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Whitechapel (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Whitechapel is a three-part British television drama series
produced by Carnival Films
, which first broadcast in the UK on 2 February 2009 and which dealt with the murders of Jack the Ripper
.
A second series was commissioned by ITV
in September 2009 with the focus on the Kray Twins
. The first episode of this second series was broadcast on 11 October 2010.
A third series was commissioned by ITV
in March 2011, now extended to six episodes as three two-part stories.
The first and second series were cablecast in the United States on six consecutive Wednesday evenings beginning October 26, 2011 on the BBC America
cable network.
murders, but rather focusing on the three main characters at the heart of the story and the black humour that binds the team together."
said that it was "Life on Mars
, without the time-travel" adding "what Whitechapel lacked in originality, it more than made up for with atmosphere and enthusiasm."
After the second episode aired on 9 February, Andrew Billen in The Times
said that he had warmed to it more and more, adding, "slowly, the show is making Ripperologists of us all, as Jack's 'canonical' murders are separated from the ones he actually committed. It is all in the worst possible taste and bloody good fun."
was commissioned for a 3rd season, in March 2011. Unlike the previous two season, which were all based on a single event, the new season shall be split into 3 separate 2-part stories. The new series shall remain in its ITV1 spot. The new 6 episode series shall be aired in 2012. Rupert Penry-Jones
, Phil Davis
and Steve Pemberton
shall take up their rolls once again, in this hit TV series. It has still not be released which historical figures shall be copied in the latest series.
Dramatic programming
Dramatic programming in the UK, or television drama and television drama series in the US, is television program content that is scripted and fictional along the lines of √a traditional drama. This excludes, for example, sports television, television news, reality show and game shows, stand-up...
produced by Carnival Films
Carnival Films
Carnival Films is a British television production company, founded by Brian Eastman in 1978 as Picture Partnership Productions Limited and run by Gareth Neame since 2005. The company swiftly built up a strong reputation as an independent production company of theatre, film and television drama...
, which first broadcast in the UK on 2 February 2009 and which dealt with the murders of Jack the Ripper
Jack the Ripper
"Jack the Ripper" is the best-known name given to an unidentified serial killer who was active in the largely impoverished areas in and around the Whitechapel district of London in 1888. The name originated in a letter, written by someone claiming to be the murderer, that was disseminated in the...
.
A second series was commissioned by 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...
in September 2009 with the focus on the Kray Twins
Kray twins
Reginald "Reggie" Kray and his twin brother Ronald "Ronnie" Kray were the foremost perpetrators of organised crime in London's East End during the 1950s and 1960s...
. The first episode of this second series was broadcast on 11 October 2010.
A third series was commissioned by 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...
in March 2011, now extended to six episodes as three two-part stories.
The first and second series were cablecast in the United States on six consecutive Wednesday evenings beginning October 26, 2011 on the BBC America
BBC America
BBC America is an American television network, owned and operated by BBC Worldwide, and available on both cable and satellite.-History:The channel launched on March 29, 1998, broadcasting comedy, drama and lifestyle programs from BBC Television and other British television broadcasters like ITV and...
cable network.
Production
The mini-series was written by Ben Court and Caroline Ip. ITV Director of Drama Laura Mackie said "Whitechapel is a very modern take on the detective genre which combines the Victorian intrigue of the original case with the atmospheric backdrop of a contemporary East End of London. This is not simply about bloodthirstily recreating the RipperJack the Ripper
"Jack the Ripper" is the best-known name given to an unidentified serial killer who was active in the largely impoverished areas in and around the Whitechapel district of London in 1888. The name originated in a letter, written by someone claiming to be the murderer, that was disseminated in the...
murders, but rather focusing on the three main characters at the heart of the story and the black humour that binds the team together."
Reception
Whitechapel debuted on 2 February 2009 at 9 pm with 8.13 million viewers on the overnight ratings. A review in the Leicester MercuryLeicester Mercury
The Leicester Mercury is a British regional newspaper, owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust, for the city of Leicester and the counties of Leicestershire and Rutland...
said that it was "Life on Mars
Life on Mars (TV series)
Life on Mars is a British television series broadcast on BBC One between January 2006 and April 2007. The series combines elements of science fiction and police procedural....
, without the time-travel" adding "what Whitechapel lacked in originality, it more than made up for with atmosphere and enthusiasm."
After the second episode aired on 9 February, Andrew Billen in The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
said that he had warmed to it more and more, adding, "slowly, the show is making Ripperologists of us all, as Jack's 'canonical' murders are separated from the ones he actually committed. It is all in the worst possible taste and bloody good fun."
Series 1 (2009)
- Rupert Penry-JonesRupert Penry-JonesRupert William Penry-Jones is an English actor, best known for his role as Adam Carter in the British television series Spooks, also broadcast under the title MI-5.-Family life:Penry-Jones was born in London on September 22, 1970...
as DI Joseph Chandler. A fast-track media conscious Detective Inspector who is involved in his first big murder case. - Phil Davis as DS Ray Miles. A veteran police officer nearing retirement.
- Steve PembertonSteve PembertonSteve James Pemberton is an English actor, comedian, writer and performer, most famous as a member of The League of Gentlemen along with fellow performers Reece Shearsmith, Mark Gatiss and co-writer Jeremy Dyson.-Early life:...
as Edward Buchan. A Ripperologist and an expert on the times and crimes of Jack the Ripper. - Christopher FulfordChristopher FulfordChristopher Fulford is a British actor who is best known for his supporting roles in many British TV shows.In his early career he often appeared in British crime dramas. He was guest star of both the ITV crime series Inspector Morse, in Driven to Destruction and as a killer in the early A Touch...
as DC Fitzgerald. DS Miles' right-hand man - Johnny HarrisJohnny Harris (actor)Johnny Harris is an English actor.Harris was born in Lambeth, London. He left school with no qualifications. He won the Junior ABA National Boxing title aged 16, and lived in Paris, France between the ages of 17 and 20 before returning to London and embarking on an acting career.Upon completion of...
as DC Sanders. Another member of Miles' team. - Sam StockmanSam StockmanSam Stockman is a British actor whose most notable role was Lewis Davenport in British Soap Opera Family Affairs from 2002 to 2004....
as DC Kent. The youngest member of the team, and the only one who immediately welcomes Chandler onto the team - George RossiGeorge RossiGeorge Rossi is a Scottish actor, best known for playing Detective Constable Duncan Lennox in The Bill from 1998 to 2003. Rossi is of Italian descent, his mother originates from Valvori, a frazione of Vallerotonda in Lazio, Italy.He worked alongside his brother Peter in the family ice-cream van...
as DC McCormack. The fourth member of Miles' team. - Alex JenningsAlex JenningsAlex Jennings is an English actor whose roles have included Charles, Prince of Wales in The Queen .-Early years:...
as Commander Anderson. DI Chandler's boss. - Claire RushbrookClaire RushbrookClaire Rushbrook is an English film and television actress best known for her lead and support roles in various episodic television series.-Background:...
as Dr Llewellyn. The team pathologist. - Paul Hickey as Dr David Cohen. A doctor at the local hospital.
- Sally Leonard as Frances Coles. One of the intended murder victims.
- Simon Tcherniak as Dr George Phillips. Frances' boyfriend.
- Branko TomovićBranko TomovicBranko Tomović is an European actor.He was born in Münster, Germany, though his actual origin is from the Carpathians in Serbia...
as Antoni Pricha. One of the main suspects in the new Jack the Ripper case - Sophie StantonSophie StantonSophie Stanton is an actress and playwright. She is known for her role as Detective Chief Inspector Jill Marsden in the television series EastEnders , Rose in 'Dressing For Breakfast' and as Dilly in The Wilsons...
as Mary Bousefield. A police officer and victim of the new Ripper - Jane Riley as Sarah Smith. A key witness in the enquiry
- Ben Loyd-Holmes PrivatePrivate (rank)A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
John Leary. The first suspect in the Ripper case.
| Episode | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original airdate | Viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Series 2 (2010)
- Rupert Penry-JonesRupert Penry-JonesRupert William Penry-Jones is an English actor, best known for his role as Adam Carter in the British television series Spooks, also broadcast under the title MI-5.-Family life:Penry-Jones was born in London on September 22, 1970...
as DI Joseph Chandler - Phil Davis as DS Ray Miles
- Steve PembertonSteve PembertonSteve James Pemberton is an English actor, comedian, writer and performer, most famous as a member of The League of Gentlemen along with fellow performers Reece Shearsmith, Mark Gatiss and co-writer Jeremy Dyson.-Early life:...
as Edward Buchan - Sam StockmanSam StockmanSam Stockman is a British actor whose most notable role was Lewis Davenport in British Soap Opera Family Affairs from 2002 to 2004....
as DC Kent - George RossiGeorge RossiGeorge Rossi is a Scottish actor, best known for playing Detective Constable Duncan Lennox in The Bill from 1998 to 2003. Rossi is of Italian descent, his mother originates from Valvori, a frazione of Vallerotonda in Lazio, Italy.He worked alongside his brother Peter in the family ice-cream van...
as DC McCormack - Ben Bishop as DC Mansell A new addition to the team.
- Christopher FulfordChristopher FulfordChristopher Fulford is a British actor who is best known for his supporting roles in many British TV shows.In his early career he often appeared in British crime dramas. He was guest star of both the ITV crime series Inspector Morse, in Driven to Destruction and as a killer in the early A Touch...
as PC Fitzgerald Demoted to uniform after leaking case details to the press in Series 1. - Peter SerafinowiczPeter SerafinowiczPeter Szymon Serafinowicz is an English actor, comedian, writer, composer, voice artist and occasional director.-Early life:Serafinowicz was born in Liverpool, England. He attended Our Lady of the Assumption Roman Catholic Primary School and St Francis Xavier Secondary School...
as DCI Cazenove Head of the Organised Crime Division. - Alex JenningsAlex JenningsAlex Jennings is an English actor whose roles have included Charles, Prince of Wales in The Queen .-Early years:...
as Commander Anderson - Claire RushbrookClaire RushbrookClaire Rushbrook is an English film and television actress best known for her lead and support roles in various episodic television series.-Background:...
as Dr Llewellyn - Craig ParkinsonCraig ParkinsonCraig Parkinson is a British actor known for playing the twins Jimmy and Johnny Kray in the 2010 ITV drama Whitechapel.Parkinson first came to notice with his portrayal of English music mogul Tony Wilson in director Anton Corbijn's film Control .His film and television appearances include People...
as Jimmy and Johnny Kray - Chrissie Cotterill as Angie Brooks Mother of the Kray twins.
- Andrew TiernanAndrew TiernanAndrew James Tiernan is an English actor.-Theatre:Tiernan began acting with the Birmingham Youth Theatre and moved to London in 1984 to study a three-year Diploma in Acting at the Drama Centre London run by Christopher Fettes and Yat Malmgren...
as Steven Dukes A local gangster.
| Episode | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original airdate | Viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Series 3 (2012)
WhitechapelWhitechapel
Whitechapel is a built-up inner city district in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, London, England. It is located east of Charing Cross and roughly bounded by the Bishopsgate thoroughfare on the west, Fashion Street on the north, Brady Street and Cavell Street on the east and The Highway on the...
was commissioned for a 3rd season, in March 2011. Unlike the previous two season, which were all based on a single event, the new season shall be split into 3 separate 2-part stories. The new series shall remain in its ITV1 spot. The new 6 episode series shall be aired in 2012. Rupert Penry-Jones
Rupert Penry-Jones
Rupert William Penry-Jones is an English actor, best known for his role as Adam Carter in the British television series Spooks, also broadcast under the title MI-5.-Family life:Penry-Jones was born in London on September 22, 1970...
, Phil Davis
Phil Davis
Philip Davis is an English film actor, writer and director who has appeared in many films and television series. He has written and directed various dramas during his career.-Personal life:...
and Steve Pemberton
Steve Pemberton
Steve James Pemberton is an English actor, comedian, writer and performer, most famous as a member of The League of Gentlemen along with fellow performers Reece Shearsmith, Mark Gatiss and co-writer Jeremy Dyson.-Early life:...
shall take up their rolls once again, in this hit TV series. It has still not be released which historical figures shall be copied in the latest series.