes, 2003)
James Laurenson	...	George Fergus (4 episodes, 2003)
Deborah Findlay	...	Greer Thornton (4 episodes, 2003)
Christopher Simpson	...	Adam Greene (4 episodes, 2003)
Sean Gilder	...	Sergeant 'Chewy' Cheweski (3 episodes, 2003)
Shauna Macdonald	...	Sonia Baker (3 episodes, 2003)
Rebecca Ryan	...	Karen Collins (3 episodes, 2003)
Charlie Ryan	...	Louis Collins (3 episodes, 2003)
Stuart Goodwin	...	Robert Bingham (3 episodes, 2003)
Patrick Brennan	...	Neil Woods (3 episodes, 2003)

Storyline

A thriller set in London, in which a politician's life becomes increasingly complex as his research assistant is found dead on the London Underground and, in a seemingly unrelated incident, a teenage pickpocket is shot dead.

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Plot Keywords:

politician | manchester | deception | friendship | forbidden love | 

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Taglines:

Sometimes you have to read between the lines

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Romance | Thriller

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Details

Official Sites:

BBC [uk]

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 May 2003 (UK)

Also Known As:

Den tredje makten

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Endor Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

57 min 57 min (6 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Michael Kitchen was first offered the Bill Nighy role.

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Quotes

Stephen Collins: SPOILER:
[seated on the steps of Cal McCaffrey's house, as Cal is walking away]
Stephen Collins: You're no good to Anne now... Your name will be on the story... You'd know if you had them... Kids... They shoot the messenger... They just do

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Connections

Referenced in Top Gear: Episode #19.5 (2013)

User Reviews

Extraordinary

Not since The Lakes have the Brits delivered such impeccable, classy drama, (incidentally the fabulous and just a tad sexy John Simm was in that too! Coincidence? Nah, he's one of the best young English actors around who seems to choose his roles very well)

Where UK drama of late has tended to resemble cheap rip offs of American drama, this brings the Poms back to the very top of the tree. The script is superlative as is the acting. Tight, riveting, believable, gripping and at times just downright funny.

The gems that come from Bill Nighy's mouth! He is such a brilliant actor, proof that Love Actually wasn't a fluke for him, he's so on the money in the characterisation of the editor, a joy to watch.

Please, please more of this sort of stuff England, it's what you do best when it comes to television.