Spender

SPENDER is the kind of gritty, intelligent cop drama that's been missing from North American television screen. The BBC produced series is a positive gem, having run for 3 consecutive seasons, and spawned one film entitled "The French Collection". Starring the excellent and multi-talented Jimmy Nail ("Still Crazy", "Evita"), it has garnered a following in Canada through re-runs on Showcase Television.

The character of Spender is a tough and able cop cleaning up the streets of London with his somewhat unorthodox methods. Following a tragic incident, he's sent home, back to the North-East to his home-town of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, which had taken him 20-odd years to get out of. Now re-united with old friends and haunting ghosts from his untamed past, the loathing he feels for the city and his new assignment drives his character to push the limits, and test the powers that be that govern his jurisdiction. But once we meet Spender's family - divorced wife Frances and his two young daughters - we witness an unexpected dimension to the character: that of a father and protector of his children, who finds it awkward to work his way back into their lives.

Excellent scripts, hard-hitting drama and action accompany a wealth of talent involved in the making of this quality program. Jimmy Nail not only stars, but pens a few of those scripts. Together with his friend Tony McAnaney (who also co-stars as Keith and writes the music for the series) they combine to produce a unique and often haunting musical score which creates just the right kind of atmosphere for the program. And of course, there's the thick and sexy accents which can only come from the North-East.

Spender is definitely worth a try. If the catchy theme doesn't get to you, the high-drama will!

I am a Canadian who caught the Spender series on Showcase TV during the early 90's, while I attended University. At the time I considered Spender a quirky but fun, slick cop drama set in the UK. Now, older, I have a deeper appreciation and love of the show.

I really enjoy the comedic interplay between the lead, Detective Sargeant Freddie Spender (played by Jimmy Nail) and his small-time, n'er-do-well, grifter sidekick, "Stick" portrayed by the late Sammy Johnson (RIP). An unlikely friendship between a career criminal and a stoic law enforcement agent is part of the show's fun dynamics. The show intro graphics caught my eye and the soundtrack caught my ears and was soon won over by the stories, characters and location. Overall a well-put-together show that chronicles the life of Detective Spender, an undercover police agent who was raised in New Castle Upon Tyne, then operated in London for several years and now (to his chagrin) returns to Newcastle to resume police work. Spender reconnects with his friends and sidekick, but also his estranged wife and daughters who lost relations with their husband/father due to his work and location. The artistic filming style captures Newcastle (where the show is set) in a slick and edgy way, lots of creative shots of the local architecture and industrial settings and is gorgeously filmed.

The weakest part of the show are the criminals/villains, whom I wish were more nuanced rather than just boiler-plate baddies. Same goes for the fellow law enforcement who tend to be the 'goodies' when we know this is not always the case. Spenders' superior in Season one was a bit wooden, but by Season two, a more interesting boss surfaces. But the ongoing dynamics between Spender and Stick (more than) make up for any shortcomings.

And now to the strengths, and that is the show depicts the locality of Newcastle in an immersive way; the local color, the nightlife, and social circles and the ailing economy (transitioning from industrial to "service based"). There are some complaints about the accents, it does take some getting used to but I love it and makes me feel more immersed in the location. As mentioned, Spender's stoic personality contrasts, in a fun way, that of the carefree, free-wheeling 'Stick'. Then there is Spender's circle of fellow officer DS Dan Boyd, a bit of goofy and loveable but clueless officer (played by Berwick Kaler). Further, is Spender's musician friend, the cerebral-palsy afflicted Keith Moreland (played by Tony McAnaney--who also helps soundtrack the show) and reflects the lead's side hobby of playing harmonica alongside his blues band.

I recently watched 'Auf Wiedersehen, Pet' and was impressed with the contrasted performances by Jimmy Nail: from the slightly pudgy slovenly, wisecracking carefree bricklayer, Oz, to the lean, wiry, trim and stoic detective. (Cameo appearances from Auf Wiedersehen, Pet people too!) Some describe Nail's performance of Spender as 'wooden', but I feel he does an excellent job of depicting the sullen and conflicted (from also being independent minded) cop who adheres to 'the spirit of the law' and has a decent supply of wisecracks in him. Spender has a lot to worry about; from his family, to his job jailing 'baddies', to ailing Newcastle to pulling Stick's arse out of one sling after another. It is a wonder he wisecrack's at all!

Spender never made it to DVD, a shame. But I did find some episodes on Youtube and other *Cough Cough* places (ie VHS dubs), though not at the quality where I can truly appreciate the show. Seek the series out where you can. I would love to see a reboot of the series, but with Sammy's passing, it may be too difficult.

The last time I recalled a series being based up in the northeast of England it was a drama called "Barriers" made about 10 years earlier. This 1991 production was put together by Jimmy Nail and Ian la Frenais, the latter being well known for comedy, although that show "the likely lads" was also based in the north-east of England. A few years after playing the loveable and popular Oz in tv comedy Auf Wiedersehen pet - Jimmy Nail now a household name in tv and music was back on the screen playing a detective called Spender. Despite being based for many years with the Metropolitan police in London, much to his chagrin, he was reassigned back to the north-east to work as an undercover police officer. Looking scruffy and bedraggled, the lanky but tough looking Spender with a strong Geordie accent would fit right in with nobody suspecting he was a copper. In fact, apart from his boss and a desk bound detective being his contacts, nobody else in the force would know he was undercover either

He was able to see his kids on a regular basis who lived with his former wife although she was in another relationship. He was also able to lean on a former friend who had done some time behind bars and could be useful to him with his work, although he himself had to get "Stick" as he was known out of some scrapes a few times but, in many ways, was often more trouble than he was worth, but nevertheless he dependable and loyal.

Although Spender had some humorous moments, it was broadcast after 9pm the traditional water shed hour for more serious drama on the BBC. It ran a respectable 3 seasons starting in 1991 with a Christmas special at the end of 1993 wrapping up the series. The show itself was a typical production of its time as all outdoor and indoor scenes were on film which highlighted some of the grim and raw scenery of the northeast in the aftermath of the Thatcher years. Spender certainly wasn't glamour, the stories centered around some of the seedy areas and characters that he had to knock heads with during his investigations. The first season his boss was the impatient but the smooth superintendent Yelland and the following two seasons it was the hardheaded and intense looking superintendent Gillespie. Detective sergeant Boyd who was mostly deskbound was his sidekick in the force that he could rely on for all three seasons. It's also worth noting that that former Auf Wiedersehen pet actors Chris Fairbank and Timothy Spall would appear in an episode each. If you like old BBC dramas when they liked to entertain the viewer rather than browbeat the license payer with political correctness, I'd recommend this show for a blast from the past.

This is just a response to the last review that I can see 'Jimmy Nail's accent' - unbelievable!!! The accent has to travel - if his accent hadn't have been gentrified nobody outside of Geordieland would be able to understand it - is that what you want?

There are many American movies and series which do not take the rest of the world into consideration and shows like Eastenders in Britain are totally incomprehensible to the American ear.

As it is the Geordie accent isn't understandable around Britain.

I remember this series as being hard hitting and well acted with a bad performance by Spender's nemesis the other cop - didn't seem to ring true I remember.

So sad this is not available to watch. Brilliant series with the under rated Jimmy Nail at his best.