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City of Vice

by Channel 4

Synopsis

Diving deep into eighteenth-century London’s criminal underworld, through the eyes of a pair of crime-fighting brothers, this bold 5-part series follows the adventures of John and Henry Fielding, the magistrates of Westminster (the bow street runners) as they battle to establish the world’s first police force, against a rising tide of filth.

With politicians sceptical about the new police force and the criminals running large parts of the city, the Fielding brothers and their team of constables have to work very hard to justify their existence. As the series progresses, the cases become increasingly challenging for the brothers, eventually leading their team of Runners into direct conflict with a powerful, ruthless and organised enemy.

Reviews

Justin Hardy’s engrossing 5-part series tells the crime stories (dramatized from events well documented at the time) apace and in Ian McDiarmid and Iain Glen he has two actors who give beautifully reined-in performances as characters that at this remove appear larger than life. The scripts’ subtlety and humour keep one entertained:a gem of a programme.

– The Observer, Veronica Lee

This turns out to be an unusual, intelligent and informative period thriller, part-police detective mystery and part-docu-drama.

– The Daily Mail

With the long, greying hair and round, dark glasses, the principles actors Ian McDiarmid and Iain Glen come on like refugees from the reanimated Led Zeppelin in this absorbing and innovative new series.

– The Sunday Times, Martin James

Awards

Winner Judges’ Award – RTS Awards
Nominated Best Drama Series – Writers Guild of Great Britain Awards

Credits

Ian McDiarmid
Henry Fielding
Iain Glen
John Fielding
Francis Magee
Saunders Welch
Steve Speirs
William Pentlow
Alice O’Connell
Mary Fielding
Sam Spruell
Lord Newcastle
Peter Mcdonald
Tom Jones
Sean Francis
Daniel Carne
J.D. Kelleher
Quin
Ian Peck
Talbot
Juliet Aubrey
Jane Fawkland
Nigel Harman
Thomas Deacon
Gary Lewis
Robert Anderson
Barry Ward
Patrick Jones
Matt King
Salt
Director
Justin Hardy
Dan Reed
Writers
Clive Bradley
Peter Harness
Producers
Justin Hardy (Hardy & Sons)
Rob Pursey (Touchpaper)
Lachlan MacKinnon


Photos


… and in Ian McDiarmid and Iain Glen he has two actors who give beautifully reined-in performances.