The lowdown: Robbie Coltrane stars in Jimmy McGovern's superlative police/psychological drama 'Cracker', which was 
broadcast on ITV1 between September 1993 and November 1995, with a one-off special in 1996, and another in 2006. The 
series comprised a number of stories, with two or three 60-minute episodes per story, although the DVD releases feature 
each story in movie-length format. Coltrane stars as Eddie "Fitz" Fitzgerald, a forensic pyschologist who teaches at the local
university and frequently assists the police to solve violent crimes. The focus of the series is as much on Fitz's personal life 
as his professional work - he drinks a lot, gambles a lot and his marriage is constantly on the verge of collapse (mainly due to
his drinking and gambling). The series opens with Detective Chief Inspector Billborough (Christopher Eccleston) investigating
the brutal death of a young woman on a train. The dead woman is one of Fitz's former students, and he eventually convinces 
Billborough to let him help solve the case.

Despite being more than 10 years old 'Cracker' remains one of the best television shows of its genre. The writing is excellent
(particularly the episodes written by series creator Jimmy McGovern) and the acting is superb. Robbie Coltrane is perfect as Fitz,
and not surprisingly he won three BAFTA's awards for his portrayal of Fitz. Some of the guest actors even outshine the regular cast;
Robert Carlyle's performance in the first story of season 2, 'To Be a Somebody', is especially memorable. Christopher Eccleston is 
also excellent as DCI Billborough; unfortunately he only appears in the first five stories, but his death in 'To Be a Somebody' is both 
horrific and memorable (and brilliantly performed by Eccleston). Other key cast members are Barbara Flynn as Fitz's long-suffering
wife Judith, Geraldine Somerville as Det. Sgt. Jane Penhaligon and Lorcan Cranitch as Det. Sgt. Jimmy Beck (who has a major role
as the series progresses). Doctor Who fans should also watch out for Maureen O'Brien (Vicki in the William Hartnell era) in the 
second season story, 'The Big Crunch.'

Trivia: 'Cracker' was remade in the US, and starred Robert Pastorelli as Gerry 'Fitz' Fitzgerald. It was broadcast on the ABC
network between September 1997 and May 1999, and borrowed a number of plots from the British original.
 
Quotes:
  Fitz: 'I drink too much, I smoke too much, I gamble too much. I am too much.'

  Beck: He's throwin' fits, Fitz!
  Fitz: I'm in custody, Custody! 

 Video Clips:
  DCI Billborough visits a crime scene  (4.2mb)
  Fitz agrees to take on a case (4.2mb)
  Billborough is stabbed   (4.2mb)
  The death of Billborough  (5.4mb)

More pictures from 'Cracker'


 
 
 

 
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