Trainer (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Trainer is a British
television
series transmitted by the BBC
between 1991 and 1992.
Filmed in and around the village of Compton
near Newbury
, the series is set in the world of horse racing. It starred Mark Greenstreet
as Mike Hardy, an aspiring horse trainer keen to set up his own stables. Other major characters included local gambler John Grey (David McCallum
) and widow Rachel Ware (Susannah York
).
Although not a popular success, Trainer lasted for two series and was the last TV project for producer Gerard Glaister
. The theme song, "More to Life
", was performed by Cliff Richard
. The song was written by Simon May
and Mike Read
.
The first series of 13 episodes was given the prestigious Sunday night slot on BBC1 previously occupied by Howard's Way, another Glaister creation, a horse-racing storyline from which was much of the inspiration for Trainer. However, with ratings at around the 6 million mark, it was decided to put it out on Wednesdays' at 8pm for its second series of a reduced 10 episode run.
Many changes were made to made to Season II to try to increase its popularity, with the self-contained story per episode format of season 1, making way for a more soap like continuing story for season 2. Also, the introduction of new characters, and a focus more on their inter-twined personal lives, was felt needed.
However, the mid week slot and racier plots did not bring in the additional viewers hoped for. Many observers felt that if it had continued on a Sunday night, its new storylines and characters would have seen the series fare better in the ratings, and have probably led to a third season. This was the intention of the producers and the BBC who ended the last episode on a murder mystery cliffhanger. This would never now be resolved.
Series Cast
Extra characters
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...
television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
series transmitted by the BBC
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...
between 1991 and 1992.
Filmed in and around the village of Compton
Compton, Berkshire
Compton is a village and civil parish in the River Pang valley in the Berkshire Downs about south of Didcot. It has a population of 1,521. The Pang flows through the village as a winter bourne, a stream that only flows after periods of unusually high rainfall.-Parish church:The bell tower of the...
near Newbury
Newbury, Berkshire
Newbury is a civil parish and the principal town in the west of the county of Berkshire in England. It is situated on the River Kennet and the Kennet and Avon Canal, and has a town centre containing many 17th century buildings. Newbury is best known for its racecourse and the adjoining former USAF...
, the series is set in the world of horse racing. It starred Mark Greenstreet
Mark Greenstreet
Mark Greenstreet is a British actor who first came to prominence in the 1985 BBC television serial Brat Farrar. First and foremost a stage actor, Greenstreet played many of the great leading roles from the works of Shakespeare, Chekhov and Ibsen to Orton, Wilde and Coward in the UK and around the...
as Mike Hardy, an aspiring horse trainer keen to set up his own stables. Other major characters included local gambler John Grey (David McCallum
David McCallum
David Keith McCallum, Jr. is a Scottish actor and musician. He is best known for his roles as Illya Kuryakin, a Russian-born secret agent, in the 1960s television series The Man from U.N.C.L.E., as interdimensional operative Steel in Sapphire & Steel, and Dr...
) and widow Rachel Ware (Susannah York
Susannah York
Susannah York was a British film, stage and television actress. She was awarded a BAFTA as Best Supporting Actress for They Shoot Horses, Don't They? and was nominated for an Oscar and Golden Globe for the same film. She won best actress for Images at the 1972 Cannes Film Festival...
).
Although not a popular success, Trainer lasted for two series and was the last TV project for producer Gerard Glaister
Gerard Glaister
John Leslie "Gerard" Glaister DFC, was a British television producer and director best known for his work with the BBC. Amongst his most notable successes as a TV producer were Colditz, The Brothers, Secret Army and Howards' Way.After studying at RADA, Glaister made his West End debut in 1939...
. The theme song, "More to Life
More to Life
More to Life was a daily afternoon television show produced and broadcast by TVOntario. The show first premiered in 1997. The first host was Maureen Taylor...
", was performed by Cliff Richard
Cliff Richard
Sir Cliff Richard, OBE is a British pop singer, musician, performer, actor, and philanthropist who has sold over an estimated 250 million records worldwide....
. The song was written by Simon May
Simon May
Simon May is a British musician and composer, best known for composing some of British television's best known theme tunes, including EastEnders and Howards' Way, and for composing the music for the 1988 film The Dawning....
and Mike Read
Mike Read
Michael David Kenneth Read is an English radio disc jockey, writer, journalist and television presenter.-Early life:...
.
The first series of 13 episodes was given the prestigious Sunday night slot on BBC1 previously occupied by Howard's Way, another Glaister creation, a horse-racing storyline from which was much of the inspiration for Trainer. However, with ratings at around the 6 million mark, it was decided to put it out on Wednesdays' at 8pm for its second series of a reduced 10 episode run.
Many changes were made to made to Season II to try to increase its popularity, with the self-contained story per episode format of season 1, making way for a more soap like continuing story for season 2. Also, the introduction of new characters, and a focus more on their inter-twined personal lives, was felt needed.
However, the mid week slot and racier plots did not bring in the additional viewers hoped for. Many observers felt that if it had continued on a Sunday night, its new storylines and characters would have seen the series fare better in the ratings, and have probably led to a third season. This was the intention of the producers and the BBC who ended the last episode on a murder mystery cliffhanger. This would never now be resolved.
Series Cast
- Mark GreenstreetMark GreenstreetMark Greenstreet is a British actor who first came to prominence in the 1985 BBC television serial Brat Farrar. First and foremost a stage actor, Greenstreet played many of the great leading roles from the works of Shakespeare, Chekhov and Ibsen to Orton, Wilde and Coward in the UK and around the...
... Mike Hardy (23 episodes, 1991–1992) - Susannah YorkSusannah YorkSusannah York was a British film, stage and television actress. She was awarded a BAFTA as Best Supporting Actress for They Shoot Horses, Don't They? and was nominated for an Oscar and Golden Globe for the same film. She won best actress for Images at the 1972 Cannes Film Festival...
... Rachel Ware (23 episodes, 1991–1992) - David McCallumDavid McCallumDavid Keith McCallum, Jr. is a Scottish actor and musician. He is best known for his roles as Illya Kuryakin, a Russian-born secret agent, in the 1960s television series The Man from U.N.C.L.E., as interdimensional operative Steel in Sapphire & Steel, and Dr...
... John Grey (23 episodes, 1991–1992) - Floyd Bevan ... Nick Peters (23 episodes, 1991–1992)
- Neil Nisbet ... Danny Foster (21 episodes, 1991–1992)
- Audrey Jenkinson Mo Ratcliffe (19 episodes, 1991–1992)
- Des McAleer ... Joe Hogan (17 episodes, 1991–1992)
- Marcus D'Amico ... David Ware (15 episodes, 1991–1992)
- Nigel DavenportNigel DavenportNigel Davenport is an English stage, television and film actor.- Early life :Davenport was born Arthur Nigel Davenport, however he goes by the first name of Nigel. Davenport was born in Shelford, Cambridgeshire, the son of Katherine Lucy and Arthur Henry Davenport. Davenport's father was a bursar...
... James Brant (13 episodes, 1991) - Patrick RyecartPatrick RyecartPatrick Geoffrey Ryecart is an English actor.Ryecart was born in Leamington Spa. He has predominantly acted on British television shows since the mid-seventies including Lillie, Romeo and Juliet, The Professionals, Minder, Rumpole of the Bailey, Lovejoy, Coming Home, and Holby City...
... Hugo Latimer (13 episodes, 1991–1992) - Nicola King ... Frances Ross (13 episodes, 1991)
- Sarah Atkinson ... Kath Brant (11 episodes, 1991)
- Claire Oberman ... Alex Farrell (10 episodes, 1992)
- Melanie Thaw ... Sue Lawrence (10 episodes, 1992)
- Kenneth Farrington ... Jack Ross (9 episodes, 1991)
- John Bowe ... Robert Firman (9 episodes, 1992)
- Emma Harbour ... Emma Carter (9 episodes, 1992)
- Angharad ReesAngharad ReesAngharad Mary Rees is a Welsh actress, best-known for her British television roles during the 1970s, garnering notice for her leading role as Demelza in the 1970s BBC drama series Poldark.-Career:...
... Caroline Farrell (8 episodes, 1992) - Joanna McCallum Toni Mountford (4 episodes, 1992)
- Jeremy SindenJeremy SindenJeremy Sinden was an English actor who specialised in playing eccentric military men and overgrown schoolboys.-Early life:...
... Freddie Farrell (4 episodes, 1992) - Stephen Greif ... Stavros Mikhalides (3 episodes, 1991–1992)
Extra characters
- Robin Davies ... Neil Johnson (3 episodes, 1992)
- Dorcas Morgan ... Sally Hardy (3 episodes, 1992)
- Terence Harvey ... (2 episodes, 1991)
- Johnnie Lyne-Pirkis ... (2 episodes, 1991)
- Kym MazelleKym MazelleKym Mazelle is an American dance-pop, Hi-NRG, soul, and house singer. She was brought up and lived on the same street as the Jackson family and knew Michael Jackson's mother and uncle.-Career:...
... (2 episodes, 1991) - Don WarringtonDon WarringtonDon Warrington, MBE is a Trinidadian British actor.-Personal life:Warrington was born in Trinidad and Tobago on 23 May 1951 and brought up in Newcastle upon Tyne, England from age five. His father was the Trinidadian politician, Basil Kydd, who died in 1958. He has two sons.His acting career...
... (2 episodes, 1992) - Simon Jessop ... Rowland (unknown episodes, 1991)
- Robert Chapman ... Tom Hardy (unknown episodes, 1991–1992)
- Michael Barnett ... Christian Hardy (unknown episodes, 1991–1992)