Lovejoy
Encyclopedia
- For the series of novels upon which the TV series is based see Lovejoy (novel series)Lovejoy (novel series)Lovejoy is a series of picaresque novels by John Grant about the adventures of Lovejoy, a British antiques dealer and faker based in East Anglia, a less than scrupulous yet likeable rogue...
Lovejoy is a TV series about the adventures of Lovejoy, a British antiques
Antiques
An antique is an old collectible item. It is collected or desirable because of its age , beauty, rarity, condition, utility, personal emotional connection, and/or other unique features...
dealer and faker based in East Anglia
East Anglia
East Anglia is a traditional name for a region of eastern England, named after an ancient Anglo-Saxon kingdom, the Kingdom of the East Angles. The Angles took their name from their homeland Angeln, in northern Germany. East Anglia initially consisted of Norfolk and Suffolk, but upon the marriage of...
, a less than scrupulous yet likeable rogue. The episodes were based on a series of picaresque novel
Picaresque novel
The picaresque novel is a popular sub-genre of prose fiction which is usually satirical and depicts, in realistic and often humorous detail, the adventures of a roguish hero of low social class who lives by his wits in a corrupt society...
s by John Grant
John Grant (Lovejoy)
John Grant is an English crime writer, who writes under the pen name Jonathan Gash. He is the author of the Lovejoy series of novels. He wrote the novel The Incomer under the pen name Graham Gaunt....
(under the pen name
Pen name
A pen name, nom de plume, or literary double, is a pseudonym adopted by an author. A pen name may be used to make the author's name more distinctive, to disguise his or her gender, to distance an author from some or all of his or her works, to protect the author from retribution for his or her...
Jonathan Gash). Lovejoy has a reputation in the antiques trade as a "divvie", meaning one with an almost supernatural talent for recognising exceptional items as well as for distinguishing fakes or forgeries from genuine antiques, often without having to see them. Lovejoy's first name is never mentioned in the books. In the TV series based on the novels, he insists on being addressed by all solely as "Lovejoy".
Television
The novels were made into a dramaDrama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
TV series, broadcast on BBC1
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
in the UK from 1986 to 1994 and starred Ian McShane
Ian McShane
Ian David McShane is an English actor, director, producer, voice artist, and comedian.Despite appearing in numerous films, McShane is best known for his television roles, particularly the BBC's Lovejoy and HBO's Western drama Deadwood...
in the lead role. The lechery and violence in the novels was toned down for television, and a great deal of antique lore, but not all, also reduced. Also, the character of Lovejoy's favourite 'barker', Tinker Dill, was cleaned up (literally) from the malodorous, seldom-bathed individual in the novels, although his penchant for strong drink was retained. The first series was shown on BBC1 in 1986; then there was a five-year gap before Lovejoy was brought back in 1991. Nearly all of the original cast returned for the 1991-93 series, Malcolm Tierney
Malcolm Tierney
Malcolm Tierney is an English actor who has appeared in many film and television roles.His roles include the part of Tommy McArdle in Brookside between 1983 and 1987, Charlie Gimbert in Lovejoy, Geoffrey Ellsworth-Symthe in A Bit of a Do, Patrick Woolton in House of Cards and Chief Const. Raymond...
reprising his role as Charlie Gimbert at the start of the fourth series. The television version respected the author's wish to not reveal Lovejoy's first name.
The fifth series of Lovejoy included some cast changes as the character of Lady Jane Felsham
Lady Jane Felsham
Lady Jane Felsham is a character in the British television series Lovejoy, adapted from the novels by Jonathon Gash. She was played by Scottish actor Phyllis Logan....
left the show in the second episode, and the character of Eric Catchpole
Eric Catchpole
Eric Catchpole is a character in the British television series Lovejoy adapted from the novels by Jonathan Gash. He was played by actor Chris Jury....
left the show in the sixth episode (both returned for the series finale). Also in the fifth series two new regular cast members were added: these were Lovejoy's new apprentice, Beth Taylor (played by Diane Parish
Diane Parish
Diane Parish is a British actress best known for her role as Denise Johnson in the BBC Soap EastEnders and DC Eva Sharpe in The Bill.-Career:...
), and Charlotte Cavendish (played by Caroline Langrishe
Caroline Langrishe
Caroline Langrishe is an English actress.In 1976, Langrishe appeared in the BBC production of The Glittering Prizes. In 1977 she played the role of Kitty in a BBC adaptation of Anna Karenina. Her first big part was in the 1978 British adaption of Les Misérables...
), who ran a local antiques auction house.
There were also two Lovejoy specials (Christmas episodes, both with a running time of around 90 minutes) made during the second stint of filming. Lovejoy originally aired on the BBC. In America it aired on the A&E
A&E Network
The A&E Network is a United States-based cable and satellite television network with headquarters in New York City and offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, London, Los Angeles and Stamford. A&E also airs in Canada and Latin America. Initially named the Arts & Entertainment Network, A&E launched...
.
The theme tune used in the opening, end credits and the incidental music for each episode was composed by Denis King
Denis King
Denis King is an English Ivor Novello award-winning composer, singer and actor.As a writer he composed music for the British television series The Adventures of Black Beauty, Within These Walls, Lovejoy and Worzel Gummidge amongst others. He also composed the theme to the 1992 series The New...
.
The series was marketed as The Lovejoy Mysteries on VHS
VHS
The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
in the U.S. The DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
release of the entire series has returned to title of Lovejoy.
Main cast
- Ian McShaneIan McShaneIan David McShane is an English actor, director, producer, voice artist, and comedian.Despite appearing in numerous films, McShane is best known for his television roles, particularly the BBC's Lovejoy and HBO's Western drama Deadwood...
- Lovejoy - Chris JuryChris JuryChris Jury is an English actor/writer/director with a range of television credits. He is best known for his role as Eric Catchpole in the antique trade drama Lovejoy starring Ian McShane, which he played between 1986 and 1993...
- Eric CatchpoleEric CatchpoleEric Catchpole is a character in the British television series Lovejoy adapted from the novels by Jonathan Gash. He was played by actor Chris Jury.... - Dudley SuttonDudley Sutton-Life:He served in the RAF as a mechanic before enrolling in the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art from which he was later expelled.Known for his eccentricity, he became a cult figure after playing a gay biker in The Leather Boys . He married American actress Marjorie Steele in 1961; she had previously...
- Tinker Dill - Phyllis LoganPhyllis Logan-Education:Logan was educated at Johnstone High School in Johnstone, Renfrewshire, Scotland. After school, she graduated from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama with the James Bridie Gold Medal in 1977.-Career:...
- Lady Jane FelshamLady Jane FelshamLady Jane Felsham is a character in the British television series Lovejoy, adapted from the novels by Jonathon Gash. She was played by Scottish actor Phyllis Logan.... - Diane ParishDiane ParishDiane Parish is a British actress best known for her role as Denise Johnson in the BBC Soap EastEnders and DC Eva Sharpe in The Bill.-Career:...
- Beth Taylor - Malcolm TierneyMalcolm TierneyMalcolm Tierney is an English actor who has appeared in many film and television roles.His roles include the part of Tommy McArdle in Brookside between 1983 and 1987, Charlie Gimbert in Lovejoy, Geoffrey Ellsworth-Symthe in A Bit of a Do, Patrick Woolton in House of Cards and Chief Const. Raymond...
- Charlie Gimbert - Caroline LangrisheCaroline LangrisheCaroline Langrishe is an English actress.In 1976, Langrishe appeared in the BBC production of The Glittering Prizes. In 1977 she played the role of Kitty in a BBC adaptation of Anna Karenina. Her first big part was in the 1978 British adaption of Les Misérables...
- Charlotte Cavendish - Charlotte Edwards played Lovejoy's daughter Kate in series one. When the show returned, in 1991, the character's name was changed to Viki and she was played by Amelia ShankleyAmelia ShankleyAmelia Shankley is a British actress.Shankley is known for her role as Sara Crewe in the 1986 LWT version of A Little Princess, based upon the novel, A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett. She first appeared in the 1985 film Dreamchild as the young Alice Liddell...
in series two and three and then by Amelia CurtisAmelia CurtisAmelia A Curtis is a British actress born in Stockholm, Sweden. She is notable for having played the role of Viki Lovejoy in the final series of Lovejoy, a role that she took over from Amelia Shankley....
in the final series.
Lovejoy in popular culture
Ipswich Town supporters are nicknamed "Bin Men" by their local rivals Norwich City, after the episode "Bin Diving" (Series 2 Episode 3) in which a refuse collector (Warren ClarkeWarren Clarke
-Biography:Clarke was born in Oldham, Lancashire. His first television appearance was in the long running Granada soap opera Coronation Street, initially as Kenny Pickup in 1966 and then as Gary Bailey in 1968. His first major film appearance was in Stanley Kubrick's controversial A Clockwork...
) is seen to wear a dirtied ITFC cap throughout the episode.
- The show was parodied several times in the Harry EnfieldHarry EnfieldHenry Richard "Harry" Enfield is a BAFTA-winning English comedian, actor, writer and director.-Early life:...
sketch show Harry Enfield and Chums under the title 'Big Bob Joylove'.
- In one episode of Vic Reeves Big Night OutVic Reeves Big Night OutVic Reeves Big Night Out was a cult British comedy stage show and later TV series which ran on Channel 4 for two series in 1990 and 1991, as well as a New Year special...
, Vic ReevesVic ReevesJames Roderick Moir , better known by the stage name Vic Reeves, is an English comedian, best known for his double act with Bob Mortimer . He is known for his surreal and non sequitur sense of humour....
is accompanied on stage by Bob MortimerBob MortimerRobert "Bob" Renwick Mortimer is an English comedian and actor, who is best known for his double act with Vic Reeves...
, who is dressed in a coat covered with 'antiques' (alarm clocks, cardboard boxes etc..) When Vic asks Bob to announce who he is, he replies in a resigned voice "Lovejoy, apparently, Vic..."
- In the later series The Smell of Reeves and MortimerThe Smell of Reeves and MortimerThe Smell of Reeves and Mortimer was a BBC TV sketch show written by and starring double act Vic Reeves & Bob Mortimer. Its first series appeared in 1993 following the duo's move to the BBC after parting company with Channel 4...
, Vic Reeves announces 'Lovejoy' to the audience, then Bob MortimerBob MortimerRobert "Bob" Renwick Mortimer is an English comedian and actor, who is best known for his double act with Vic Reeves...
appears dressed as the character in his black leather jacket, with huge lines of make-up streaking his face. Oddly, this version of Lovejoy speaks in the voice stereotypically associated with a Native AmericanNative Americans in the United StatesNative Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
.
- Lovejoy's mulletMullet (haircut)The mullet is a hairstyle that is short at the front and sides, and long in the back. . The mullet began to appear in popular media in the 1960s and 1970s but did not become generally well-known until the early 1980s...
hairstyle (short at the sides, long at the back) is a common target in parodies of the show. However Ian McShane has a short cut in the first series and cuts the locks well before the final series revival.
- A Lovejoy-type character makes an appearance in the web comic Scary Go RoundScary Go RoundScary Go Round was a webcomic set in the fictional West Yorkshire town of Tackleford, England, and written by John Allison. Scary Go Round was named one of the best webcomics of 2004 by The Webcomics Examiner. The Sunday Times describes it as "postmodern Brit horror" that is "subtle and stylishly...
, in the chapter titled "Chilton Takes Charge," although he is renamed Lovelace and his companion Tinker is renamed Dinkle. In the comic, Lovejoy/Lovelace competes with and charms Scary Go Round character Amy Chilton after she opens an antique store and scoops up the good items ahead of the Lovejoy character.
External links
- Lovejoy at British TV Resources
- BBC Essex Lovejoy TV Locations gallery