Series synopsis
Prime Suspect is a British crime drama mystery television series that premiered on ITV1 on April 7, 1991. It ended on October 22, 2006. It stars Helen Mirren, John Bowe, Zoë Wanamaker and Jack Ellis.
Highly skilled Detective Inspector Jane Tennison battles to prove herself in a male dominated world.
Premise
Highly skilled Detective Inspector Jane Tennison battles to prove herself in a male dominated world.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Helen Mirren as Jane Tennison
- John Bowe as George Marlow
- Zoë Wanamaker as Moyra Henson
- Jack Ellis as Tony Muddyman
- Bryan Pringle as Felix Norman
- Tom Wilkinson as Peter Rawlins
- Jay Mohr as Bullock
- John Benfield as Michael Kernan
Supporting cast
- Tom Bell as Bill Otley
- Anthony Daniels as Pathologist
- Ciarán Hinds as Edward Parker-Jones
- George Harris as Vernon Allen
- Stephen Tompkinson as Sean Philips
- Phoebe Nicholls as Shaw
- Lesley Sharp as Anne Sutherland
- Tim Woodward as George Marlow
- David Thewlis as James Jackson
- Finlay Robertson as Waterloo Vagrant
- Colin Salmon as Robert Oswalde
- Peter Dennis as Toastmaster
Guest cast
- John Benfield as Michael Kernan
- Tom Bell as Bill Otley
- Anthony Daniels as Pathologist
- Ciarán Hinds as Edward Parker-Jones
- George Harris as Vernon Allen
- Stephen Tompkinson as Sean Philips
- Phoebe Nicholls as Shaw
- Lesley Sharp as Anne Sutherland
- Tim Woodward as George Marlow
- David Thewlis as James Jackson
- Finlay Robertson as Waterloo Vagrant
- Colin Salmon as Robert Oswalde
Episodes
This series spans 8 seasons with 16 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 0 | 1 | August 27, 2006 | August 27, 2006 |
| Season 1 | 2 | April 7, 1991 | April 8, 1991 |
| Season 2 | 2 | December 15, 1992 | December 16, 1992 |
| Season 3 | 2 | December 19, 1993 | December 20, 1993 |
| Season 4 | 3 | April 30, 1995 | May 15, 1995 |
| Season 5 | 2 | October 20, 1996 | October 21, 1996 |
| Season 6 | 2 | November 9, 2003 | November 10, 2003 |
| Season 7 | 2 | October 15, 2006 | October 22, 2006 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Behind the Scenes The making of Prime Suspect combines unseen footage with exclusive case and crew interviews, revealing all about this groundbreaking series and uncovering the truth behind the fiction. |
August 27, 2006 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Price to Pay (1) DCI Shefford dies suddenly whilst investigating a murder case. Jane Tennison is given the opportunity to take over the investigation which involves the brutal murder of a young girl. The girl's body has been badly mutilated and her hands have been tied behind her back. Jane suspects that it is the work of George Marlow. Jane also has to win the respect and approval of her male colleagues. |
April 7, 1991 |
| 2 |
Price to Pay (2) The investigation continues. |
April 8, 1991 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Operation Nadine (1) The body of a teenage girl is found and the investigation leads Jane into a community who distrust the police. Jane has recently had an affair with DS Bob Oswalde and he is assigned to the case. David Harvey confesses to the murder but neither Jane or Bob believe him. Bob is convinced that it is really the girl's young neighbour Tony Allen. Together they are able to discover who the real murderer is. |
December 15, 1992 |
| 2 |
Operation Nadine (2) The investigation continues... |
December 16, 1992 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Keeper of Souls (1) Transferred to a new station with the new job of 'cleaning up the streets' of Soho, DCI Jane Tennison and her new team become involved in the seedy underworld of vice involving rent boys and transvestites, pornography and sickening abuse. |
December 19, 1993 |
| 2 |
The Keeper of Souls (2) A local photographer is questioned after being caught destroying evidence linking him with the victim, and further searches of his studio reveal some shocking video evidence. |
December 20, 1993 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Lost Child Following her promotion, Jane Tennison returns to Southampton Row to head an investigation into the murder of a young child. |
April 30, 1995 |
| 2 |
Inner Circles DS Tennison travels to a residential commuter suburb to investigate a murder which has been staged to look like suicide. |
May 7, 1995 |
| 3 |
The Scent of Darkness Detective Superintendent Jane Tennison finds her private and professional life in tatters when a series of murders lead to her old adversary, George Marlow. |
May 15, 1995 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Errors of Judgement (1) Jane Tennison has been transferred from the Met to Manchester and a drug runner is shot dead returning to his apartment and Tennison finds she is hot on the case. |
October 20, 1996 |
| 2 |
Errors of Judgement (2) Tennison's error of judgement has cost a young boy his life. She must use all her ingenuity to trap the man she believes is responsible. |
October 21, 1996 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Last Witness (1) Detective Superintendent Jane Tennison has a new case when a woman who is found to be an illegal Bosnian refugee is found dead. |
November 9, 2003 |
| 2 |
The Last Witness (2) Tennison travels to Bosnia where she makes a breakthrough, only to find her suspect is protected by the UK government. |
November 10, 2003 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Final Act (1) Tony and Ruth Sturdy's 14 year old daughter Sallie is missing. Due to retire, this could be Tennison's last case: but she has more than this to contend with. Her father is seriously ill and she has turned to alcohol. |
October 15, 2006 |
| 2 |
The Final Act (2) Curtis Flynn flees the scene of his brutal encounter with Tennison. As the end draws near the truth surrounding the death of Sallie finally emerges and the hunt for the killer ends in a shattering confrontation. |
October 22, 2006 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | ITV1 |
|---|---|
| First aired | April 7, 1991 |
| Last aired | October 22, 2006 |
| Status | ended |
| Schedule | Sunday at 21:00:00 |