NCS: Manhunt

NCS: Manhunt is a British television crime drama series, starring David Suchet, and based on the National Crime Squad. Created by Malcolm McKay, the series premiered with a two-part pilot episode on BBC One on 26 March 2001.[1] A full series of six episodes debuted on 4 March 2002,[2] and concluded on 19 March 2002.[3] Despite the series' popularity, and strong viewing figures, a second series was never commissioned. Notably, neither the pilot nor the complete series have ever been issued on DVD, although the series was repeated in its entirety on Forces TV in 2016.[4] The series notably starred Michael Fassbender in one of his earliest television roles, after appearing in Band of Brothers the previous year.[5] Kenneth Cranham and Phyllis Logan also co-starred in the pilot episode.[6]

NCS: Manhunt
Title card
GenreCrime drama
police procedural
Created byMalcolm McKay
Written byMalcolm McKay
Directed byMichael Whyte
Paul Unwin
StarringDavid Suchet
Keith Barron
Samantha Bond
Melanie Hill
Sara Stewart
Jonathan Phillips
Gerard Horan
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series1
No. of episodes8 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producerFred Tammes
ProducerSue Austen
CinematographyFred Tammes
EditorIan Sutherland
Running time60 minutes
Production companyBBC Home Entertainment
Release
Original networkBBC One
Original release26 March 2001 (2001-03-26) –
19 March 2002 (2002-03-19)

David Suchet said of his role in the series, "I don't ever recollect reading a script like this and I've certainly never seen anything like it on television before. When I read it, I was mesmerised. It was quite impossible to say no. Borne is probably the most complex character in the team. He is a man who fascinates by being endlessly enigmatic. He uses language sparingly, but with him everything is going on underneath the surface. And in a sense, I'm not playing another detective at all. I'm merely playing a different, complex human being who just happens to be a detective. You may find him in a police station, but I'd like to think that the audience are aching to see him too."[7]

Cast

Regular cast

Supporting cast

Episodes

Pilot (2001)
Episode Title Written by Directed by Viewers
(millions)[9]		 Original airdate
1"Pilot: Part 1"Malcolm McKayMichael Whyte7.4126 March 2001 (2001-03-26)
When convicted criminal Ricky Valesi kidnaps the mother of Inspector Anne Warwick, a link between the officer and Valesi is unveiled.
2"Pilot: Part 2"Malcolm McKayMichael Whyte7.3027 March 2001 (2001-03-27)
Bourne and the team continue their investigation and make a surprising discovery about Anne Warwick's personal life. What appeared to be a straightforward kidnapping soon escalates into a harrowing case of murder, conspiracy and betrayal.

Series (2002)
Episode Title Written by Directed by Viewers
(millions)		 Original airdate
1"Collision Course: Part 1"Malcolm McKayMichael Whyte6.084 March 2002 (2002-03-04)
The team ambushes a group of drug smugglers who have landed in a Norfolk field and seize a consignment of cocaine. They plan to track the drugs to source through the pilot and one of the crew, but are taken off the case to deal with a series of contract killings by two leather-clad scooter riders using silenced handguns.
2"Collision Course: Part 2"Malcolm McKayMichael Whyte5.415 March 2002 (2002-03-05)
The team struggles to come to terms with the loss of one of their own. A series of arrests helps to raise spirits, and a tip-off leads Borne to an old acquaintance. Borne becomes convinced that a criminal whom he convicted five years earlier holds the key to the contract killings.
3"Tinderbox: Part 1"Malcolm McKayPaul Unwin5.2211 March 2002 (2002-03-11)
A new member joins the team, which is dispatched to investigate a series of apparently straightforward armed robberies on Indian restaurants in Birmingham. MI5 gets involved when a paratrooper is killed.
4"Tinderbox: Part 2"Malcolm McKayPaul Unwin4.6012 March 2002 (2002-03-12)
It becomes clear that the crimes are racially motivated, and the team uncovers a secretive right-wing organisation bent on starting a race war.
5"Out of Time: Part 1"Malcolm McKayMichael Whyte4.9318 March 2002 (2002-03-18)
The team attempts to bring down the Colombian cocaine smuggling ring. Information has been received that a shipment is on its way. To get to the elusive "Number One", the detectives go after dealers further down the supply chain, but one of the team is kidnapped outside Benny Luck's club.
6"Out of Time: Part 2"Malcolm McKayMichael WhyteUnder 4.3319 March 2002 (2002-03-19)
The team sets up a deal to sell the shipment of drugs to Benny Luck, who arranges to meet the Colombians at Tilbury docks, setting up a dramatic showdown.

References
  1. Nightingale, Julie (26 March 2001). "So PC". New Statesman. Retrieved 2 March 2010.
  2. Hodgson, Jessica (5 March 2002). "Beckham brings 8m to ITV1". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 March 2010.
  3. Cozens, Claire (20 March 2002). "C5's Armageddon flattens BBC". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 March 2010.
  4. http://www.forces.net/65881722
  5. "Melanie is armed and ready; NCS: Manhunt BBC1, 9pm". Evening Times. 12 March 2002. p. 21. Retrieved 2 March 2010.
  6. Virtue, Graeme (25 March 2001). "Plod devices; A new crime drama looks set to earn its stripes, but put that down to the stars rather than their hi-tech tactics". Sunday Herald. p. 46. Retrieved 2 March 2010.
  7. "Desperate race against time; NCS: Manhunt BBC1, 9.00pm. – Free Online Library".
  8. Beacom, Brian (26 March 2001). "Pick of the Day NCS: Manhunt BBC1, 9pm". Evening Times. p. 19. Retrieved 2 March 2010.
  9. "Weekly top 30 programmes on TV sets (July 1998 – Sept 2018) | BARB".
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