''The Syndicate'' is a

British television Regular television broadcasts in the United Kingdom started in 1936 as a public service which was free of advertising, which followed the first demonstration of a transmitted moving image in 1926. Currently, the United Kingdom has a collection ...

drama series. It was written by Kay Mellor and is broadcast on

BBC One BBC One is a British free-to-air public broadcast television network owned and operated by the BBC. It is the corporation's flagship network and is known for broadcasting mainstream programming, which includes BBC News television bulletins, ...

. It sees five members of a betting syndicate win the

lottery A lottery is a form of gambling that involves the drawing of numbers at random for a prize. Some governments outlaw lotteries, while others endorse it to the extent of organizing a national or state lottery. It is common to find some degree of ...

. Each series follows a different syndicate. The first series is set in a

Leeds Leeds () is a city and the administrative centre of the City of Leeds district in West Yorkshire, England. It is built around the River Aire and is in the eastern foothills of the Pennines. It is also the third-largest settlement (by popul ...

supermarket; the second, a public hospital in

Bradford Bradford is a city and the administrative centre of the City of Bradford district in West Yorkshire, England. The city is in the Pennines' eastern foothills on the banks of the Bradford Beck. Bradford had a population of 349,561 at the 2011 ...

; the third, a crumbling stately home near Scarborough; and the fourth is set between a dog kennel in

Yorkshire Yorkshire ( ; abbreviated Yorks), formally known as the County of York, is a Historic counties of England, historic county in northern England and by far the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its large area in comparison with other Eng ...

and

Monaco Monaco (; ), officially the Principality of Monaco (french: Principauté de Monaco; Ligurian: ; oc, Principat de Mónegue), is a sovereign city-state and microstate on the French Riviera a few kilometres west of the Italian region of Lig ...

. The theme tune for the first two series of the show is "

All or Nothing All or Nothing may refer to: Film and television * ''All or Nothing'' (film), a 2002 film by Mike Leigh * ''All or Nothing'' (game show), a 2004–2005 Russian game show based on ''Deal or No Deal'' * ''All or Nothing'' (sports docuseries), ...

", by the

Small Faces Small Faces were an English rock band from London, founded in 1965. The group originally consisted of Steve Marriott, Ronnie Lane, Kenney Jones and Jimmy Winston, with Ian McLagan replacing Winston as the band's keyboardist in 1966. The ...

. For the third series, a cover version of the same song performed by Scars on 45 was used. The score is composed by guitarist Hal Lindes from

Dire Straits Dire Straits were a British rock band formed in London in 1977 by Mark Knopfler (lead vocals and lead guitar), David Knopfler (rhythm guitar and backing vocals), John Illsley (bass guitar and backing vocals) and Pick Withers (drums and per ...

. The theme tune for Season four of the show is a cover of "The Gambler" performed by David Nowakowski featuring Rising Fever. Series 4 premiered on BBC One on 30 March 2021. The series was remade in America as ''Lucky 7'' for ABC. However, it only ran for one series.

Cast

* Lorraine Bruce as Denise Simpson is the only cast member to appear in every series, Series 1 in which she won the lottery and minor roles as a Lottery Winners Adviser in all subsequent series

Series 1

Timothy Spall Timothy Leonard Spall (born 27 February 1957) is an English actor and presenter. He became a household name in the UK after appearing as Barry Spencer Taylor in the 1983 ITV comedy-drama series '' Auf Wiedersehen, Pet''. Spall performed in '' ...

as Bob Davies * Matthew Lewis as Jamie Bradley *

Joanna Page Joanna Louise Page (born 23 March 1977) is a Welsh actress and presenter. She appeared as Stacey Shipman in the BAFTA-winning television series ''Gavin & Stacey''. She played Dora Spenlow in the 1999 adaptation of ''David Copperfield'', and f ...

as Leanne Powell *

Matthew McNulty Michael Anthony McNulty (born 14 December 1982), known professionally as Matthew McNulty, is a German-born British actor. Early life McNulty was born on 14 December 1982 in Hanover, Lower Saxony, West Germany, and lived in Berlin and Münste ...

as Stuart Bradley *

Amy Beth Hayes Amy Beth Hayes (born 8 October 1982) is a British actress. She is best known for her roles as Kitty in ''Mr Selfridge''; Lucy in "The Entire History of You", an episode of ''Black Mirror''; Ruth in '' Misfits''; Clementine in '' Shameless''; Amy ...

as Amy Cartwright *John Paul Hurley as DCI Newell *Katherine Dow Blyton as Annie Davies *

Kai Owen Kai Owen (born 4 September 1975) is a Welsh actor of stage and screen, known to Welsh audiences for his numerous roles on Welsh language television and to worldwide audiences for his portrayal of Rhys Williams in '' Torchwood'' and Pete Bucha ...

as Gareth Powell *

Anthony Lewis Anthony Lewis (March 27, 1927 – March 25, 2013) was an American public intellectual and journalist. He was twice winner of the Pulitzer Prize, and was a columnist for ''The New York Times''. He is credited with creating the field of legal jour ...

as Peter Davies * Clare Higgins as Joyce Bradley

Series 2

Siobhan Finneran Siobhán Margaret Finneran (born 27 April 1966) is a British actress. She made her screen debut in the 1987 independent film ''Rita, Sue and Bob Too'', and subsequently worked consistently in television drama including roles in ''Coronation Stre ...

as Mandy Atkinson *

Alison Steadman Alison Steadman (born 26 August 1946) is an English actress. She received the 1991 National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actress for the Mike Leigh film '' Life Is Sweet'' and the 1993 Olivier Award for Best Actress for her role as M ...

as Rose Wilson *

Mark Addy Mark Ian Addy (born 14 January 1964) is an English actor. His roles in British television include Detective Constable Gary Boyle in the sitcom '' The Thin Blue Line'' (1995–1996) and Hercules in the fantasy drama series ''Atlantis'' (2013–2 ...

as Alan Walters *

Natalie Gavin Natalie Gavin (born 1988) is an English actress from Bradford, known for her roles in the BBC dramas '' Prisoners' Wives'' and ''The Syndicate,'' and the ITV drama ''Jericho''. Early life Gavin was born in Bradford. She grew up in the Brad ...

as Becky Atkinson * Jimi Mistry as Tom Bedford *

Steven Waddington Steven Waddington (born 30 December 1967) is an English film and television actor. He is best known for his supporting role in Michael Mann's ''The Last of the Mohicans''. Early life Waddington was born in Leeds, West Riding of Yorkshire, the ...

as Steve Atkinson *Roma Christensen as Reah Atkinson *

Sally Rogers Sally Rogers (born 1964) is an English actress, best known for her role as Detective Constable/Sgt. Jo Masters in ITV's ''The Bill''. Rogers trained as a children's nanny, before taking up acting at the age of 20. She studied at Webber Dou ...

as Helen Dolan *

Karl Davies Karl Davies (born 6 August 1982) is an English actor, and voice actor, who portrayed Lyle Anderson in the TV series '' Kingdom''. Previously he had portrayed Robert Sugden in the ITV soap opera ''Emmerdale''. Career Davies took over the role ...

as Luke Summers

Series 3

Elizabeth Berrington Elizabeth Berrington (born 3 August 1970) is an English actress and graduate of the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art; she is best known for her roles as Ruby Fry in '' Waterloo Road'', Paula Kosh in '' Stella'', Mel Debrou in ''Moving Wall ...

as Dawn Stevenson * Melanie Hill as Julie Travers *

Lenny Henry Sir Lenworth George Henry (born 29 August 1958) is a British actor, comedian, singer, television presenter and writer. Henry gained success as a stand-up comedian and impressionist in the late 1970s and early 1980s, culminating in '' The Le ...

as Godfrey Watson * Cara Theobold as Sarah Travers *

Richard Rankin Richard Rankin (born Richard Harris on 4 January 1983) is a Scottish film, television and theatre actor. He is best known for the Scottish sketch show '' Burnistoun'' and as Roger Wakefield MacKenzie in the Starz drama '' Outlander''. Early li ...

as Sean McGary/McAdams *

Anthony Andrews Anthony Colin Gerald Andrews (born 12 January 1948) is an English actor. He played Lord Sebastian Flyte in the ITV miniseries ''Brideshead Revisited'' (1981), for which he won Golden Globe and BAFTA television awards, and was nominated for ...

as Lord Hazelwood * Alice Krige as Lady Hazelwood *

Sam Phillips Samuel Cornelius Phillips (January 5, 1923 – July 30, 2003) was an American record producer. He was the founder of Sun Records and Sun Studio in Memphis, Tennessee, where he produced recordings by Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, ...

as Spencer Cavendish *

Daisy Head Daisy May Head (born 7 March 1991) is an English actress. She played Grace in the American drama series '' Guilt'', Amy Stevenson in BBC One's drama '' The Syndicate'', Kate Bottomley in the third season of Hulu series '' Harlots'' and Genya Sa ...

as Amy Stevenson *

Kieran O'Brien Kieran O'Brien (born 1973) is an English actor. Early life and education Born in Oldham, Lancashire, O'Brien grew up in nearby Royton, and was educated at the Bishop Henshaw Roman Catholic Memorial High School in Rochdale. Career O'Brien bega ...

as Andy Stevenson *

Polly Walker Polly Alexandra Walker (born 19 May 1966) is an English actress. She has starred in the films '' Enchanted April'' (1991), '' Patriot Games'' (1992), ''Sliver'' (1993), '' Restoration'' (1995), '' The Gambler'' (1997), and '' Savage Messiah'' ( ...

as DI Lynn Baker * Rob Kendrick as Nick Harrison * Elaine C. Smith as Valerie Hardcastle * Poppy Lee Friar as Mary Campbell

Series 4

Katherine Rose Morley Katherine Rose Morley (born 3 October 1989) is an English actress. She has appeared in '' The Mill'' (2013–2014), ''Thirteen'' (2016), ''Last Tango in Halifax'' (2013–2020), '' Clink'' (2019), and ''The Syndicate'' (2021). Early life Kath ...

as Keeley Sanderson *

Taj Atwal Taj Atwal (born in December 1987) is a British actress from Norwich, who has appeared in ''Stella'', '' In the Club'', ''Line of Duty'', TV drama ''The Syndicate'' and comedy '' Hullraisers''. Biography Atwal was born in Norwich to an Indian f ...

as Roxy Varma * Liberty Hobbs as Gemma Hepworth * Kieran Urquhart as Jake Thackery *

Kym Marsh Kimberley Gail Ratcliff (''née'' Marsh, previously Ryder and Lomas; born 13 June 1976) is an English actress, television presenter and singer. In 2001, she won a place in the band Hear'Say as a result of appearing on the reality television ser ...

as Donna Sanderson *

Ruben Reuter Ruben Reuter (born 28 June 2000) is an English actor, best known for his role as Finn McLaine in '' The Dumping Ground''. Early and personal life Reuter was born in Huddersfield to parents Kim Reuter and Russ Elias. Reuter has Down Syndrome an ...

as Shane Sanderson * Mark Benton as Graham Woods *

Emily Head Emily Head (born 15 December 1988) is an English actress. Her breakout role was as Carli D'Amato in E4's sitcom ''The Inbetweeners'' and she later played Rebecca White in the ITV soap opera ''Emmerdale'' and Colette Andrews in BBC drama, '' ...

as Colette Andrews *

Neil Morrissey Neil Anthony Morrissey (born 4 July 1962) is an English actor. He is known for his role as Tony in '' Men Behaving Badly''. Other notable acting roles include Deputy Head Eddie Lawson in the BBC One school-based drama series '' Waterloo Road'' ...

as Frank Stevenson *

Gaynor Faye Gaynor Kay Mellor (born 26 August 1971), better known as Gaynor Faye, is an English actress and writer, best known for playing Judy Mallett in ''Coronation Street'' from 1995 until 1999 and Megan Macey in ''Emmerdale'' from 2012 until 2019 ...

as Cheryl Armitage * Rita May as Nanna * Joe Sugg as Sam *

Katie McGlynn Katie McGlynn (born 16 July 1993) is an English actress. She is known for her roles as Jodie "Scout" Allen in '' Waterloo Road'' (2011–2013), Sinead Tinker in ''Coronation Street'' (2013–2020), and Becky Quentin in ''Hollyoaks'' (2021–202 ...

as Georgina Clarke

Episodes

Series overview

Series 1 (2012)

In the first series the syndicate consists of workmates in a small local supermarket. It was written by Kay Mellor. Series 1 began on

on 27 March 2012 and consisted of 5 episodes.

Series 2 (2013)

The second series aired in 2013 on BBC One. It revolves around another syndicate in a similar situation. It was written by Kay Mellor. The series looks at a syndicate involving workers at a public hospital in

, Yorkshire. Series 2 began on BBC One on 19 March 2013 and consisted of 6 episodes.

Series 3 (2015)

BBC One renewed ''The Syndicate'' for a third series of six episodes, and the first episode was broadcast on 2 June 2015. This series was filmed in Yorkshire in 2014. The BBC announced the details of the third series of the programme on 21 October 2014. Actor/comedian

stars in the series, which chronicles the lottery win of a staff syndicate at a crumbling stately home. Lynda Bellingham was due to play the role of a solicitor, in a role written especially for her by Kay Mellor, but she died shortly before filming commenced.

Series 4 (2021)

The fourth series began airing on 30 March on BBC One.

American adaptation

On 1 February 2013, it was announced that ABC had ordered a pilot for a US remake. It was renamed '' Lucky 7'' and written by

David Zabel David Breitel Zabel is an American television producer and writer. He has worked extensively on '' ER'', becoming an executive producer and the series' showrunner. He has won a Humanitas Prize for his writing for ''ER''. He was also the showrunne ...

and Jason Richman. ''Lucky 7'' was cancelled on 4 October 2013 after only two episodes were broadcast, due to extremely low ratings.

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Syndicate, The 2012 British television series debuts 2021 British television series endings 2010s British anthology television series 2020s British anthology television series 2010s British drama television series 2020s British drama television series BBC television dramas English-language television shows Scarborough, North Yorkshire Television shows set in Leeds