The Stretch (TV series)
The Stretch | |
---|---|
Written by | Stephen Leather |
Directed by | Frank W. Smith |
Starring | Leslie Grantham Anita Dobson Nicholas Day Daisy Beaumont Graham McTavish Alistair Petrie Jim Dunk |
Composer | Brian May |
Country of origin | United Kingdom |
Original language | English |
No. of series | 1 |
No. of episodes | 2 (list of episodes) |
Production | |
Executive producer | Paul Knight |
Producers | Stephen Leather Ron Purdie |
Cinematography | John Simmons |
Editor | Nigel Bate |
Running time | 90 minutes |
Production company | Paul Knight Productions |
Original release | |
Network | Sky One |
Release | 12 November 19 November 2000 | –
The Stretch is a two-part British television
The series was filmed between the UK and Spain in 1999,[2] and was billed as the channel's “Event of the Week” for the week ending 12 November 2000.[3] The Guardian called their chemistry in The Stretch “magical” and also praised “some tasty cameos and supporting performances.”[3] The series' original score was composed by Dobson's husband, guitarist Brian May of Queen.[4][5]
The series was later novelised by Leather himself, the first time that he had adapted a screenplay into a novel, rather than the other way round. It was published on 1 February 2001, three months after the series initially aired.[6] The series was also released on VHS on 20 November 2000,[7] but remains unreleased on DVD.
Casting
Notably, it was the first time that Grantham and Dobson had been reunited on screen after working together on EastEnders during the late 1980s.[8] As such, much of the publicity surrounding the series made note of the pair's on-screen reunion. Producer Paul Knight commented; "It was Anita herself who suggested that Leslie play her on-screen husband. Over the years they had talked about working together again, but nothing had appealed before The Stretch."
Grantham added, "When I read the script, I felt as though the lead roles had been written with me and Anita in mind."[9]
Cast
- Leslie Grantham as Terry Greene
- Anita Dobson as Sam Greene
- Nicholas Day as DCI Frank 'Raquel' Welch
- Daisy Beaumont as Laura Nichols
- Graham McTavish as Andy McKinley
- Alistair Petrie as Jonathon Nichols
- Jim Dunk as George Key
- Ben Robertson as Micky Fox
- Mark Cartmel as DI Doug Simpson
- Luke Goss as Warwick Locke
- Matthew Burgess as Jamie Greene
- Joan Campion as Grace Greene
- Hayley Wardle as Trisha Greene
- Jon Welch as Laurence Patterson
- Godfrey Walters as Preston Snow
- Chook Sibtainas Richard Asher
- David Telfer as Supt. Mark 'Blackie' Blackstock
- James Smith as Supt. English
Episodes
No. overall | No. in series | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | "Part 1" | Frank W. Smith | Stephen Leather | 12 November 2000 |
2 | 2 | "Part 2" | Frank W. Smith | Stephen Leather | 19 November 2000 |
References
- ^ "Stephen Leather - The Stretch". stephenleather.com. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
- ^ “Den and Angie team up again,” BBC News, 5 August 1999.
- ^ a b Rupert Smith, “Partners in crime,” The Guardian, 13 November 2000.
- ^ “TV Work,” stephenleather.com. Accessed 14 June 2013.
- ^ "Star of Waterside panto revealed," Bucks Herald, 22 May 2013.
- ISBN 978-0340770337.
- ^ "The Stretch". Retrieved 1 May 2019 – via Amazon.
- ^ "Anita Dobson Radio Times Nov 2000". brianmay.com. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
- ^ "The Stretch". digiguide.tv. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
External links
- The Stretch at IMDb