Playing the Field
Encyclopedia
Playing the Field is a BBC
television drama series following the lives of the Castlefield Blues, a fictitious female football team from South Yorkshire
.
, Sally Wainwright
and Gaynor Faye
.
Despite being set in South Yorkshire, much of the location filming took place in Ilkeston
, Derbyshire
, although the fifth (and final) series was filmed around Leeds; whilst the theme song, "Blue" by Alison Moyet
, was originally a B-side track about the singer's love of Southend United FC. A young Marsha Thomason
— who has since appeared in U.S.
shows Las Vegas
and Lost
— featured in all five series of Playing the Field. The first four series have been released on DVD in the UK, but the fifth has yet to be made available.
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
television drama series following the lives of the Castlefield Blues, a fictitious female football team from South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire is a metropolitan county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It has a population of 1.29 million. It consists of four metropolitan boroughs: Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and City of Sheffield...
.
Outline
Inspired by the Pete Davies' novel I Lost My Heart To The Belles — which was written about a real-life club, the Doncaster Belles — Playing the Field ran for five series, from 1998–2002, with scripts by, amongst others, Kay MellorKay Mellor
Kay Mellor, OBE is an English actress, scriptwriter, and director best known for her work on several successful television drama series.-Early life:...
, Sally Wainwright
Sally Wainwright
Sally Wainwright is a British BAFTA nominated television writer and playwright. She won 2009 Writer of the Year Award given by the RTS in 2009 for Unforgiven.She was born in Halifax.Original television productions include:*Scott & Bailey...
and Gaynor Faye
Gaynor Faye
Gaynor Faye is an English actress. She is famous for playing the role of Judy Mallett in the British soap opera Coronation Street from 1995 until 1999...
.
Despite being set in South Yorkshire, much of the location filming took place in Ilkeston
Ilkeston
Ilkeston is a town within the Borough of Erewash, in Derbyshire, England. It lies on the River Erewash, from which the local borough takes its name. Its population at the 2001 census was 37,550...
, Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
, although the fifth (and final) series was filmed around Leeds; whilst the theme song, "Blue" by Alison Moyet
Alison Moyet
Alison Moyet , is an English singer, songwriter and performer noted for her bluesy voice.Her UK album sales have reached a certified 2.3 million, with 800,000 singles sold, all in the UK, where all seven of her studio albums and three compilation albums have charted in the Top 40 UK Album Chart,...
, was originally a B-side track about the singer's love of Southend United FC. A young Marsha Thomason
Marsha Thomason
Marsha Lisa Thomason is an English actress, who is known in the United States for playing Nessa Holt in the first two seasons of the NBC series Las Vegas, for her recurring role on ABC's Lost as Naomi Dorrit, and for playing FBI agent Diana Berrigan on USA Network's White Collar.-Early...
— who has since appeared in U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
shows Las Vegas
Las Vegas (TV series)
Las Vegas was an American television series broadcast by NBC from September 22, 2003 to February 15, 2008. The show focuses on a team of people working at the ficticional Montecito Resort & Casino dealing with issues that arise within the working environment, ranging from valet parking and...
and Lost
Lost (TV series)
Lost is an American television series that originally aired on ABC from September 22, 2004 to May 23, 2010, consisting of six seasons. Lost is a drama series that follows the survivors of the crash of a commercial passenger jet flying between Sydney and Los Angeles, on a mysterious tropical island...
— featured in all five series of Playing the Field. The first four series have been released on DVD in the UK, but the fifth has yet to be made available.
Main cast
- Lorraine AshbourneLorraine AshbourneLorraine Ashbourne is an English stage, film and television actress.-Career:She has appeared on British television series and television movies, including: The Street,True Dare Kiss, Thin Ice, In a Land of Plenty,...
… Geraldine Powell - Melanie HillMelanie HillMelanie Hill is an English actress from Sunderland, County Durham.-Television:Hill replaced Gilly Coman as the character of Aveline in the last two series' of Carla Lane's BBC television sitcom Bread...
… Rita Dolan - Jo McInnes … Jo Mullen
- Lesley SharpLesley SharpLesley Sharp is an English stage, film and television actress, particularly well known for her variety of British television roles including Clocking Off, Bob & Rose and afterlife.-Early life:...
… Theresa Mullen - Marsha ThomasonMarsha ThomasonMarsha Lisa Thomason is an English actress, who is known in the United States for playing Nessa Holt in the first two seasons of the NBC series Las Vegas, for her recurring role on ABC's Lost as Naomi Dorrit, and for playing FBI agent Diana Berrigan on USA Network's White Collar.-Early...
… Sharon 'Shazza' Pearce - Saira Todd … Gabrielle 'Gabby' Holmes
- Debra StephensonDebra StephensonDebra Stephenson is an English actress, comedian, impressionist and singer.-Career:At the age of fourteen Stephenson appeared on BBC TV's Opportunity Knocks, winning her way through to the All-Winners' Final, broadcast live from the London Palladium...
… Diane Powell - Tracey Whitwell … Angie Gill
- Emma Rydall … Mikey
- Olivia Caffrey … Kate Howard
- Gaynor FayeGaynor FayeGaynor Faye is an English actress. She is famous for playing the role of Judy Mallett in the British soap opera Coronation Street from 1995 until 1999...
… Holly Quinn - Claudie BlakleyClaudie BlakleyClaudia "Claudie" Blakley is an English actress.Her father was Alan Blakely, a member of the 1960s pop band The Tremeloes, and her sister Kirsten Blakley is lead singer of the indie band Little Spitfire. Blakley trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama...
… Kelly Powell - James NesbittJames NesbittJames Nesbitt is a Northern Irish actor. Born in Ballymena, County Antrim, Nesbitt grew up in the nearby village of Broughshane, before moving to Coleraine, County Londonderry. He wanted to become a teacher like his father, so he began a degree in French at the University of Ulster...
… James Dolan - Tim DantayTim Dantay-Partial filmography:* Brookside * Making Out * All Creatures Great and Small * EastEnders * Playing the Field * Hollyoaks * Coronation Street * I'm Alan Partridge...
… Dave Powell - Nicholas GleavesNicholas GleavesNicholas Gleaves is an English actor best known for his role as Rick Powell in the television drama series Playing the Field. He also appeared as Tom Bedford in The Chase, from 2006-2007....
… Rick Powell - Ralph InesonRalph InesonRalph Ineson is an English actor best known for playing the character of Chris Finch on the BBC television programme The Office. He has a rich Yorkshire accent and is an avid supporter of Leeds United A.F.C. Ralph Ineson was educated at Woodleigh School, North Yorkshire...
… Luke Mullen - Chris WalkerChris Walker (actor)Chris Walker is an English actor most notable for playing Rob Hollins, in the BBC daytime soap opera Doctors.He won the award of Best On-screen partnership at The British Soap Awards 2010, for his role as Rob Hollins, with Actress, Jan Pearson who plays Karen Hollins.-Career:Always wanting to be...
… Matthew Mullen - John Thomson … Eddie Ryan
- James ThorntonJames Thornton (actor)James Thornton is an English actor and Voice-over artist.-Early life and career:Thornton was born in Bradford, West Yorkshire. He starred in the BBC One police series Holby Blue and currently appears as John Barton in the British soap opera Emmerdale...
… Scott - Lee RossLee Ross (actor)Lee Ross is an English professional actor best known for his role as Dodger in Dodger, Bonzo and the Rest. He has also starred in, Press Gang, Secrets & Lies, The Catherine Tate Show and most recently as Owen Turner in the BBC soap opera EastEnders.-Career:His first acting role was as Fat Sam in...
… Ryan Pratt - James EllisJames Ellis (actor)James Ellis is an actor from Northern Ireland with a television career of more than 45 years. He went to school at Methodist College Belfast and later studied at both Queen's University Belfast and the Bristol Old Vic....
… Mr. Mullen - Brigit ForsythBrigit ForsythBrigit Forsyth is a British actress, who is best known for her roles as Thelma Ferris in the BBC comedy Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? and Helen Yeldham in the hit ITV drama/modern-day western Boon....
… Francine Pratt - Elizabeth SpriggsElizabeth Spriggs-Early life and career:Born in Buxton, Derbyshire as Elizabeth Jean Williams, Spriggs had an unhappy childhood and grew up entirely without affection, particularly from her distant, domineering father, a master builder and farmer. She studied at the Royal College of Music and taught speech and...
… Mrs. Mullen - Ricky TomlinsonRicky TomlinsonEric Tomlinson , known by his stage name Ricky Tomlinson, is an English actor and comedian, best known for his roles as Bobby Grant in Brookside, DCI Charlie Wise in Cracker and James "Jim" Royle in The Royle Family....
… Jim Pratt - Jason O'MaraJason O'MaraJason O'Mara is an Irish actor who starred in the American television network dramas In Justice and Life on Mars. He now appears in the Fox series Terra Nova.- Career :He performed with The Royal Shakespeare Company...
… Lee Quinn - Tom Moore … Martin Dolan
- Richard BishopRichard BishopRichard Bishop may refer to:*Richard M. Bishop , American politician*Richard Bishop , American football defensive tackle*Richard Bishop , American guitarist, member of Sun City Girls...
… Extra