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Night and Day (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Night and Day was a British
soap opera
which was produced by Granada Television
for LWT and ran on ITV
from 2001 to 2003.
Its theme-song, "Always & Forever", was sung by Kylie Minogue
.
. However, before the day is over, Jane is missing, and she does not return...
Over the next year, the lives of six families in the street become further intertwined as secrets and lies come out about all involved, and as Jane's disappearance has a devastating effect on all.
The soap was launched as part of ITV's new early evening line-up with enormous pre-publicity and trailers and at first it rated well, even drawing comparisons to shows such as Twin Peaks
. However, as the storylines became more bizarre and complex, it began to rate poorly, only gaining a small, cult
fanbase and was pushed to a later timeslot due to the lack of mainstream interest.
The series combined typical soap opera plots — babies switched at birth
, clandestine affairs — with more unusual ones such as the murders at the catacombs, and an episode in which a mysterious stranger came to the street and stopped the time in order to uncover the truth about the residents, only to eventually erase their memories of events of that alternate reality and turn everything back to normal. The low ratings eventually led ITV to erase the series.
This decision, however, was made far ahead of time, allowing the producers to script an ending to the series. In the last string of episodes, Sam - wandering away from home - found Jane working as a geisha
, with no memory of who she was. He returned her to her family, and her return - coming on the heels of the year anniversary of her disappearance - only served to increase tensions and bring secrets into the open. The final episode, the 80th when counting only the hour-long episodes, focused on revealing some of the secrets behind the characters and Jane being arrested for murder. The episode then flashed to "4 years later" and looked at one day in the very different lives of the residents of Greenwich, as Jane was released from prison and came to discover what had happened since. At the end, Natalie learned that Jane had not been released - but had died in her cell that morning - and her ghost had been the one present. The series closed with a montage of moments from the series to Björk
's All is Full of Love.
The experiment failed after several months, and ITV decided to simply air the one-hour episodes at the later slot.
The first 20-minute teatime episode aired on Tuesday 6 November 2001 at 17:05 on ITV, attracting 2.2million viewers.
On the 27 March 2002, ITV announced it was removing Night and Day from its 17:05 slot the following week. This was in response to the series attracting only a 9% audience share and being beaten in the ratings by BBC Two
's The Weakest Link
and Channel 4
's Richard & Judy
. The series' removal was so sudden that TV listings for the next week still advertised the show. Speaking of the decision to axe the teatime editions Tony Woods, the head of continuing drama at ITV stated "The series has already established itself as cult viewing for young adults and repositioning it with a first showing in the evening will build on its appeal". Clearly others within ITV Network Centre did not agree and episodes aired later and later in the night. At some points in late 2002, episodes aired at 2am. Most episodes also aired later than billed, some almost ten minutes behind the advertised schedule.
The vacant 17:05 slot was filled by repeats of game shows such as Catchphrase, You've Been Framed and Family Fortunes. Eventually, in January 2003 a relaunched version of Crossroads aired in the slot before it too was also cancelled after only a few months on air.
The final 60 minute 'omnibus' episode aired on the 6 June 2003.
The series finished filming on the 17 May 2002 (the day before the British Soap Awards), over a year before the final episode aired on screen.
Teatime episodes averaged 1.4 million viewers. The final episode attracted 500,000 viewers despite airing at 00:30.
In Australia, the show screened on ABC TV
. It was originally aired weeknights at 6pm, leading into the evening news, but the later episodes were predominantly screened very late at night.
'Thornton Street' was in reality King George Street SE10, one of the most historic areas of Greenwich. Other locations in Greenwich included the Cutty Sark, the Old Greenwich Hospital and the park. 'St Vincents Halfway House' was actually in the borough of Tower Hamlets. Interior shots were filmed at the Three Mills Studios in Bow.
Night and Day was nominated for ten awards at the British Soap Awards
2002, beating established rivals such as Hollyoaks
and Emmerdale
. It won one award, 'Hero of the year' (chosen by a panel of judges) for the character of Sam giving up football to look after his orphaned siblings.
Some five weeks before the final episode aired in 2003 many TV guides flagged up the weeks episode as the 'last in series'. Indeed the Radio Times even printed a double page feature about the shows demise after 17 months on air. Quite why this error could have happened is unknown. This led to some fans thinking the series had ended on a knife-edge cliffhanger when in fact the next five weeks tied up all the loose ends to all plots.
In 2006 the Radio Times
ran a small article about the fifth anniversary of Night and Day's premier. The programme was described as being stylish but with little substance.
The series was not released on DVD
or video
. Indeed the sheer number of songs used as background music throughout the series will make a DVD financially impossible as each artist would need to be paid a royalty fee. At the time of the shows final transmission rumors circulated on fan message boards of a clause in the ITV production contract that prevents a repeat of the series until 5 years after initial transmission. This has not been confirmed by ITV or LWT. 2008 passed without the series being repeated.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
which was produced by Granada Television
Granada Television
Granada Television is the ITV contractor for North West England. Based in Manchester since its inception, it is the only surviving original ITA franchisee from 1954 and is ITV's most successful....
for LWT and ran on ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
from 2001 to 2003.
Its theme-song, "Always & Forever", was sung by Kylie Minogue
Kylie Minogue
Kylie Ann Minogue, OBE - often known simply as Kylie - is an Australian singer, recording artist, songwriter, and actress. After beginning her career as a child actress on Australian television, she achieved recognition through her role in the television soap opera Neighbours, before commencing...
.
Synopsis
The series begins on the 16th birthday of best friends Jane Harper and Della Wells, who live in the same street in GreenwichGreenwich
Greenwich is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich.Greenwich is best known for its maritime history and for giving its name to the Greenwich Meridian and Greenwich Mean Time...
. However, before the day is over, Jane is missing, and she does not return...
Over the next year, the lives of six families in the street become further intertwined as secrets and lies come out about all involved, and as Jane's disappearance has a devastating effect on all.
The soap was launched as part of ITV's new early evening line-up with enormous pre-publicity and trailers and at first it rated well, even drawing comparisons to shows such as Twin Peaks
Twin Peaks
Twin Peaks is an American television serial drama created by David Lynch and Mark Frost. The series follows the investigation headed by FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper , of the murder of a popular teenager and homecoming queen, Laura Palmer...
. However, as the storylines became more bizarre and complex, it began to rate poorly, only gaining a small, cult
Cult
The word cult in current popular usage usually refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are considered abnormal or bizarre. The word originally denoted a system of ritual practices...
fanbase and was pushed to a later timeslot due to the lack of mainstream interest.
The series combined typical soap opera plots — babies switched at birth
Babies switched at birth
Babies switched at birth are babies who, because of either error or malfeasance, are interchanged with each other at birth or very soon thereafter, leading to them being unknowingly raised by parents who are not their biological parents...
, clandestine affairs — with more unusual ones such as the murders at the catacombs, and an episode in which a mysterious stranger came to the street and stopped the time in order to uncover the truth about the residents, only to eventually erase their memories of events of that alternate reality and turn everything back to normal. The low ratings eventually led ITV to erase the series.
This decision, however, was made far ahead of time, allowing the producers to script an ending to the series. In the last string of episodes, Sam - wandering away from home - found Jane working as a geisha
Geisha
, Geiko or Geigi are traditional, female Japanese entertainers whose skills include performing various Japanese arts such as classical music and dance.-Terms:...
, with no memory of who she was. He returned her to her family, and her return - coming on the heels of the year anniversary of her disappearance - only served to increase tensions and bring secrets into the open. The final episode, the 80th when counting only the hour-long episodes, focused on revealing some of the secrets behind the characters and Jane being arrested for murder. The episode then flashed to "4 years later" and looked at one day in the very different lives of the residents of Greenwich, as Jane was released from prison and came to discover what had happened since. At the end, Natalie learned that Jane had not been released - but had died in her cell that morning - and her ghost had been the one present. The series closed with a montage of moments from the series to Björk
Björk
Björk Guðmundsdóttir , known as Björk , is an Icelandic singer-songwriter. Her eclectic musical style has achieved popular acknowledgement and popularity within many musical genres, such as rock, jazz, electronic dance music, classical and folk...
's All is Full of Love.
Main
- Jane Harper, played by Georgina WalkerGeorgina Walker-Biography:Georgina Walker was studying for four A-Levels, however later decided to drop out and pursue ambitions of stardom. She was taken on as a model by top London agency Nevs, and one of her first jobs was as a giant cereal box handing out packets of cereal at the Ideal Home Exhibition.After...
. Beautiful, mysterious, bitchy and intimidating, Jane was the golden girl of the neighbourhood, the girl who had everything...or at least that is how it seemed. - Ryan Harper, played by Nick SchofieldNick SchofieldNick Schofield is a British actor and geologist best known for his role as Ryan Harper on Night and Day. During 2001 he played biker boy Liam Collinson in ITV's Girls in Love. Nick stated in a 2002 interview with AXM Magazine that he would like to write a screenplay...
. Jane's older brother is handsome, but insecure. A master manipulator, Ryan has learnt how to use people to his own will, and soon begins retreating back into this as he deals with being part of a broken home. - Dr. Natalie Harper, played by Sally DexterSally DexterSally Julia Dexter , is an English actress of stage and screen.She was educated at Chiltern Edge School, King James's College at Henley-on-Thames, now The Henley College...
. Birth name: Natalie Brake. Jane's mother, a G.P. Despite being very highly-strung and quite secure, Natalie's initial ability to deal with her daughter's disappearance masks her true crumbling nature. - Duncan Harper, played by Tim Wallers. Jane's father, subordinate to Natalie. Unlike Natalie and her friends, Duncan did not grow up in the area and feels increasingly alone as past events come back to haunt others, while he cannot understand what is going on.
- Della Wells, played by Stephanie LeonidasStephanie LeonidasStephanie Leonidas is an English actress of Greek Cypriot descent.- Early life and family :One of four children born to a Greek Cypriot father, Leonidas is not the only thespian in the family — her brother Dimitri Leonidas and sister Georgina Leonidas are also actors, whilst her older sister Helen...
. Jane's best friend, shares her birthday. Della is blossoming into her own woman, but has always lived in the shadow of Jane, and always wanted to better understand her best friend. She has fallen in love with mysterious Josh Alexander who seems just as smitten with her, but her overprotective dad Alex is an obstacle in the way of true love. - Roxanne Doyle, played by Lysette AnthonyLysette AnthonyLysette Anthony is an English film, television, and theatre actress.-Early life:Anthony was born Lysette Chodzko in Fulham, London, the only daughter of actors Michael Anthony, and Bernadette Milnes....
. Natalie's best friend, and Della's mother. Pregnant and prone to irrational outbursts. - Alex Wells, played by Joe McGannJoe McGannJoseph 'Joe' McGann is an English actor. His most well known role is the lead role of Charlie Burrows, the "housekeeper" in the TV comedy series The Upper Hand . He is also known as a television reporter on the BBC's South Today programme, reporting on local events in the south of England...
. Roxanne's partner, he is the father of all her children but her oldest, Dennis. He has a shady past, including the fact that - in the year leading up to her disappearance - he was secretly dating Jane, his daughter's best friend. Overprotective of daughter Della and has many shady secrets he would rather keep to himself. - Dennis Doyle, played by Kevin SacreKevin SacreKevin Sacre is a British actor. He is most famous for his performance as Jake Dean in the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, a role he played from 2002 to 2010.-Early life:...
. Roxanne's eldest son. Has never fully trusted his stepdad, Alex, and is now discovering adulthood. A loser in love after being rejected by bitchy Jane Harper and catty Kate Ellis. - Mike Brake, played by Dominic Rickhards. Natalie's younger brother. As a schoolboy, he fell for his teacher Fiona and - when she fell pregnant - the two got married. This early marriage has masked his true feelings of homosexualityHomosexualityHomosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
, which are only now coming out. - Fiona Brake, played by Glynis BarberGlynis BarberGlynis Barber is a South African actress of Afrikaner descent, born and brought up in South Africa. She was born Glynis van der Riet. When she was five years old, her parents divorced, and she and her mother moved to Johannesburg. She is best known for her portrayal as Sgt...
. Mike's wife. Close to the children of the street given her nature as their schoolteacher. - Rachel Culgrin, played by Lesley JosephLesley JosephLesley D Joseph is an English actress and broadcaster.-Life and career:Joseph was born in Northampton. She is best known for starring in the BBC sitcom Birds of a Feather from 1989–1998, in which she played Dorien Green, the Jewish next-door neighbour of the main characters Sharon and Tracy...
. The street's resident bitch, and a schoolteacher. She makes her feelings known on every subject, particularly the lifestyle of her nephew Sam, and her colleague Fiona. - Sam Armstrong, played by Stuart ManningStuart ManningStuart Bernard Manning is an English actor and model.He is best known for the role of Russ Owen in the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, which he played from 2004 until 2009....
. An up-and-coming soccer player. Sam was Jane's first boyfriend, and the father of her unborn baby, although he wasn't aware of it at the time. Even though they never went all the way, she got pregnant when they were making out and he came too soon. Sam's life, however, changed when his parents were killed and he took in his sister Lucy, brother Ben, and had to deal with the sudden involvement in his life of his Aunt Rachel. Sam also consented to let Dennis move in with him. - Lucy Armstrong, played by Daniella Isaacs. Sam's much younger sister. Her world is the most affected by the death of her parents, and she is struggling to understand the power struggle between Rachel and Sam.
- Charlie Doyle, played by Gareth HuntGareth HuntAlan Leonard Hunt was an English actor, known as Gareth Hunt, best remembered for playing the footman Frederick Norton in Upstairs, Downstairs and Mike Gambit in The New Avengers.-Early life:...
. Roxanne's father, he runs the local pub and is probably the wisest of the neighbourhood. Charlie has been married several times. - Jimmy Hamilton Doyle, played by Joe JacobsJoe Jacobs (actor)Joe Jacobs is an English actor. Jacobs has appeared in The Bill, Holby City and is most famous for his role as PC Billy Jackson in the BBC police drama HolbyBlue....
, Charlie's son by a previous marriage, Jimmy is the same age as Jane and her friends and is a wild child. - Donna Doyle, played by Christianne Gadd. Charlie's current wife, BrazilBrazilBrazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian. - Reverend Stephanie MacKenzie, played by Cathy TysonCathy TysonCatherine "Cathy" Tyson is an English stage, film and television actress.-Early life:The daughter of a Trinidadian barrister father and an English social worker mother, Tyson and her family moved to Liverpool when she was approximately two years old.-Career:Tyson attended the Everyman Youth...
. The new reverend, who moves in to take over the "Halfway House" for less advantaged teens. She has a past with Natalie, Alex and Roxanne. - Tom Brake, played by Adam Paul HarveyAdam Paul Harvey-Early life:Harvey was born in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, the son of Andrea and Gordon Harvey, an engineer. He attended Sir William Ramsay School in Hazlemere, High Wycombe and in 1998 enrolled at JPA School of Drama and Dance, after which he began auditioning.-Career:His first professional...
. Fiona and Mike's son, he has never been successful with girls - even though his best (female) friend is in love with him. He also is interested in film, constantly filming events that occur. - Josh Alexander, played by Seb Castang. A resident of the Halfway House, Josh was seeing Jane, but after her disappearance he develops feelings for Della. Josh is gorgeous, broody and intense. He is rocked by strange visions and tortured by the thought that he might have killed Jane during one of his blackouts. He has slowly fallen in love with Della Wells but pushes her away as he is scared of hurting her.
- Frankie Radcliffe, played by Debbie Korley. Tom's best friend. She has always had a weird attitude to sex, and her feeling that sex is a disgusting will complicate her relationship with Tom.
- Will Radcliffe, played by Sean FrancisSean FrancisSean Francis is an actor, poet and satirical writer who is best known for the book Written Off ...
. Frankie's father, business partner and best friend to Mike. He is a single dad, and is just starting to get back out on the dating scene - but also trying to juggle it with his life as a parent. - Holly Curran, played by Phoebe ThomasPhoebe ThomasPhoebe Thomas is a British actress.Thomas made a name for herself playing Holly Curran on Night and Day from 2001 to 2003. In 2005 she went on to star in the Five soap, Family Affairs, as homeless Jane Hughes...
. One of the most enigmatic residents, Holly lives at the Halfway House and is close with Josh. She regularly speaks her mind in regard to people she does not like. She knows about Jane and Alex's relationship. - Kate Ellis, played by Julia Lee SmithJulia Lee SmithJulia Lee Smith is a British actress who is probably best known for her roles as Kate Ellis in the ITV soap Night and Day and Lucy Day in Family Affairs . In addition to this, however, she has also appeared in a number of other television series, notably The Bill, Sky One's Dream Team and Casualty...
. She is the only person who can match Ryan in a battle of manipulation, but her talent at this also masks her insecurity. A model, she uses her looks to get what she wants and can wrap men around her little finger without any hassle.
Recurring
- Becky and Laura Wells played by Jai Wilson and Keya Wilson. Twin daughters of Alex and Roxanne.
- Eddie 'Woody' Dexter, played by Bradley Walsh. Danny's brother Dennis's uncle. Woody had feelings for Natalie and returns just in time to find her marriage on the rocks.
- Celeste Dexter, played by Phoebe Sweeney. Woody's daughter, who becomes Ryan's girlfriend.
- Francois Jardin, played by Laurie Hagen. Jane's penpal from FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
who arrives in the aftermath, unaware of the tragedy that befell her, and whose letters may hold clues. - Melanie Bradshaw, played by Julie Legrand. A weird nurse whose delivered Jane and Della and is supposed to deliver Roxanne's new baby. Roxanne is terrified of her and suspects that she might be the source of anonymous letters which warn Roxanne her baby is not safe.
- Django Doyle, played by Dan D'Souza. Charlie's son, a singerSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
in SingaporeSingaporeSingapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
who comes to stay unexpectedly and begins to manipulate his father. - Malcolm Burns, played by Paul Kynman. The caretaker of the halfway house and grounds, who disappears some time after Jane. His death is first pronounced a suicide, but it seems more likely that he was murdered.
- Lydia, played by Jenna Boyd. An unattractive parking inspector whom Sam starts to date out of feelings of guilt because of Jane.
- Ben Armstrong, played by Max Anthony Foster. Sam and Lucy's baby brother.
- Aunt Begonia, played by Coralie Rose. Donna's attractive sister, who falls for Jimmy, her nephew-by-marriage.
- Gabriel Huysman, played by Clarke PetersClarke PetersClarke Peters is an American actor, singer, writer and director best known for his role as Detective Lester Freamon on the HBO drama The Wire.-Early life:...
. A mysterious stranger who claims to be a private investigator and who questions the people around Jane. - Danny Dexter, played by Shane RichieShane RichieShane Richie is an English actor, comedian, singer and media personality, known for his portrayal of the character Alfie Moon in the BBC One soap opera EastEnders.-Early life and career beginnings:...
. Dennis's father, who may have been involved in Jane's disappearance. - Inspector Paisley, played by Flip Webster. The woman who takes over on Jane's case.
History
The series aired on ITV, premiering with an unusual format: a re-edited, one-hour episode would be produced each week, which would first air as three thirty-minute episodes in an early slot three nights a week, and then as one "omnibus" episode with more explicit scenes (often just discussion or events that could not be aired in an earlier timeslot) included.The experiment failed after several months, and ITV decided to simply air the one-hour episodes at the later slot.
The first 20-minute teatime episode aired on Tuesday 6 November 2001 at 17:05 on ITV, attracting 2.2million viewers.
On the 27 March 2002, ITV announced it was removing Night and Day from its 17:05 slot the following week. This was in response to the series attracting only a 9% audience share and being beaten in the ratings by BBC Two
BBC Two
BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
's The Weakest Link
The Weakest Link
The Weakest Link is a television game show which first appeared in the United Kingdom on BBC Two on 14 August 2000 and will end its run in 2012 when its host Anne Robinson ends her contract. The original British version of the show airs around the world on BBC Entertainment...
and Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
's Richard & Judy
Richard & Judy
Richard & Judy was a British magazine/chat show which was presented by married couple Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan. It originally aired on Channel 4 from 2001 to 2008 but later moved to digital channel Watch in October 2008. It featured the world's most famous stars, along with their Book Club...
. The series' removal was so sudden that TV listings for the next week still advertised the show. Speaking of the decision to axe the teatime editions Tony Woods, the head of continuing drama at ITV stated "The series has already established itself as cult viewing for young adults and repositioning it with a first showing in the evening will build on its appeal". Clearly others within ITV Network Centre did not agree and episodes aired later and later in the night. At some points in late 2002, episodes aired at 2am. Most episodes also aired later than billed, some almost ten minutes behind the advertised schedule.
The vacant 17:05 slot was filled by repeats of game shows such as Catchphrase, You've Been Framed and Family Fortunes. Eventually, in January 2003 a relaunched version of Crossroads aired in the slot before it too was also cancelled after only a few months on air.
The final 60 minute 'omnibus' episode aired on the 6 June 2003.
The series finished filming on the 17 May 2002 (the day before the British Soap Awards), over a year before the final episode aired on screen.
Teatime episodes averaged 1.4 million viewers. The final episode attracted 500,000 viewers despite airing at 00:30.
In Australia, the show screened on ABC TV
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
. It was originally aired weeknights at 6pm, leading into the evening news, but the later episodes were predominantly screened very late at night.
'Thornton Street' was in reality King George Street SE10, one of the most historic areas of Greenwich. Other locations in Greenwich included the Cutty Sark, the Old Greenwich Hospital and the park. 'St Vincents Halfway House' was actually in the borough of Tower Hamlets. Interior shots were filmed at the Three Mills Studios in Bow.
Night and Day was nominated for ten awards at the British Soap Awards
British Soap Awards
The British Soap Awards is an annual awards ceremony to honour the best of British soap operas.The first event took place in 1999 and takes place in May each year. Although it is an ITV production, the events were held at the BBC Television Centre, in London until 2010. The 2011 awards relocated to...
2002, beating established rivals such as Hollyoaks
Hollyoaks
Hollyoaks is a long-running British television soap opera, first broadcast on Channel 4 on 23 October 1995. It was originally devised by Phil Redmond, who has also devised shows including Brookside and Grange Hill...
and Emmerdale
Emmerdale
Emmerdale, is a long-running British soap opera set in Emmerdale , a fictional village in the Yorkshire Dales. Created by Kevin Laffan, Emmerdale was first broadcast on 16 October 1972...
. It won one award, 'Hero of the year' (chosen by a panel of judges) for the character of Sam giving up football to look after his orphaned siblings.
Some five weeks before the final episode aired in 2003 many TV guides flagged up the weeks episode as the 'last in series'. Indeed the Radio Times even printed a double page feature about the shows demise after 17 months on air. Quite why this error could have happened is unknown. This led to some fans thinking the series had ended on a knife-edge cliffhanger when in fact the next five weeks tied up all the loose ends to all plots.
In 2006 the Radio Times
Radio Times
Radio Times is a UK weekly television and radio programme listings magazine, owned by the BBC. It has been published since 1923 by BBC Magazines, which also provides an on-line listings service under the same title...
ran a small article about the fifth anniversary of Night and Day's premier. The programme was described as being stylish but with little substance.
The series was not released on DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
or video
Video
Video is the technology of electronically capturing, recording, processing, storing, transmitting, and reconstructing a sequence of still images representing scenes in motion.- History :...
. Indeed the sheer number of songs used as background music throughout the series will make a DVD financially impossible as each artist would need to be paid a royalty fee. At the time of the shows final transmission rumors circulated on fan message boards of a clause in the ITV production contract that prevents a repeat of the series until 5 years after initial transmission. This has not been confirmed by ITV or LWT. 2008 passed without the series being repeated.
External links
- Night and Day opening titles on YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....