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The Lakes

  • TV Series
  • 1997–1999
  • 6h 14m
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
1.2K
YOUR RATING
John Simm in The Lakes (1997)
Drama

A young Liverpudlian escapes unemployment by taking a job at a Lake District hotel. When things seem to be looking up, a tragic incident changes everything.A young Liverpudlian escapes unemployment by taking a job at a Lake District hotel. When things seem to be looking up, a tragic incident changes everything.A young Liverpudlian escapes unemployment by taking a job at a Lake District hotel. When things seem to be looking up, a tragic incident changes everything.

  • Creator
    • Jimmy McGovern
  • Stars
    • Kaye Wragg
    • John Simm
    • Charles Dale
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    8.0/10
    1.2K
    YOUR RATING
    • Creator
      • Jimmy McGovern
    • Stars
      • Kaye Wragg
      • John Simm
      • Charles Dale
    • 13User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Won 2 BAFTA Awards
      • 2 wins & 4 nominations total

    Episodes14

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    Top cast73

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    Kaye Wragg
    • Lucy Archer
    • 1997–1999
    John Simm
    John Simm
    • Danny Kavanagh
    • 1997–1999
    Charles Dale
    Charles Dale
    • Chef
    • 1997–1999
    Robert Pugh
    Robert Pugh
    • Father Matthew
    • 1997–1999
    Mary Jo Randle
    Mary Jo Randle
    • Bernie Quinlan
    • 1997–1999
    James Thornton
    • Pete Quinlan
    • 1997–1999
    Elizabeth Bennett
    • Mrs. Archer…
    • 1997–1999
    Paul Copley
    Paul Copley
    • Peter Quinlan
    • 1997–1999
    Samantha Seager
    Samantha Seager
    • Julie
    • 1997–1999
    Robin Laing
    Robin Laing
    • Joey
    • 1997–1999
    Emma Cunniffe
    Emma Cunniffe
    • Emma Kavanagh…
    • 1997–1999
    Matt Bardock
    • Albie
    • 1997–1999
    Tony Rohr
    Tony Rohr
    • Grandad
    • 1997–1999
    Kevin Doyle
    Kevin Doyle
    • John Fisher…
    • 1997–1999
    Lee Oakes
    • Tharmy
    • 1997–1999
    Elizabeth Rider
    Elizabeth Rider
    • Sheila Thwaite
    • 1997–1999
    Nicholas Day
    Nicholas Day
    • Mr. Archer
    • 1997–1999
    Elizabeth Berrington
    Elizabeth Berrington
    • Ruth
    • 1997–1999
    • Creator
      • Jimmy McGovern
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews13

    8.01.1K
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    Featured reviews

    10dmnkeen

    One of the best TV dramas of the 90s.

    Nobody can accuse Jimmy McGovern of settling for a quiet life. His dramas, right from "Needle", through to "Cracker" and "Priest", to this masterpiece confirm him as one of the most exciting writers in any medium to emerge in the last decade.

    And a masterpiece is what "The Lakes" is, even considering its flaws. Occasionally, McGovern seems more concerned with hitting home his messages (about Catholicism, country-versus-city, sexual politics, etc) at the expense of his characters, but he still creates dramatic situations which are credible, raw, and overwhelmingly moving without succumbing to sickly sentiment.

    Focussing on the story of Danny, a Liverpudlian drifter and compulsive gambler, who marries Emma, the daughter in a devoutly Catholic family living in a small Lake District town, and who is implicated in the drowning accident which claims the lives of four local children, McGovern wrings every piece of emotion from his storyline, and supplies a script which his excellent cast are obviously having a field day with.

    John Simms is remarkable as Danny, perfectly realising the inner conflict facing his outsider character who craves to do the right thing while aspiring to escape the emotional prison he finds himself in. Robert Pugh and Mary Jo Randle as the parish priest and would-be middle-aged lover handle their roles with compassion and truth, and Paul Copley as Randle's unknowing and decent husband also deserves some kudos.

    In fact, the entire cast is outstanding, all perfectly getting under the skins of their characters, and the action is all brilliantly orchestrated by director David Blair, who brings all the initially disparate plotlines into one immensely satisfying whole.

    In an age of endless costume drama, "The Lakes" comes like a blast of welcome fresh air, and very few other dramas produced in the 1990s (with the exception, maybe, of Alan Bleasdale's "GBH") come anywhere near matching its heartfelt intensity.
    8Ryu_Darkwood

    The first season is pure genius; the second is slightly flawed

    Let's just say that McGovern has done a great job in creating a story about how a small community can be influenced by a horrifying incident. The first season is brilliant. I loved the withheld ( often sexual) tension between the characters and the way how they appeared as persons you might meet in reality. The second season isn't bad, but it's just too long for its own good. There are too many uninteresting side-tracks about boring characters. Also, I couldn't quite relate to some of them anymore, they felt too much as made up caricatures. Though at some occasions it does reach the level of the first one, as a whole it's very disappointing. They'd better made it into 4 or 5 episodes instead of the 10 it eventually got.
    prose

    Astonishingly impactful television!!

    This remarkable series has already been repeated on Australian television, and as far as I'm concerned it can be repeated each year, and nothing will come anywhere near it. The sharpness of Jimmy McGovern's script, the breathtaking performance by John Simm, the direction of David Blair, and the awesome landscape of the Lake District form the foundation of this 4-part series.

    There are many layers and sub-texts to this story. My family were still discussing it for months after the first viewing. Not all the decisions made by the characters in this story will be popular with viewers, but they are realistic indeed. So realistic that one is likely to feel uncomfortable with the result.

    As a rites of passage tale, "The Lakes" is almost mythological in its strength, gritty realism, and impact.

    I look forward to the further work of this remarkable writer.
    Samppa74

    One of the best - EVER!

    The Lakes is definitely one of the best tv series I've ever seen. I love it! It's wet, sexy, violent and well written.
    10swindon

    Best TV drama ever

    Absolutely the best mini series ever made. Intelligent, challenging, realistic and funny, even hilarious from time to times. Issues dealt with are not easy; child's death, betrayal, gambling, revenge and wrath. How to be "a good catholic" in modern world but still in a very small village where everyone knows you and tour business? And most importantly, does love really forgive anything? The Lakes has magnificent acting all the way. It's impossible to name one actor/actress above other, they're all fantastic. This is an definitive must-see. Everything in it so real, so touching and it makes you really wonder your actions and value as a human being.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      During filming of a naked mountain-top scene Emma Cunniffe was left shivering as mist and then hail fell on the set. "It took all day to get the cast, crew and equipment up the peak," said Emma who was in the shot with John Simm. "The weather was great. We stripped for action and the mist came down. There was no way we could just leave so we kept filming. But it started raining. Finally, it was hailing and it was coming down so fast it was like being punched all over. For S&M fans it would have been bliss. But when we saw the bruises it was a disaster for us."
    • Connections
      Featured in Remembers...: Jimmy McGovern Remembers... The Lakes (2025)

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    FAQ18

    • How many seasons does The Lakes have?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 14, 1997 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Lakes 2
    • Filming locations
      • Glenridding, Ullswater Hotel, Lake District, Cumbria, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
      • Company Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      6 hours 14 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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