Lovejoy

Lovejoy is a TV series about the adventures of Lovejoy, a British antiques dealer based in East Anglia whose scruples are not always the highest. These were based on a series of picaresque novels by John Grant (under the pen name Jonathan Gash). Lovejoy has a reputation in the antiques trade as a "divvie", meaning one with an almost supernatural talent for recognising exceptional items as well as for distinguishing fakes or forgeries from genuine antiques. Lovejoy's first name is never mentioned in the books. In the TV series based on the novels, he insists on being addressed by all solely as "Lovejoy".

Television

The novels were made into a drama TV series, broadcast on BBC1 in the UK from 1986 to 1994 and starred Ian McShane in the lead role. The lechery and violence in the novels was toned down for television, and a great deal of antique lore, but not all, also reduced. Also, the character of Lovejoy's favourite 'picker', Tinker Dill, was cleaned up (literally) from the malodourous, seldom-bathed individual in the novels, although his penchant for strong drink was retained. The first series was shown on BBC1 in 1986; then there was a five-year gap before Lovejoy was brought back in 1991. Nearly all of the original cast returned for the 1991-93 series, Malcolm Tierney reprising his role as Charlie Gimbert at the start of the fourth series. The television version respected the author's wish to not reveal Lovejoy's first name.

The fifth series of Lovejoy included some cast changes as the character of Lady Jane Felsham left the show in the second episode, and the character of Eric Catchpole left the show in the sixth episode (both returned for the series finale). Also in the fifth series two new regular cast members were added: these were Lovejoy's new apprentice, Beth Taylor (played by Diane Parish), and Charlotte Cavendish (played by Caroline Langrishe), who ran a local antiques auction house.

Main cast

Ian McShane - Lovejoy

Chris Jury - Eric Catchpole

Dudley Sutton - Tinker Dill

Phyllis Logan - Lady Jane Felsham

Diane Parish - Beth Taylor

Malcolm Tierney - Charlie Gimbert

Caroline Langrishe - Charlotte Cavendish

Charlotte Edwards played Lovejoy's daughter Kate in series one. When the show returned, in 1991, the character's name was changed to Viki and she was played by Amelia Shankley in series two and three and then by Amelia Curtis in the final series.