Series synopsis
Where the Heart Is is a British drama television series that premiered on ITV1 on April 6, 1997. It ended on September 10, 2006. It was created by Ashley Pharoah, Vicky Featherstone. It stars Pam Ferris, Sarah Lancashire, Lesley Dunlop and Christian Cooke.
In the small, fictional Yorkshire town of Skelthwaite is an engaging story of life, love, family and people’s ever-changing fortunes in rural England. Set against the rugged landscape of Yorkshire, it follows the busy professional and family lives of District Nurses, as they bring nursing and emotional care to young and old alike. The first four series concentrates on the lives of district health nurses Peggy Snow and Ruth Goddard. The story expands to focus on the lives of more Skelthwhaite res ...
Premise
In the small, fictional Yorkshire town of Skelthwaite is an engaging story of life, love, family and people’s ever-changing fortunes in rural England. Set against the rugged landscape of Yorkshire, it follows the busy professional and family lives of District Nurses, as they bring nursing and emotional care to young and old alike. The first four series concentrates on the lives of district health nurses Peggy Snow and Ruth Goddard. The story expands to focus on the lives of more Skelthwhaite residents, particularly those related to the nurses as well as those employed in a local toilet tissue factory.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Pam Ferris as Peggy Snow
- Sarah Lancashire as Ruth Goddard
- Lesley Dunlop as Anna Kirkwall
- Christian Cooke as Luke Kirkwall
- Philip Middlemiss as David Buckley
- William Travis as Dick Lampard
- Thomas Craig as Simon Goddard
- Tony Haygarth as Vic Snow
Supporting cast
- Kelly Wenham as Jess Buckley
- Leslie Ash as Karen Buckley
- Danny Seward as Joe Beresford
- Andrew Paul as Billy Boothe
- Adam Paul Harvey as Nathan Boothe
- Jason Done as Stephen Snow
- Vincenzo Pellegrino as Chris Eckersley
- Katy Clayton as Samantha Boothe
- Kerrie Taylor as Beth Enright
- Andrew Knott as Henry Green
- Jessica Baglow as Lucy Snow
- Simon Ashley as Terry
Guest cast
- Katy Clayton as Samantha Boothe
- Kerrie Taylor as Beth Enright
- Andrew Knott as Henry Green
- Jessica Baglow as Lucy Snow
- Simon Ashley as Terry
- Julian Lewis Jones as Tom Beresford
- Kathryn Hunt as Cheryl Lampard
- Joseph Aston as Oscar Lampard
- Maggie Wells as Patricia Illingworth
- Samantha Giles as Sally Boothe
- Brian Capron as Ozias Harding
- Holliday Grainger as Megan Boothe
Episodes
This series spans 10 seasons with 110 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 6 | April 6, 1997 | May 11, 1997 |
| Season 2 | 10 | April 19, 1998 | July 5, 1998 |
| Season 3 | 14 | April 18, 1999 | July 25, 1999 |
| Season 4 | 16 | April 30, 2000 | September 3, 2000 |
| Season 5 | 16 | April 21, 2001 | August 12, 2001 |
| Season 6 | 12 | April 21, 2002 | July 7, 2002 |
| Season 7 | 9 | July 6, 2003 | December 23, 2003 |
| Season 8 | 8 | July 11, 2004 | August 29, 2004 |
| Season 9 | 10 | June 25, 2005 | August 28, 2005 |
| Season 10 | 9 | July 15, 2006 | September 10, 2006 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Skelthwaite West Yorkshire district nurse Peggy Snow decides to help a patient in severe pain and ends up being accused of murder. Meanwhile, her brother Simon and sister-in-law Ruth are about to welcome their baby. |
April 6, 1997 |
| 2 |
Things Fall Apart Peggy sets about investigating a small boy's behavioural problems. |
April 13, 1997 |
| 3 |
Summoned by Bells A seemingly-trivial incident at a nursing home turns into a nightmare for Ruth. |
April 20, 1997 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Final Curtain After a serious accident at Goddard's, Peggy and Ruth have divided loyalties. Meanwhile, the landlord of the Skelthwaite Arms dies and revelations follow, shocking his widow and daughter. |
April 19, 1998 |
| 2 |
The Healing Game Peggy and Ruth are barely on speaking terms, Simon becomes increasingly isolated, and the new landlord of the Skelthwaite Arms falls out with The Scorpians. |
April 26, 1998 |
| 3 |
Fresh A new nurse's fresh approach threatens Peggy and Ruth's ways. When a life-threatening emergency occurs, the transfer has some hard lessons to learn. |
May 3, 1998 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Expansions Cheryl drops a bombshell and Simon is suprised by Ruth. |
April 18, 1999 |
| 2 |
Learning the Game Michael's future as a proffessional athlete is jeopardised after Vic takles him in a game. Alison and Stephan stay out all night while a business plan is prepared by Simon. |
April 25, 1999 |
| 3 |
Flesh & Blood Two brothers who have spent the best part of their lives fighting finally reconcile after one of them suffers a stroke. Simon and Ruth have devastating news. |
May 2, 1999 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Breaking the Ice Nurse Anna Kirkwall is late on her first day. Simon tries to pursuade Ruth to come home from Australia with Alfie. Jakes christening plans are well under way. |
April 30, 2000 |
| 2 |
No Regrets A young women is under strain from family life. Ruth refuses to return to Skelthwaite and a new male nurse arrives. |
May 7, 2000 |
| 3 |
The Dead Zone The nurses of Skelthwaite become stranded on the moors putting to test their survival skills. Some long-awaited news arrives for Dick and Cheryl. |
May 14, 2000 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Happiness Some disturbing news arrives for Vic. A perfect family struggle to come to turns with a troubled past leading to help comng from Anna and Karen. Karen turns 40. |
April 22, 2001 |
| 2 |
Runaways Jess dissappears leaving Karen and David worried. Stephan gets an offer from a former girlfriend that could drastically change his life and an elderly patients wife is put into care. |
April 29, 2001 |
| 3 |
Sanctuary Jess gets a job while Stephan gets a new one. Karen visits a rather odd house. |
May 6, 2001 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
No Turning Back Simon has a surprise for Anna, and a new family sets tongues wagging in town. |
April 21, 2002 |
| 2 |
Relative Strangers Karen and Beth reunite an estranged family when a baby girl goes missing, Vic makes a shocking announcement. |
April 28, 2002 |
| 3 |
Happy Returns The Buckleys face a family crisis, and an old flame of David's threatens to cause trouble. |
May 5, 2002 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
My Way A new family arrives in Skelthwaite, putting Anna's nose out of joint. David is shocked when Karen is contacted by someone from the past. |
July 6, 2003 |
| 2 |
The Games We Play Karen's happiness at finding her son begins to fade when she discovers his dark secret. |
July 13, 2003 |
| 3 |
The Need of You Karen follows her runaway son to London. Alan enters the men into a talent contest. |
July 20, 2003 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Bowl of Cherries Nathan decides to give up uni studies to become an artist instead, and Beth worries that Tom prefers being at the factory than spending time with her. Kate decides to marry her boyfriend. |
July 11, 2004 |
| 2 |
Stormy Weather Tom convinces Anna to go after a new investor for the factory. An elderly patient takes a liking to Beth as she reminds her of her dead sister. |
July 18, 2004 |
| 3 |
Moon River Ozias has Alan fired from the factory, and Luke's first match with the Scorpions has tragic consequences. |
July 25, 2004 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Care Anna and David tie the knot. After losing his sister in a fatal car crash, Goddard's employee Danny struggles to look after his niece if it means he has to change his lifestyle. |
June 26, 2005 |
| 2 |
When All This Is Over Danny struggles in his role as a parent. Ozias hires his military coach to train the Scorpions. Luke and Megan discover some shocking news. |
July 3, 2005 |
| 3 |
Stamp of Approval Billy, Joe, David and Danny all go searching for Harding's deputy. Luke and Megan can't decide whom to tell about their pregnancy. New nurse Kim Blakeney arrives at Skelthwaite. |
July 10, 2005 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
R.S.V.P. Anna and Kim welcome a new edition to the team, trainee nurse Zoe. Billy plots a revenge prank on a rival rugby team. |
July 16, 2006 |
| 2 |
Greater Love Anna's judgement is called into question. Zoe makes a shock discovery. Ozias is concerned to find an old adversary has business in Skelthwaite. |
July 23, 2006 |
| 3 |
Home Grown The factory loses an important contract. After twenty years, Mark and Marla return to Skelthwaite. His deteriorating health affects his marriage and his relationship with a former friend. |
July 30, 2006 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | ITV1 |
|---|---|
| First aired | April 6, 1997 |
| Last aired | September 10, 2006 |
| Runtime | 60 minutes |
| Status | ended |
| Schedule | Sunday |