Series synopsis
The Bletchley Circle is a British drama mystery crime television series that premiered on ITV1 on September 6, 2012. It ended on January 27, 2014. It was created by Guy Burt. It stars Rachael Stirling, Julie Graham, Sophie Rundle and Anna Maxwell Martin.
The Bletchley Circle follows the journey of four ordinary women with extraordinary skills that helped to end World War II. Set in 1952, Susan, Millie, Lucy and Jean have returned to their normal lives, modestly setting aside the part they played in producing crucial intelligence, which helped the Allies to victory and shortened the war. When Susan discovers a hidden code behind an unsolved murder she is met by skepticism from the police. She quickly realises she can only begin to crack the murde ...
Premise
The Bletchley Circle follows the journey of four ordinary women with extraordinary skills that helped to end World War II. Set in 1952, Susan, Millie, Lucy and Jean have returned to their normal lives, modestly setting aside the part they played in producing crucial intelligence, which helped the Allies to victory and shortened the war. When Susan discovers a hidden code behind an unsolved murder she is met by skepticism from the police. She quickly realises she can only begin to crack the murders and bring the culprit to justice with her former friends. The Bletchley Circle paints a vivid portrait of post-war Britain in this fictional tale of unsung heroes.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Rachael Stirling as Millie
- Julie Graham as Jean
- Sophie Rundle as Lucy
- Anna Maxwell Martin as Susan
- Nick Blood as Ben Gladstone
- Ed Birch as Harry
- Michael Gould as Deputy Commissioner Wainwright
- Mark Dexter as Timothy
Supporting cast
- Elliot Kerley as Sam
- Jocelyn Macnab as Claire
- Steven Robertson as Crowley
- Hattie Morahan as Alice
- Faye Marsay as Lizzie
Guest cast
- Alexander Perkins as Policeman
- Simon Chandler as Solicitor
- Paul Ritter as Masters
- Tim Pigott-Smith as Colonel
- Simon Darwen as Official
- Matthew Cullum as Constable Barry
- John Lightbody as Sergeant George
- Claire Rafferty as Emily Dixon
- Thomasin Rand as Mary
- James Bowers as Cafe Owner
- Kieran Bew as Clerk on Train
- Joanna Brookes as Mrs. Cross
Episodes
This series spans 3 seasons with 8 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 0 | 1 | ||
| Season 1 | 3 | September 6, 2012 | September 20, 2012 |
| Season 2 | 4 | January 6, 2014 | January 27, 2014 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Behind the Scenes |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Cracking a Killer's Code (1) When Susan Gray spots a hidden pattern in a series of murders, she tries to inform the police. But when they and her husband insist she forget her theory Susan enlists her wartime friends to try and track down the murderer. |
September 6, 2012 |
| 2 |
Cracking a Killer's Code (2) As Susan and the other Bletchley women close in on the murderer of the five girls, a shocking discovery calls their theories into question and forces them to set a dangerous trap - a trap that puts one of them in even greater danger. |
September 13, 2012 |
| 3 |
Cracking a Killer's Code (3) Thrown into a chilling confrontation with the murderer they have so brilliantly tracked down, Susan and the other Bletchley women become locked into a ever more dangerous game of cat and mouse that leads to a seemingly inescapable conclusion. |
September 20, 2012 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Blood on Their Hands (1) Former Bletchley Park worker Alice Merren is in prison awaiting trial for the murder of the eminent scientist John Richards. Driven by her belief in Alice's innocence and that she is hiding the truth about John's death, Jean attempts to regroup the circle in order to help establish the innocence of one of their own. |
January 6, 2014 |
| 2 |
Blood on Their Hands (2) Following the discovery of Lizzie Lancaster's true identity, the women face a race against time to prove Alice's innocence and save her from the hangman's noose. However, subsequent investigations lead to the discovery of a much darker military conspiracy. |
January 13, 2014 |
| 3 |
Uncustomed Goods (1) Spirited Millie is earning a bit of money selling odds and ends on the black market. But Millie stumbles across a seam of post-Second World War unwholesomeness when she annoys some very dangerous people and gets into trouble. Soon, the other Bletchley girls must rally to her aid. |
January 20, 2014 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | ITV1 |
|---|---|
| First aired | September 6, 2012 |
| Last aired | January 27, 2014 |
| Runtime | 45 minutes |
| Status | ended |