Grushko (TV series)

Grushko is a British television three-part drama series, first broadcast on BBC One on 24 March 1994. Based on the best-selling novel Dead Meat by Philip Kerr,[1] the series stars Brian Cox as Colonel Yevgeni Grushko, the tough-minded Head of the Mafia Investigation Division of the St. Petersburg Police, as he investigates the murder of a TV journalist which threatens to spark gang warfare.[2]

Grushko
GenreCrime drama
Created byPhilip Kerr
Based onDead Meat
Written byRobin Mukherjee
Directed byTony Smith
StarringBrian Cox
Stephen McGann
Cathy White
Donald Sumpter
Eve Matheson
Amanda Mealing
Richard Hawley
Jack Klaff
ComposerTony Britten
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series1
No. of episodes3 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producerMark Forstater
ProducerNicky Lund
Production locationsMoscow, Russia
CinematographyErnest Vincze
Running time50 minutes
Production company
Release
Original network
Original release24 March (1994-03-24) –
7 April 1994 (1994-04-07)

With Stephen McGann, Donald Sumpter, Andy Serkis, and Amanda Mealing amongst the main cast,[3] the series was scripted by Kerr alongside screenwriter Robin Mukherjee. It was panned upon release, particularly by The Independent, in particular for its lack of authenticity and certain passages of inaudible dialogue.[4] The title sequence was designed by Bob Cosford, who uses a typographic logo to evoke the implied menace of the Russian trucks in the opening scene.[5]

Production archives confirm the series was first commissioned in August 1991, initially in four parts. It was later suggested that instead of individual episodes, the production could air as a one-off drama; it was eventually decided that Grushko would be a three-part series. Philip Kerr had been in the process of writing a second series when the first went to air; however, due to poor ratings, the BBC decided not to pursue a second run.[6]

A tie-in novel with images from the series was issued by Arrow Books in 1994. The series has to date not been released on any form of home media.

Cast

Episodes
No.
overall		No. in
series		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date 
11"Episode 1"Tony SmithPhilip Kerr & Robin Muhkerjee24 March 1994 (1994-03-24)
The firebombing of a restaurant is just the start of a long day for Colonel Yevgeni Grushko and his team. The murder of a local TV journalist and a police informant, coupled with the theft of an extremely valuable statuette, is just the tip of the iceberg as all-out gang warfare threatens to erupt.[7]
22"Episode 2"Tony SmithPhilip Kerr & Robin Muhkerjee31 March 1994 (1994-03-31)
When it transpires that Milyukin's last investigation involved exploring gang connections to the illegal dumping of nuclear waste and possible mass radiation, Grushko and his team realise the clock is ticking, and work together to try and find the missing piece of the puzzle.
33"Episode 3"Tony SmithPhilip Kerr & Robin Muhkerjee7 April 1994 (1994-04-07)

References
  1. "Dead Meat - BernieGunther.com". berniegunther.com.
  2. "Grushko (BBC-1 1994, Brian Cox, Eve Matheson) | Memorable TV - Episodes, News & More". 31 March 2017.
  3. "Grushko". IMDb. 24 March 1994.
  4. "Russian drama gets off to a shaky start". Independent.co.uk. 23 October 2011.
  5. "Grushko (1994)".
  6. "The British Archive for Contemporary Writing CollectionsOnline | APW/7/6 - Dead Meat (Grushko)".
  7. "Search - BBC Programme Index".
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