Winstone Returns to BBC: Vincent
Private Investigation Becomes A Personal Crusade For Ray Winstone In BBC America’s Compelling New Drama, Vincent - One of the UK’s major acting talents stars as a cop turned PI in a gritty new crime series -
Before we give you the complete 411 on this new-to-BBC
Ray Winstone (The Departed, The Proposition, Sexy Beast) stars as Vincent Gallagher, a private investigator who fights crimes while trying to rebuild a shattered personal life in an acclaimed new four-part crime drama. Vincent premieres Monday, November 6, 2006 at
Passionate and headstrong, Vincent is a tough yet vulnerable workaholic, who always goes the extra mile for his clients but often discovers their problems have uncanny parallels with his own life.
In four gripping new shows Vincent and his team of investigators mine the seedy criminal underbelly for information - often working dangerously outside the law. The people hiring them have nowhere else to turn and are desperate to find some sort of justice, resolution or simply information that will resolve heart-wrenching dilemmas – evidence that a loved one is having an affair, proof that a sibling is innocent of a crime. But as Vincent and his colleagues unravel mysteries they sometimes make their clients’ worse fears a reality and some aren’t able to cope with the truth.
His team are dedicated and loyal and Vincent is fiercely protective of them: cool headed Beth (Suranne Jones), senior investigator John (Ian Puleston-Davies, Conviction), keen junior private eye Robert (Joe Absolom, Touching Evil, The Long Firm) and office secretary Gillian (Angel Coulby, Conviction).
In the opening investigation Vincent’s raw emotions rise close to the surface as a suspicious husband employs him to find proof of his wife’s infidelity. Just two weeks earlier Vincent’s girlfriend, Cathy (Eva Pope), left him after confessing to an affair with his former police colleague and rival David Driscoll (Philip Glenister, Life on Mars, Calendar Girls).
Cast And Production Credits
Vincent Gallagher Ray Winstone
Beth Suranne Jones
John Ian Puleston-Davies
Robert Joe Absolom
Gillian Angel Coulby
Cathy Eva Pope
Detective David Driscoll Philip Glenister
Writer/creator Stephen Butchard
Producers John Rushton and Rebecca Hodgson
Directors Peter Lydon and Roger Gartland
Executive Producer Sita Williams
Episode Synopses
Still feeling the pain of recently splitting from his own girlfriend Cathy, who left him for rival detective David Driscoll, the case feels uncomfortably personal for Vincent.
Keeping a vigilant eye on Sarah, Vincent and Beth watch her every move. They follow her to a club and straight into the arms of another man.
Beth feels that Vincent’s letting his personal life affect his judgment and is extremely unimpressed by his lack of professionalism with Sarah’s lover Eddie (Drew Carter-Cain). Assuming his job is done Vincent collects his listening devices from
Episode one premieres November 6 at
Episode two
Wealthy businessman, Edward Harper (Rupert Frazer) calls on Vincent when his son, Ian, is knifed to death in a nightclub.
The prime suspect is Ian’s friend, James O’Connor (Adam Rayner), but the police are unable to touch him due to lack of evidence and the reluctance of witnesses to talk. Much to Vincent’s annoyance, his personal and professional rival, Detective Driscoll, is assigned to the case.
James’s father is none other than notorious mobster and nightclub owner, Terry O’Connor (Roy Marsden) and it was in one of his clubs that Ian was killed. Unable to resist the temptation of this intriguing and potentially dangerous case, Vincent pays a visit to Terry’s nightclub.
Episode two premieres November 13 at
Episode three
Vincent’s personal life is in complete turmoil after Cathy calls round to tell him she’s pregnant with Driscoll’s baby. Vincent is devastated – she’d always maintained she didn’t want children but her new lover seems to have changed her mind.
Distraught, Vincent immerses himself in a new investigation, the mysterious killing of lottery winner Andrea Kendall, as she celebrated with the rest of her syndicate; fiancé, Donny Watson (Stuart Laing), flamboyant salsa teacher, Deborah Finnigan (Tracie Bennett), disgruntled Joe (Seamus O’Neill) and Pam Morgan, who pulled out of the syndicate just weeks before the win.
Another winner, Sheena Bennett (Kate Gartside) calls on Vincent when she becomes concerned that suspicion is wrongly falling on her brother Malcolm (Shaun Deeley) who suffers from a personality disorder.
Episode three premieres November 20 at
Episode four
Housewife, Sally Mortiner (Barbara Durkin) contacts Vincent after the suspicious discovery of a huge amount of cash stashed in the wardrobe of her husband, William (Terence Mann).
Supposedly going away on business, John tails William to the airport. As he checks in for
Confident that his team can handle the Mortimer case, Vincent takes on another client, Keith Evans (Stephen Tomlin), who is concerned that his teenage son, Joel is acting out of character and mixing with the wrong crowd. Vincent asks Robert to keep a vigilant eye on Joel.
At the hotel William is greeted by a beautiful woman, Julia (Maggie O’Neill), and it’s clear his trip is less business, more pleasure. However, when they return to the
Episode four premieres November 27 at
Meet The Characters
Vincent Gallagher (Ray Winstone)
Passionate, headstrong lead investigator with a gritty determination to go the extra mile to solve the case. Vincent sometimes forgets that he’s running a business and not a crusade but he cares deeply about his team and the cases he gets involved with, even though he doesn’t always show it.
Beth (Suranne Jones)
Intelligent and sharp enough to have been a lawyer, yet funky and attractive enough to have been a singer in a rock band, Beth chose to do investigative work and is very good at her job. She’s witty, warm and caring, but not afraid to speak her mind, especially if she thinks Vincent is wrong. She’s his moral conscience and tries to keep him in line.
John (Ian Puleston-Davies)
John is an experienced and valued member of Vincent’s investigative team. A senior private investigator, he is thoughtful and sensitive with an endearing sharp, dry wit. He has a crush on Gillian, even though he’s happily married. John has the air of a man whose mid-life crisis might not be too far away.
Robert (Joe Absolom)
Robert is the youngest and perhaps keenest member of Vincent’s team. His co-workers have learnt to endure his enthusiasm for high-tech gadgets and the more mundane side of investigative work. Robert’s relaxed nature and quick sense of humor make him an asset to the team.
Gillian (Angel Coulby)
Street-wise and fashion conscious, Gillian is the office secretary with designs to one day do fieldwork. She’s very chatty and doesn’t always think before she speaks. Behind her friendliness, there’s a lonely and vulnerable young woman, who has been through a lot and is struggling to raise her six-year-old daughter.
Cathy (Eva Pope)
Vincent is still in love with his ex-girlfriend who he sees as his soul mate. Cathy recently left him after a six-month affair with detective Driscoll who she now lives with. The whole experience has left her drained and she’s dealing with the logistics of the break-up as calmly and painlessly as possible. Cathy is an enigmatic, attractive, warm and intelligent woman, who still very much cares about Vincent.
Detective David Driscoll (Philip Glenister)
Driscoll is someone Cathy can rely on and talk to. He’s good at his job and not the fool Vincent paints him. Driscoll’s a tough guy but his strong feelings for Cathy bring out his affectionate side.
