Steel River Blues
Encyclopedia
Steel River Blues is a British television
drama
serial first broadcast in September 2004 on ITV
. Produced by Ken Horn
, it was based on the working and private lives of a group of firefighter
s in Middlesbrough
. Critics were quick to dub the new drama "Middlesbrough's Burning" or "Teesside
's Burning", after the popular fire-fighting drama that preceded it, London's Burning
, yet there were very few similarities between the two, apart from them being about the business of firefighting.
Like its predecessor, Steel River Blues was an ensemble drama without any single starring part, though perhaps the best-known actor was Daniel Casey
, who was previously a co-star in ITV's ratings banker, Midsomer Murders
. Other stars included Joanne Farrell as Firefighter Nicky Higgins, Stuart Graham as Station Officer Bill McGlinchy, Daniel Ainsleigh
as Firefighter Jeremy Lloyd, Satnam Bhogal as Firefighter Sunil Gupta
The show's title song was performed by Middlesbrough-born Chris Rea
.
It was announced in January 2005 that the series would not be recommissioned.
British television
Public television broadcasting started in the United Kingdom in 1936, and now has a collection of free and subscription services over a variety of distribution media, through which there are over 480 channelsTaking the base Sky EPG TV Channels. A breakdown is impossible due to a) the number of...
drama
Drama
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...
serial first broadcast in September 2004 on ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
. Produced by Ken Horn
Ken Horn
Ken Horn is a British television producer. He is the producer of ITV1's Heartbeat and its spin-off The Royal. He is co-creator their sister show The Royal Today.- Biography :...
, it was based on the working and private lives of a group of firefighter
Firefighter
Firefighters are rescuers extensively trained primarily to put out hazardous fires that threaten civilian populations and property, to rescue people from car incidents, collapsed and burning buildings and other such situations...
s in Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough is a large town situated on the south bank of the River Tees in north east England, that sits within the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire...
. Critics were quick to dub the new drama "Middlesbrough's Burning" or "Teesside
Teesside
Teesside is the name given to the conurbation in the north east of England made up of the towns of Middlesbrough, Stockton-on-Tees, Redcar, Billingham and surrounding settlements near the River Tees. It was also the name of a local government district between 1968 and 1974—the County Borough of...
's Burning", after the popular fire-fighting drama that preceded it, London's Burning
London's Burning
London's Burning was a British television drama programme produced by London Weekend Television for the ITV network that focused on the lives of members of the London Fire Brigade, principally those of the Blue Watch at a fictional fire station called Blackwall.It was broadcast between 1986 and...
, yet there were very few similarities between the two, apart from them being about the business of firefighting.
Like its predecessor, Steel River Blues was an ensemble drama without any single starring part, though perhaps the best-known actor was Daniel Casey
Daniel Casey
-Early life:The son of journalist and television presenter Luke Casey, he grew up in Stockton-on-Tees and attended Grey College, Durham, graduating with a BA in English Literature before pursuing a career in acting.-Career:...
, who was previously a co-star in ITV's ratings banker, Midsomer Murders
Midsomer Murders
Midsomer Murders is a British television detective drama that has aired on ITV since 1997. The show is based on the books by Caroline Graham, as originally adapted by Anthony Horowitz. The lead character is DCI Tom Barnaby who works for Causton CID. When Nettles left the show in 2011 he was...
. Other stars included Joanne Farrell as Firefighter Nicky Higgins, Stuart Graham as Station Officer Bill McGlinchy, Daniel Ainsleigh
Daniel Ainsleigh
Daniel Ainsleigh is an English actor and renowned acting coach.-Biography:Daniel Ainsleigh was born in Hexham, Northumberland...
as Firefighter Jeremy Lloyd, Satnam Bhogal as Firefighter Sunil Gupta
The show's title song was performed by Middlesbrough-born Chris Rea
Chris Rea
Chris Rea is an English singer-songwriter, recognisable for his distinctive, husky voice and slide guitar playing. The British Hit Singles & Albums stated that Rea was "one of the most popular UK singer-songwriters of the late 1980s. He was already a major European star by the time he finally...
.
It was announced in January 2005 that the series would not be recommissioned.
Main cast
- John BowlerJohn Bowler (actor)John Bowler is an English actor who is best known for playing P.C. Roger Valentine in ITV’s The Bill since 2004.-Career:He was educated in Yorkshire, and trained in acting in Glasgow...
- Divisional Officer Mick Hammond - Stuart Graham - Station Officer Bill McGlinchy
- Steven Hillman - Sub Officer Alan Priestley
- Daniel CaseyDaniel Casey-Early life:The son of journalist and television presenter Luke Casey, he grew up in Stockton-on-Tees and attended Grey College, Durham, graduating with a BA in English Literature before pursuing a career in acting.-Career:...
- Leading Firefighter Tony Barnes - Charles DaleCharles DaleCharles Dale is a Welsh actor who is well known for playing Dennis Stringer in Coronation Street, Gary "Chef" Alcock in The Lakes and Clive Eustace in The Eustace Bros.....
- Firefighter George Barnes - Daniel RyanDaniel Ryan (actor)Daniel Ryan is an English actor and writer.He is known for starring as Darren Alexander in the BBC drama comedy Linda Green, Andrew Gilligan in The Government Inspector, Andy Coulson in Steel River Blues and Kenny Reed in The Whistleblowers...
- Firefighter Andy Coulson - Satnam Bhogal - Firefighter Sunil Gupta
- Mark Cameron - Firefighter Roger Hibbot
- Michael NardoneMichael NardoneMichael Nardone is a Scottish actor born in 1967 in Fife, was raised in Ballingry and trained at Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh. He starred as Mascius in the BBC/HBO/RAI TV series Rome and appeared as DCI Richard Whiteside in BBC Scotland drama River City.-Selected Filmography:* ...
- Firefighter Dave Tanner - Joanne Farrell - Firefighter Nicky Higgins
- Daniel AinsleighDaniel AinsleighDaniel Ainsleigh is an English actor and renowned acting coach.-Biography:Daniel Ainsleigh was born in Hexham, Northumberland...
- Firefighter Jeremy Lloyd - Nitin Kundra - Firefighter Asif Hussain
- Kelly WenhamKelly WenhamKelly Wenham is an English actress. Wenham's early career was spent in modelling, before answering a casting call for a bit part in Always and Everyone. Following this she entered drama school, but quit three months later after being cast in a regular role in Where the Heart Is, as Jess Buckley, a...
- Firefighter Julie Priestley - Clare BuckfieldClare BuckfieldClare Buckfield is an English actress, best known for playing the role of Jenny Porter in the BBC sitcom 2point4 children for most of the nineties and Natasha Stevens in the CBBC series Grange Hill.-Biography:...
- Leading Control Call Operator Katy Bell - Victoria HawkinsVictoria HawkinsVictoria Hawkins Born 24 September 1983 is an English actress. She played the role of Sharon Lambert on ITV soap opera Emmerdale....
- Control Operator Sandra Harris