| Series cast summary: | |||
| Bradley Walsh | ... |
Ronnie Brooks
(44 episodes, 2009-2013)
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| Harriet Walter | ... |
Natalie Chandler
(40 episodes, 2009-2011)
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| Freema Agyeman | ... |
Alesha Phillips
(40 episodes, 2009-2011)
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| Jamie Bamber | ... |
Matt Devlin
(33 episodes, 2009-2011)
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| Bill Paterson | ... |
George Castle
(27 episodes, 2009-2010)
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| Ben Daniels | ... |
James Steel
(26 episodes, 2009-2010)
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Jessica Gunning | ... |
Angela
(21 episodes, 2009-2013)
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A half crime Drama/half legal procedure focusing on the Criminal Investigation Department (C.I.D) Detectives who investigate murders involving the people on the streets of London and the Crown Prosecutors who prosecute the defendants in court. The police half focuses on the exciting case load of London Metropolitan Murder Investigation Unit (M.I.U) made up of dedicated officers including recovering alcoholic senior Detective Sergeant (D.S) Ronnie Brooks (Bradley Walsh), who substitutes booze with food, and the younger, smoother junior Detective Sergeant (D.S) Sam Casey (Paul Nicholls), who can come on strong and backing them both to the hilt is their boss Detective Inspector (D.I) Natalie Chandler (Harriet Walter). Once our police heroes start pounding the streets in the pursuit of their prime suspect by piecing together the clues of each and every heinous crime and they do not stop until the jigsaw is complete and they have enough evidence to make an arrest. But catching the killer ... Written by DanDud88
I have to say I thought this was going to fall flat on its face. I'm sure like other posters that I had gotten so used to the way the US show was directed, acted, and written I simply assumed the British version would jar somewhat, after all it was being aired on ITV, and London is not New York.
I was shocked, it is somewhat more gritty than its US cousin, down to earth, and well adapted and directed, and it has traded suspense for dramatic effect to its credit.
The standard of acting is a little patchy, fine it is television, and the US version is more often that not a little top heavy. Michael Moriarty is one of the most talented actors I have ever had the pleasure to watch, much the same can be said about Sam Waterston, Jerry Orbach, S. Epatha Merkerson and Steven Hill, but the assistant DA's were often weak, and so were some of the other protagonists. In the UK show the guests have made a superb showing.
London does not have the mob figures of New York so it will be interesting to see how they translate those particular episodes. If you were thinking that it could not be as good, then I think you too will be in for a pleasant surprise.