''The Chief'' is a British

television Television, sometimes shortened to TV, is a telecommunication medium for transmitting moving images and sound. The term can refer to a television set, or the medium of television transmission. Television is a mass medium for advertisin ...

crime In ordinary language, a crime is an unlawful act punishable by a State (polity), state or other authority. The term ''crime'' does not, in modern criminal law, have any simple and universally accepted definition,Farmer, Lindsay: "Crime, definit ...

drama Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance: a play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a genre of poetry in general, the dramatic mode has been ...

series that aired on

ITV ITV or iTV may refer to: ITV *Independent Television (ITV), a British television network, consisting of: ** ITV (TV network), a free-to-air national commercial television network covering the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islan ...

from 20 April 1990 until 16 June 1995. A total of five series and thirty-five episodes were produced.

Overview

The series followed the work of the fictitious "Eastland Constabulary", particularly focusing on Chief Constable John Stafford (

Tim Pigott-Smith Timothy Peter Pigott-Smith, (13 May 1946 – 7 April 2017) was an English film and television actor and author. He was best known for his leading role as Ronald Merrick in the television drama series '' The Jewel in the Crown'', for which he wo ...

), and his efforts to restore order within his volatile team. Later, focus shifted towards Stafford's replacement, Alan Cade (

Martin Shaw Martin Shaw (born 21 January 1945) is an English actor. He came to national recognition as Doyle in ITV (TV network), ITV crime-action television drama series ''The Professionals (TV series), The Professionals'' (1977–1983). Further notable ...

). The series was produced by

Anglia Television ITV Anglia, previously known as Anglia Television, is the ITV franchise holder for the East of England. The station is based at Anglia House in Norwich, with regional news bureaux in Cambridge and Northampton. ITV Anglia is owned and operated b ...

and was mostly filmed and set in

East Anglia East Anglia is an area in the East of England, often defined as including the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire. The name derives from the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of the East Angles, a people whose name originated in Anglia, in ...

. The series was notable for a lot of political content, in particular for Stafford's battles with the Home Office and local politicians.

John Alderson (police officer) John Cottingham Alderson (28 May 1922 – 7 October 2011) was a senior British police officer and expert on police and penal affairs. Alderson was born in Barnsley, West Riding of Yorkshire, and educated at Barnsley Technical College. In 1938 ...

, a former Chief Constable of the

Devon and Cornwall Police Devon and Cornwall Police is the territorial police force responsible for policing the ceremonial counties of Devon and Cornwall (including the Isles of Scilly) in England. The force serves approximately 1.8 million people over an area of . Hi ...

, was an adviser on the show, allowing it to be portrayed as reflecting real life.

Cast

as Chief Constable John Stafford (Series 1–3) *

as Chief Constable Alan Cade (Series 3–5) * Karen Archer as Assistant Chief Constable / Acting Deputy Chief Constable Anne Stewart (Series 1–4) *

Eamon Boland Eamon Denis Boland (born 15 July 1947 in Manchester, Lancashire) is an English actor. He has played Tony Walker in ''Casualty'', Frank O'Connor in '' Coronation Street'', Gerry Hollis in '' Kinsey'', Jim Gray in '' The Chief'', Phil Fox in ''F ...

as Detective Chief Superintendent Jim Gray (Series 1–3) *

Stuart McGugan Stuart McGugan (born 2 March 1944) is a Scottish actor. He played the roles of Gunner 'Atlas' Mackintosh in the BBC sitcom ''It Ain't Half Hot Mum'' and Bomba MacAteer in ''Tutti Frutti''. McGugan was a presenter on BBC's '' Play School'' f ...

as Detective Superintendent / Detective Chief Superintendent / Acting Assistant Chief Constable Sean McCloud (Series 3–4) *

Gillian Bevan Gillian Bevan (born 13 February 1956) is an English actress, best known for her roles in British television shows and West End theatre. In 1988 she played Dorothy in the Royal Shakespeare Company's revival of their version of '' The Wizard of O ...

as Detective Superintendent Rose Penfold (Series 5) *

Tony Caunter Anthony Patrick Caunter (born 22 September 1937) is a Retired British actor best known for his role as Jack Shepherd in the Yorkshire TV sitcom '' Queenie's Castle'' and also his portrayal of Roy Evans in ''EastEnders'' from 1994 to 2003. The ...

as Deputy Chief Constable Arthur Quine (Series 1–2) *

Bosco Hogan John Bosco Hogan (born March 1949) is an Irish stage, film, and television actor. He is well known as the character Dr. Michael Ryan on the television programme ''Ballykissangel''. He appeared in a minor role as convicted felon George Saden in J ...

as Deputy Chief Constable Wes Morton (Series 5) * Dean Lepley as PC Jack Sayers (Series 1–5) * Brian Bovell as PC Charlie Webb (Series 5) *

Michael Cochrane Michael Cochrane is an English actor. Biography Cochrane was born in Brighton, East Sussex. He was educated at Cranleigh School. He has had many television and radio roles including Oliver Sterling in the Radio 4 soap opera ''The Archers'', ...

as Nigel Crimmond (Series 1–5) * Gillian Martell as Diane Lewis (Series 2–5) *

Judy Loe Judith Margaret Loe (born 6 March 1947) is an English actress. She was married to actor Richard Beckinsale until his death in 1979, and later married director Roy Battersby. She is the mother of actress Kate Beckinsale, and the stepmother of Ka ...

as Dr. Elizabeth Stafford (Series 1–3) * Ross Livingstone as Tim Stafford (Series 1–2) * T. P. McKenna as Colin Fowler (Series 2–4) *

Julian Glover Julian Wyatt Glover (born 27 March 1935) is an English classical actor with many stage, television, and film roles since commencing his career in the 1950s. He is a recipient of the Laurence Olivier Award and has performed many times for th ...

as Andrew Blake (Series 5)

Series overview

There series has been released in Australia (Region 4). Series 1 & Series 2 on 5 March 2014. Series 3 & Series 4 on 7 May 2014. Series 5 on 9 July 2014. The Chief Collection on 7 March 2018.

Home media

A behind-the-scenes book, entitled ''On Duty with The Chief'', written by Peter Haining, was published on 31 January 1995 to tie in with the broadcast of the fifth and final series. In 2010, Network began realising ''The Chief'' on Region 2

DVD The DVD (common abbreviation for Digital Video Disc or Digital Versatile Disc) is a digital optical disc data storage format. It was invented and developed in 1995 and first released on November 1, 1996, in Japan. The medium can store any kind ...

, with a "12" certificate. The content has not been modified from the original broadcasts, and every episode contains the title cards for the commercial breaks. There are no special features.

Episodes

Series 1 (1990)

Series 2 (1991)

Series 3 (1993)

Series 4 (1994)

Series 5 (1995)

References

External links

*. {{DEFAULTSORT:Chief, The 1990s British drama television series 1990 British television series debuts 1995 British television series endings 1990s British crime television series ITV television dramas Television series by ITV Studios Television shows produced by Anglia Television English-language television shows Television shows set in Norfolk