New Tricks

There seems to be quite a lot of discontent behind the scenes on New Tricks. Widely reported & this is the account I first read: www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-19331320
I tend to agree it has become a tad mundane in terms of characterisation, but that seems to happen in most long-running series. Perhaps it is time to pull the plug.
A little interesting fact: James Bolam's wife, Susan Jameson, plays Brian's wife in the series

I wonder if Laurence Fox will be given his own series of 'Hathaway' when Kevin Whately retires from 'Lewis'.

Maybe it'll be like Doctor Who - complete changes of cast, but the premise remains and the stories go on.

Surely if three quarters of the main characters are leaving, it would be sensible for the BBC to quit while they're ahead.

And the actor who plays Brian (Alun Armstrong) is only doing one more series.

Nooooooo!

Amanda Redman is leaving after this series.

Really good show ast night I went straight to sleep!

Oh I like Denis Lawson.........loved his character in Bleak House.

The Likely Lads brings up such a feeling of nostalgia for the way we were in those days.

I haven't watched New Tricks yet but have it recorded for this evening. Sorry James Bolam is going out but it would be even worse if it was one of the other three (in my opinion).

I missed the first ten minutes and found it hard to follow the plot. The affection between the whole team has been handled very well.
I still get a shock when I see how old James Bolam is - I still think of him in The Likely Lads. Then I look in the mirror.................

I have watched New Tricks from the very beginning and obviously thoroughly enjoyed it. I loved watching how the characters have developed and their interaction with each other. I was with Brian during his dark days of alcholism and Jacks struggles with the gang who killed his wife in a hit run incident, Terry's involvement with his ex wives and Sandra's problems with her mother. They have all played great parts. I will miss Jack Halford and I thought that his leavings scenes with Brian were very moving and sensitively handled. Good luck James Bolam and enjoy your time in Southwold!!!

Denis Lawson is a very good actor. He was the Mr Fixit in Local Hero and, strangely, a starfighter pilot in the original Star Wars films! The latter didn't involve much acting really. If anyone has to replace James Bolam, it might as well be Denis Lawson.

Oh Him - he might do, possibly, maybe.

We are still getting old repeats here - presumably we'll get the new ones later. Dennis Lawson is the replacement.
www.digitalspy.com.au/british-tv/news/a359611/denis-lawson-replaces-james-bolam-on-new-tricks.html

Can`t remember the name of the actor who`s replacing James Bolam, but he used to be in Holby City, he`s Scottish, not over tall, and Ewan McGregor is his nephew. Won`t be as good as lovely James Bolam though, I love New Tricks, hope the change doesn`t spoil it.

Ah....thanks, Ella! Other 'arf just cottoned on when I read your reply to him!

He's going to the Ardeche where he and Mary were happy, so he's going to be with her ghost, as it were.

Just asked OH - he reckons Mary's ashes, in an urn, were buried under the slabs in Jack's garden, so presumably he's dug that up and is taking it with him to the hospice.

Marelli I think it was a reporter, he was leaking the story about the pension fund.

If he's spending his last days with Mary, does this mean he's digging her up?

Why should anything have happened to her, merlot?

What's happened to poor Mary. Is she still buried beneath the shrine in Jack's garden? Don't think I'd want to buy that house.

It was 'Darling', Ella! Very good, wasn't it? What was it that Jack handed to the man in the pub, though?

Yes Ella and very sinister he was too