Covington Cross
Encyclopedia
Covington Cross is a British
/American
television series that was broadcast on ABC
in the United States from August 25 to October 31, 1992. It also aired in the UK, and was dubbed for broadcast in France.
It was a joint American/British series, filmed and produced in the United Kingdom by a British production company for an American network. The series follows the daily intrigues of Sir Thomas Grey, a widower, and his sons and daughter. Covington Cross is the the name of Sir Thomas' castle. His children are eldest son Armus, the serious Richard, free spirit Cedric, and strong-willed daughter Eleanor. Another son son William appeared in the pilot episode, but was then said to have been called to head off and fight in the crusades
. Also figuring into Sir Thomas's life is his love interest, Lady Elizabeth.
A lighthearted drama, the Greys each week would face a new dilemma that would test their honor and wits. Many of these dilemmas were concocted by Sir Thomas's evil neighbor, Baron John Mullens. The show's story setting and format have been likened to the classic American TV western Bonanza
, also a drama following a widower with three sons, who has considerable wealth and influence in his community and is seen as a man of honor living on a sizable estate.
bought the show's timeslot to air his live political commercials for his candidacy in the 1992 US presidential campaign
. It was also a fairly expensive show to produce, including overseas production costs. Much of the filming was done in and around castles in England. Allington Castle
was used for the exterior scenes, while Covington Cross and Penshurst Place
in Kent were used for the interior scenes.
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The show was created by Gil Grant
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
/American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
television series that was broadcast on ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
in the United States from August 25 to October 31, 1992. It also aired in the UK, and was dubbed for broadcast in France.
It was a joint American/British series, filmed and produced in the United Kingdom by a British production company for an American network. The series follows the daily intrigues of Sir Thomas Grey, a widower, and his sons and daughter. Covington Cross is the the name of Sir Thomas' castle. His children are eldest son Armus, the serious Richard, free spirit Cedric, and strong-willed daughter Eleanor. Another son son William appeared in the pilot episode, but was then said to have been called to head off and fight in the crusades
Crusades
The Crusades were a series of religious wars, blessed by the Pope and the Catholic Church with the main goal of restoring Christian access to the holy places in and near Jerusalem...
. Also figuring into Sir Thomas's life is his love interest, Lady Elizabeth.
A lighthearted drama, the Greys each week would face a new dilemma that would test their honor and wits. Many of these dilemmas were concocted by Sir Thomas's evil neighbor, Baron John Mullens. The show's story setting and format have been likened to the classic American TV western Bonanza
Bonanza
Bonanza is an American western television series that both ran on and was a production of NBC from September 12, 1959 to January 16, 1973. Lasting 14 seasons and 430 episodes, it ranks as the second longest running western series and still continues to air in syndication. It centers on the...
, also a drama following a widower with three sons, who has considerable wealth and influence in his community and is seen as a man of honor living on a sizable estate.
Run and cancellation
Thirteen episodes were produced, but only seven aired in the US. The show had been postponed by ABC for several weeks after the first episode, and was pre-empted when Ross PerotRoss Perot
Henry Ross Perot is a U.S. businessman best known for running for President of the United States in 1992 and 1996. Perot founded Electronic Data Systems in 1962, sold the company to General Motors in 1984, and founded Perot Systems in 1988...
bought the show's timeslot to air his live political commercials for his candidacy in the 1992 US presidential campaign
United States presidential election, 1992
The United States presidential election of 1992 had three major candidates: Incumbent Republican President George Bush; Democratic Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton, and independent Texas businessman Ross Perot....
. It was also a fairly expensive show to produce, including overseas production costs. Much of the filming was done in and around castles in England. Allington Castle
Allington Castle
Allington Castle is a stone-built moated castle in Allington, just north of Maidstone, Kent in England.-History:Allington Castle is a Grade I listed building. Much of the stonework was laid in an intricate herringbone pattern which is still visible today...
was used for the exterior scenes, while Covington Cross and Penshurst Place
Penshurst Place
Penshurst Place is a historic building near Tonbridge, Kent, south east of London, England. It is the ancestral home of the Sidney family, and was the birthplace of the great Elizabethan poet, courtier and soldier, Sir Philip Sidney. The original medieval house is one of the most complete examples...
in Kent were used for the interior scenes.
Cast
- Sir Thomas Grey - Nigel TerryNigel TerryNigel Terry is an English stage and film actor probably best known by film audiences for his portrayal of King Arthur in John Boorman's Excalibur . However, he has had a long career in classical theatre....
- Lady Elizabeth - Cherie LunghiCherie LunghiCherie M. Lunghi is an English film, television and theatre actress. She is probably best known for her role as Guinevere in the 1981 film Excalibur, as football manageress Gabriella Benson in the 1990s television series The Manageress and for starring in a series of adverts for Kenco coffee. She...
- William Grey - Ben Porter (pilot episode)
- Armus Grey - Tim KillickTim KillickTim Killick is an English television and theatre actor. He was educated at Bootham School in York and Nottingham University.He is the older brother of theatre director Jenny Killick and BBC's Cathy Killick....
- Richard Grey - Jonathan FirthJonathan FirthJonathan Firth is a British actor best known for his roles in such noted British television productions as Middlemarch, Far from the Madding Crowd, and Victoria & Albert.-Early life:Jonathan Firth was born in Essex, England...
- Cedric Grey - Glenn QuinnGlenn QuinnGlenn Martin Christopher Francis Quinn was an Irish actor in television and film, known for playing Mark Healy in the American sitcom Roseanne, and Doyle, a half-demon, on the 1999–2004 television series Angel, a spin-off series of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer.-Early life:Quinn...
- Eleanor Grey - Ione SkyeIone SkyeIone Skye Lee is an English-born American actress, who became a teen idol after the 1989 movie Say Anything.... In 2006 VH1 placed her at number 84 in the "100 Greatest Teen Stars" list.-Early life:...
- Baron John Mullens - James FaulknerJames FaulknerJames Sebastian Faulkner is a British actor, known for his many various appearance on television and in movies, usually in supporting roles.Faulkner made his big screen debut as Josef Strauss in The Great Waltz in 1972...
- Friar - Paul BrookePaul BrookePaul Brooke is an English actor of film, television, and radio. He is the father of actor Tom Brooke.He and Ernie Fosselius played Malakili the Rancor Keeper in Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. He played British Conservative politician Ian Gow in the 2004 BBC series The Alan Clark Diaries...
- Alexandra Mullens (semi-regular) - Laura HowardLaura HowardLaura Howard is an English actress. She is probably best known for her role as Cully Barnaby in the long-running British crime-mystery drama Midsomer Murders....
- King Edward (semi-regular) - Miles AndersonMiles AndersonMiles Anderson is a Zimbabwean actor. He has lived in England and America for the last 40 years.He was born in 1947 in Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe. Educated at Prince Edward school, his father commanded the Rhodesian Army until dismissed by Premier Ian Smith for his stance against racism and a...
The show was created by Gil Grant
Gil Grant
Gil Grant is an American writer and producer who is currently working on the CBS hit series NCIS: Los Angeles. He is also developing a television series version of Gattaca for Sony International TV. He has worked on television shows such as 24, NCIS, and "NCIS: Los Angeles"...
Episodes & Original Airdates
- 1.) Pilot - August 25, 1992
- 2.) Armus Returns - September 19, 1992
- 3.) Outlaws - September 26, 1992
- 4.) Cedric Hits The Road - October 3, 1992
- 5.) The Hero - October 10, 1992
- 6.) Blinded Passions - October 24, 1992
- 7.) The Persecution - October 31, 1992
- 8.) Eviction - unaired
- 9.) The Trial - unaired
- 10.) The Plague - unaired
- 11.) Revenge - unaired
- 12.) Celebration - unaired
- 13.) Brothers - unaired