Murphy's Law (TV series)

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Murphy's Law
Genre	BBC television drama
Created by	Colin Bateman
Written by	Colin Bateman Allan Cubitt Russell Lewis et al.
Directed by	Brian Kirk Colm McCarthy et al.
Starring	James Nesbitt et al.
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Language(s)	English
No. of seasons	5 (plus Pilot)
No. of episodes	23
Production
Executive producer(s)	Greg Brenman Robert Cooper (Pilot) Carol-Ann Docherty (S1) Andrew Lowe (S4–5) Stephen Wright (S2–3)
Producer(s)	Sanne Craddick (Pilot; S1) Jemma Rodgers (S2–3) Tom Sherry (Pilot) Stephen Smallwood (S4–5)
Location(s)	Northern Ireland
Running time	60 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel	BBC One
Picture format	PAL (576i)
Audio format	Stereophonic
Original run	24 September 2001 – 3 October 2007
External links
Official website
IMDb profile
TV.com summary

Murphy's Law is a BBC television drama, produced by Tiger Aspect Productions for BBC Northern Ireland, starring James Nesbitt^[1] as an undercover police officer, Tommy Murphy. Since 2003 there have so far been five series of the drama, shown on BBC One. The first three series were composed of individual stories, and series four and five were each single stories composed over three episodes. The show is based on the novel of the same name by Northern Irish author Colin Bateman. The initial episodes played off Nesbitt's persona that the public were used to from the series Cold Feet but as the series has developed the stories have become more dramatic and starker.

As of 2008, a sixth series has not been commissioned. Nesbitt has attributed this to the fifth series' ratings being damaged after it was scheduled opposite ITV's popular drama Doc Martin.^[2]

Contents 1 Detective Sergeant Tommy Murphy 1.1 Personality 1.2 History and Career 2 Targets 3 Pilot 4 Series 1 5 Series 2 6 Series 3 7 Series 4 8 Series 5 9 Cast 10 DVD Releases 11 References 12 External links

[edit] Detective Sergeant Tommy Murphy

[edit] Personality

Murphy is an uncompromising, sometimes tough talking cop. He has no issues with using his charm and sense of humour to attempt to impress any woman, especially Annie, his colleague and later boss.

[edit] History and Career

Murphy was previously married with a young daughter, in Northern Ireland. There, his family were taken hostage and he was forced to make a choice; either carry a bomb and blow himself up in a local barracks, or have his daughter killed. He originally chose the first option but when he got to the barracks he couldn't go through with detonating a bomb that would kill two hundred people. When he got back to the house, he found that they had slit his daughter's throat and that his wife had been forced to watch. His decision affected almost everything he does in life. He reflects at intervals, and remarks that he received 'a nice medal' for 'saving' so many lives, by making such a sacrifice. Yet, he still feels responsible for his daughter's death.

[edit] Targets

Season Two

• Godfrey Raines

Thousands of cars are stolen in Britain every year and shipped to the continent. The biggest exporter is Godfrey Raines. He employs a team of car thieves and has the network to shift the cars afterwards. He is known to fill the lungs of people who cross him with cavity wall insulation. He operates from a warehouse opposite the Millennium Dome in London.

Season Three

• Dave Callard

Dave Callard is the head of one of the largest criminal organisations in London, if not the UK.

• Sir George Garvey

Sir George is one of the most reputable businessmen in the country. He owns a worldwide successful up-market hotel chain as well as an antiquities company. However, the public doesn't know that he also smuggles in vast quantities of heroin for Dave Callard.

Season Four

• Johnstone Brothers

The Johnstone Brothers, Drew and Billy, are ex-Irish paramilitaries who have been exiled from Belfast, Ireland to Leicester, England. Whilst in prison, Drew found religion after reading the Koran and is now trying to give up his violent past. He is engaged to the daughter of Mohammad "Mo"Khan, a local businessman and crime boss. Drew intends to use Mo's connections in the hawala banking network to get his money out of Belfast (he says £12 million but Billy thought it was only £100,000 - the £12 million could have been what Drew would have made on the property development investment he had with Mo or it could be that Billy had no idea how much money they made whilst in Belfast - the episode wasn't clear)

• Mohammad Khan

Mohammad Khan is a very significant figure in the Pakistani/Kashmiri community of Leicester. He was very much a criminal figure in the past but is now a businessman. Although he is still the sort of guy who if you cross will kill half your family in Pakistan and burn your house down here. His main income comes from property development although he does own a restaurant as well. He uses gangland tactics to get his way such as using thugs to scare people off property he wants. He has connections with the hawala banking network which his son-in-law Drew is going to make use of to get his money out of Belfast.

Season Five

• The Driscoll Brothers

The Driscoll Brothers live on a caravan site in Norfolk. Together they are responsible for about a third of Norfolk's identity theft. They are also into petty drug dealing and flogging pirate DVD's.

• Clive and Debbie Salter

The Salters are gangmasters in Norfolk who provide labour to the agricultural industry. They earn around £3-5 million every year before tax but as they declare bankruptcy just before their tax is due they avoid all liability and open up the next day under a different name. Their current "employment agency" is called Daily Hands.

• Mark Baker

Mark Baker is a businessman with interests in mostly energy trading throughout the Balkans and Eastern Europe. He also happens to be one of the largest human traffickers in Britain smuggling in around 200 people every month, although he has made sure that he cannot be linked to any of it. He uses some in the agricultural industry as packers, pickers, fillers, etc, and some in his network of brothels throughout the country. He has a whole lord of the manor thing going on in Norfolk but he has an address in Holland Park, London as well. His gang makes use of an old hotel in Norfolk as a brothel but it also has a room in it for making adult movies using the smuggled in girls. Mark Baker is on the MI5 or MI6 watchlist but the only thing illegal he has thought to have been near was a bit of carousel fraud a few years back. He used to be in the British Army and now calls himself Major even though he didn't make that rank. His father came across from Hungary in 1947 and worked as a book-keeper, working himself blind counting other people's money. Mark has two highly trained Alsations at his Norfolk manor that are trained to respond to his voice.

[edit] Pilot

Air Date: 24 September 2001

A team of undertakers are moonlighting as diamond thieves, and the bodies are stacking up. Murphy infiltrates the group and discovers a somewhat sinister connection with Japanese heroin dealers. Meanwhile, the team's leader, Hatcher, is planning the most audacious heist yet. Murphy has to hold his nerve in an epic final showdown.

[edit] Series 1

Electric Bill

Air Date: 28 April 2003

Murphy is sent undercover in a prison, in an attempt to draw out of Richard Mooney (Kevin Doyle) a confession for several murders, and to find the location of a missing woman. He is painted as an international terrorist as his cover. Mooney is released after no conclusive evidence is found, and this leads to a finalé, filmed at Biggin Hill Airport. The killers' family are ready to board a plane and escape, but Murphy arrives just in time to exercise justice.^[3]

Manic Munday

Air Date: 5 May 2003

Micky Munday, a world renowned snooker player is being blackmailed to fix snooker matches. Murphy and his colleague Annie go undercover in an attempt to protect the player and find the criminals masterminding the scam. Along the way, Murphy's wife reappears and turns out to be the current partner of Munday's opponent in the final.^[4]

Reunion

Air Date: 12 May 2003

London's stereotypically bloody culture is explored, as Murphy goes undercover to investigate rivalry, warfare and murders occurring between local club owners. Annie is again drawn into the mix, and together, she and Murphy discover the true culprits and those responsible for the killings.^[5]

Kiss and Tell

Air Date: 19 May 2003

Murphy has the opportunity to practice his charm, as he is required to join an exclusive sports centre, doubling as a meeting place for unfaithful adults, in an attempt to track down the instigators of scams, deals and money laundering operations. During his adventure, he meets a number of beautiful women, all potentially responsible, and the men that are suffering as a result.^[6]

[edit] Series 2

Jack's Back

Air Date: 10 May 2004

A West End serial killer is on the loose, and it is Murphy's job to track him or her down. The case takes on a new dimension for the detective however, when tragedy strikes close to home.^[7]

Bent Moon On The Rise

Air Date: 17 May 2004

A promising young officer commits suicide, and Murphy is assigned to investigate.^[8]

Ringers

Air Date: 24 May 2004

Murphy is asked to be part of an Interpol investigation, to infiltrate a car ringing gang. He is paired with a French officer, Benoit.^[9]

Go Ask Alice

Air Date: 31 May 2004

Murphy goes undercover in a biotech laboratory, and gets more than he bargains for.^[10]

Convent

Air Date: 7 June 2004

Mysterious occurrences in a local convent prompt Murphy to go and investigate.^[11]

The Group

Air Date: 14 June 2004

Murderers are being murdered. Coincidence or revenge?^[12]

[edit] Series 3

• Series 3 saw a continuous storyline, which followed just one undercover investigation.

The Goodbye Look

Air Date: 26 May 2005

Gangland boss and cop killer Dave Callard wants a hitman, and Murphy is just the man for the job.^[13]

Disorganised Crime

Air Date: 2 June 2005

Murphy is recommended to some dangerous brothers. He gains quite a reputation for being a reliable killer.^[14]

Strongbox

Air Date: 9 June 2005

Callard instructs Murphy to obtain counterfeit Euros, and he needs all his fingers if he is to be successful!^[15]

Extra Mile

Air Date: 16 June 2005

Murphy begins to realise how big this case is. His life really does depend on it.^[16]

Boy's Night Out

Air Date: 23 June 2005

Heroin from Afghanistan needs stopping, but events take a turn for the worse.^[17]

Hard Boiled Eggs and Nuts

Air Date: 30 June 2005

Callard is systematically destroying the forensic evidence against him. After so long investigating, Murphy can't blow it now, and has to act fast.^[18]

[edit] Series 4

• This "series" is one three-part story shown over the 2006 August Bank Holiday (Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday)

Part 1

Air Date: 27 August 2006

Tommy is called back, from compassionate leave at his mother's side, to infiltrate the Johnstone brothers, exiled from Belfast to Leicester. A botched drugs deal provides the perfect 'in', and Murphy is once more in the centre of the action...^[19]

Part 2

Air Date: 28 August 2006

Murphy's cover looks like it is blown when a CPS report is lost and he returns to Belfast. However only the younger Johnstone brother is aware of his true identity and flies to Belfast to exact retribution. However, Murphy turns the tables, denounces Johnstone as the grass who provided the 'in' for the drugs deal and the two look set to return to Leicester to prevent a deal going bad.^[20]

Part 3

Air Date: 29 August 2006

Murphy and Billy return to Leicester, but Billy soon strikes out on his own, attacking Drew's wife and banker in his quest to retrieve their money. Soon enough, a three-way confrontation is held between the brothers and Tommy, and, the case closed, Murphy returns to his Ma's side.^[21]

[edit] Series 5

• This "series" is one three-part story shown at the beginning of October, 2007.

Part 1

Air Date: October 1, 2007

Murphy is cover officer for Mitch, who has worked with him previously, and Kim, who Murphy himself trained, on a deep cover operation into identity theft in Norfolk. When the couple fail to contact him at an agreed time Murphy becomes anxious and finds that they have gone missing. Murphy infiltrates a group of people smugglers who he believes Mitch was working for on his own and meets their boss, Mark Baker.. When Mitch's body washes up, Murphy fears the worst for his protege.

Part 2

Air Date: October 2, 2007

Murphy discovers that his initial contact into Baker's group, Milos, is using the people smuggling to import cocaine as a personal sideline and uses this to his advantage. On discovering that Kim had been held at an abandoned hotel that the group use to make pornographic films and had scrawled the word Car in her own blood on the wall, Murphy and his own cover officer, Jackie Cole, ride with another of Baker's group, Branko, to a brothel in Cardiff where Jackie's cover is blown. She shoots Branko but he gets away.

Part 3

Air Date: October 3, 2007

Murphy discovers that his own cover is blown when he rings Baker and attempts to convince him that Branko is the problem. After questioning the brothel madam and the local driver whose name she gives him, Murphy finds Kim at Cardiff docks. A stand off with Branko leads to Murphy shooting him once but Kim grabs Murphy's gun from him and finishes Branko off. Kim is taken to hospital for psychiatric care and the group are rounded up by the police but the only person who can actually point the finger at Baker commits suicide. Kim absconds from the hospital after Murphy tells her the CPS will not be pressing charges against Baker. Murphy goes to warn Baker that Kim is coming for him but Baker laughs off the suggestion that she could do him any harm. However when Kim arrives at the operations room armed and takes the Chief Superintendent hostage. Murphy tries to talk her out of killing him but Kim turns the gun on herself, shooting herself in the head. The last scene is of Murphy sitting in his car in tears and repeatedly pressing his gun to his head but unable to pull the trigger.

[edit] Cast

Character	Actor	Series
DS Tommy Murphy	James Nesbitt	All
DI Annie Gutherie	Claudia Harrison	Series 1[22]
DC Alan Carter	Del Synott	Series 1 – 2
Father McBride	Mark Benton	Series 1 – 2
DI Hilary Clark	Sarah Berger	Series 2[23]
Dave Callard	Mark Womack	Series 3[24]
DS Paul Allison	Owen Teale	Series 3
DSI Rees	Michael Feast	Series 3
Caz Miller	Michael Fassbender	Series 3
Richard Holloway	Ramon Tikaram	Series 3
Ellie Holloway	Georgia Mackenzie	Series 3
DC Ollington	Shaun Dooley	Series 3
Sir George Garvey	Larry Lamb	Series 3
Drew Johnstone	Liam Cunningham	Series 4[25]
Billy Johnstone	Brian McCardie	Series 4
Bash	Emil Marwa	Series 4
DCI Warren	Francis Magee	Series 4
Mark Baker	Christopher Fulford	Series 5[26]
DC Kim Goodall	Andrea Lowe	Series 5
DCS John Atwood	Robbie Gee	Series 5
Chief Supt Ken Bowry	Ian Redford	Series 5
DC Jackie Cole	Jessica Oyelowo	Series 5
DS Mitch Kershaw	Tim Dantay	Series 5
Milos	Michael Klesic	Series 5
Branko	Joe Hanley	Series 5

[edit] DVD Releases

• Series 1, 3 May 2004, re - released 28 August 2006
• Series 2, 28 August 2006, using edited 50 minute masters instead of the 60 minute versions that were broadcast.
• Series 3, 28 August 2006, using edited 50 minute masters instead of the 60 minute versions that were broadcast.
• Series 1 - 3 Boxset, 28 August 2006, from series 2 onwards using edited 50 minute masters instead of the 60 minute versions that were broadcast.
• Series 4 & 5, 15 October 2007, using edited 50 minute masters instead of the 60 minute versions that were broadcast.
• Series 1 - 5 Boxset, 15 October 2007, from series 2 onwards using edited 50 minute masters instead of the 60 minute versions that were broadcast.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Official Murphy's Law website