Harbour Lights (TV series)

Harbour Lights
Genre Drama
Created by Lizzie Mickery
Starring Nick Berry
Tina Hobley
Gerard Horan
Matilda Ziegler
Tim Matthews
Freddie Davies
Emma Pike
Francis Pope
Paola Dionisotti
Louis Mahoney
Liam Tattershall
Country of origin
  • United Kingdom
Original language(s)
  • English
No. of seasons 2
No. of episodes 16 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)
  • Steve Lanning
Producer(s)
Location(s) West Bay, Bridport
Running time 50 minutes
Production company(s)
  • BBC Scotland
Release
Original network
Picture format 4:3
Original release 18 February 1999 – 28 May 2000

Harbour Lights is a British television drama series, broadcast on BBC One, that ran for two series in 1999 and 2000. Starring Nick Berry as protagonist Mike Nicholls, a former Royal Navy officer who returns to his childhood town of Bridehaven to take on the role of harbourmaster.[1] The first series featured on storylines including a blossoming romance with local constable Melanie Rush (Tina Hobley), the ruthless business dealings of Tony Simpson (Gerard Horan), and the inter-family feuding of the Blades — Steve, George, Jason, Kelly and Rita. Both series were predominantly filmed in West Bay near Bridport in Dorset, which acts as the fictional town of Bridehaven. The second series featured much harder-hitting storylines than the first, and was criticized by local residents for portraying West Bay in a bad light.[2]

The complete series was released on Region 4 DVD on March 3, 2011.[3] This is the only commercial release of the series available.[4] The second episode of the first series, "Marie Celeste", was famously said to be 'missing' and was never broadcast on the BBC. It has, however, been shown during repeat screenings of the series on digital television, and is included in the DVD release.[5]

Filming locations

Locations used for filming in the series include;

Cast

Episode list

Series 1 (1999)

No. Title Directed by Written by Ratings (in millions)[6]
Sourced by BARB.		 Original airdate
1"For Those in Peril"Keith BoakLizzie Mickery10.9118 February 1999 (1999-02-18)
After a tragic diving accident claims the life of a close friend, former Royal Navy officer Mike Nicholls returns to the town where he grew up - Bridehaven. He hopes his new job, as harbour master will help him put his past behind him.
2"Marie Celeste"Keith BoakLizzie MickeryTBAUnaired (BBC1) (Unaired (BBC1))
Aunt Nicholls has an affair with a man that sails into Bridehaven every three months. Unfortunately Paddy is already a bigamist with two wives, so fakes his death. An abandoned yacht triggers an investigation by Mike and Melanie.
3"Prince Charming"Tim DowdEdward Canfor-Dumas8.9325 February 1999 (1999-02-25)
A divorced and suicidal holidaymaker arrives in town that seems to be hankering for a Bridehaven that no longer exists. Jane continues with Tony Simpson's bingo hall revamp while Rita takes the blame for her son's drunken antics, despite the fact it could put her behind bars for a long time.
4"Dead Ends"Tim DowdStephen Clarke7.944 March 1999 (1999-03-04)
Mike is alarmed by the behaviour of an ex-chief petty officer and Falklands veteran who descends on Bridehaven with a group of school young sea cadets for training.
5"Baywatch"Gary LoveGil Brailey6.3011 March 1999 (1999-03-11)
A Rastafarian birdwatcher ruffles a few feathers among the twitchers drawn to Bridehaven by the sighting of a rare specimen, while Aunt Nicholls is delighted to find a salsa partner for the local finals. Mike misses a dinner date with Melanie and is shocked to learn she's contemplating a transfer to Hartlepool.
6"Muckraker"Gary LoveDavid Martin7.2318 March 1999 (1999-03-18)
George Blade becomes an eco-warrior when a toxic spillage threatens Tony Simpson's latest land deal. His campaign ensures that the last of the off-season tourists soon desert Bridehaven. Mike's investigation is overshadowed by Steve, Jane and Aunt Nicholls.
7"The Last Supper"Terry BedfordSteve Attridge7.0925 March 1999 (1999-03-25)
Tony is love struck when his estranged wife returns home and becomes heavily involved in the business, the ultimate aim being to fleece him. Mike and Jane are suspicious and join forces to investigate but in the process, find themselves being drawn closer together.
8"Stranded"Terry BedfordStephen Clarke7.181 April 1999 (1999-04-01)
Mike devises a plan to relieve the off-season boredom by encouraging locals to practice life saving skills on an inflatable whale. However, the newfound environmentalists are too busy to notice that Kelly Blade is thinking of leaving home with her unsuitable new boyfriend.
9"Highland Fling"Keith BoakGil Brailey6.328 April 1999 (1999-04-08)
The Blades and locals resort to smuggling when a consignment of vintage Scotch is washed up on the beach, but Tony Simpson is furious about his lost cargo and determines to track it down. Meanwhile, Jane's ex-boyfriend Philip turns up.
10"The Untouchables"Keith BoakLizzie Mickery7.3115 April 1999 (1999-04-15)
Jane and Philip celebrate their engagement with a party for the whole of Bridehaven. Mike believes that he is powerless to intervene, but when an old friend of Jane's revives painful memories for her, she finds herself hesitating. Meanwhile a forlorn Mike contemplates a long trip on his faithful boat and hands over to his deputy.

Series 2 (2000)

No.TitleDirected byWritten byBritish air dateUK viewers
(million)[7]
1"No More Heroes"Colin BuckseySteve Attridge24 April 2000 (2000-04-24)8.95m
Mike returns from his travels to find that half the inhabitants of Bridehaven have left the town due to a group of racketeers who have the place gripped in fear. And they now own the debt Mike owed for the purchase of his boat.
2"Thicker Than Water"Marcus D.F. WhiteGil Brailey26 April 2000 (2000-04-26)8.95m
Mike takes the law into his own hands when Steve is accused of the murder of his wheeler-dealing uncle, Martin. Tensions mount as Mike's jealousy over Melanie's new boss, Nick, threatens to cloud his judgement.
3"A Quiet Storm"Terry BedfordPaul Mari7 May 2000 (2000-05-07)5.92m
Mike and Melanie are thrown together in a siege when they confront escaped convict Harry Badden and his brothers in an isolated cottage. Charlie has a broken arm and his daughter, Mollt, is diabetic and needing insulin injections.
4"The Safe Side"Justin HardyStephen Clarke14 May 2000 (2000-05-14)N/A
Mike falls for a visiting journalist, Sara, but Melanie is uneasy about their fledgling relationship, believing the reporter may be using him to get information for her latest story. Her suspicions are heightened by a series of break-ins. Meanwhile, in a seemingly unconnected incident, a tenant at Tony's caravan site begins an increasingly violent war with him over the provision of facilities. At the same time, a property developer's boat is broken into.
5"Storm Damage"David HaymanAl Hunter Ashton21 May 2000 (2000-05-21)5.52m
Following a storm, an amnesiac Asian woman is found on the beach. While Steve finds himself falling for her, Mike and Melanie begin to search for the answers to who she is and why she was on a wrecked boat. As the answers emerge, they are left with a race against time to find a group of illegal immigrants who have tuberculosis.
6"Rites of Passage"Peter McDonaldAndrew Rattenbury28 May 2000 (2000-05-28)N/A
Mike is thrown into emotional turmoil when the father he has never met returns to Bridehaven. Meanwhile, Tony is supposed to be looking after his nephew and the town's football team, managed by George has reached the local final.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.wdlh.co.uk/tv-programmes/
  2. ↑ http://www.westbay.co.uk/bridehaven/
  3. ↑ http://www.fishpond.com.au/Movies/Harbour-Lights-Gerard-Horan/9397911059991
  4. ↑ http://www.amazon.co.uk/Harbour-Lights-Nick-Berry/dp/B00P6ISCYC
  5. ↑ Smith, Dave (14 May 2005). "Harbour Lights". Episode Guides. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
  6. ↑ "Viewing Data — Top Tens". BARB. Retrieved 6 March 2014.
  7. ↑ http://www.barb.co.uk/
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