Playing the Field: Difference between revisions

*Playing the Field*
Playing the Field
Created by	Kay Mellor
Country of origin	Vereinigtes Königreich
Original language	Englisch
No. of series	5
No. of episodes	32
Production
Executive producers	Charles Brand ; Tessa Ross ; Kay Mellor
Producers	Kathleen Hutchison ; Hugh Warren ; Greg Brenman ; Lis Steele
Running time	60 minutes
Production company	Tiger Aspect Productions
Original release
Network	BBC One
Release	8 March 1998 –; 10 February 2002

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Latest revision as of 18:34, 23 July 2024

Playing the Field is a BBC television drama series following the lives of the Castlefield Blues, a fictitious female football team from South Yorkshire.

Outline

Inspired by Pete Davies's book I Lost My Heart to the Belles – which was written about a real-life club, the Doncaster Belles – Playing the Field ran for five series, from 8 March 1998 to 10 February 2002, with scripts by, amongst others, Kay Mellor, Sally Wainwright and Gaynor Faye.

Despite being set in South Yorkshire, much of the location filming took place in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, although the fifth (and final) series was filmed around Leeds; whilst the theme song, "Blue" by Alison Moyet, was originally a B-side track about the singer's love of Southend United FC. A young Marsha Thomason – who has since appeared in U.S. shows Las Vegas and Lost – featured in the first three series of Playing the Field. The first four series have been released on DVD in the UK, but the fifth has yet^{[as of?]} to be made available.

Main cast

Lorraine Ashbourne ... Geraldine Powell
Melanie Hill ... Rita Dolan
Jo McInnes ... Jo Mullen
Lesley Sharp ... Theresa Mullen
Marsha Thomason ... Sharon 'Shazza' Pearce
Saira Todd ... Gabrielle 'Gabby' Holmes
Debra Stephenson ... Diane Powell
Tracy Whitwell ... Angie Gill
Emma Rydall ... Mikey
Olivia Caffrey ... Kate Howard
Gaynor Faye ... Holly Quinn
Claudie Blakley ... Kelly Powell
James Nesbitt ... James Dolan
Tim Dantay ... Dave Powell
Nicholas Gleaves ... Rick Powell
Ralph Ineson ... Luke Mullen
Chris Walker ... Matthew Mullen
John Thomson ... Eddie Ryan
James Thornton ... Scott
Lee Ross ... Ryan Pratt
James Ellis ... Mr. Mullen
Brigit Forsyth ... Francine Pratt
Elizabeth Spriggs ... Mrs. Mullen
Ricky Tomlinson ... Jim Pratt
Jason O'Mara ... Lee Quinn
Tom Moore ... Martin Dolan
Stephanie Putson ... Heidi
Kelli Hollis … Lizzie Makin

Episodes

Series overview

Series	Episodes	Originally aired
Series	Episodes	First aired	Last aired
1	6	8 March 1998 (1998-03-08)	12 April 1998 (1998-04-12)
2	7	18 February 1999 (1999-02-18)	1 April 1999 (1999-04-01)
3	6	1 February 2000 (2000-02-01)	9 March 2000 (2000-03-09)
4	7	13 July 2000 (2000-07-13)	24 August 2000 (2000-08-24)
5	6	6 January 2002 (2002-01-06)	10 February 2002 (2002-02-10)

Series 1 (1998)

Episode	Titel	Directed by	Written by	Original air date
1	"Episode 1"	Paul Seed	Kay Mellor	8 March 1998 (1998-03-08)
2	"Episode 2"	Paul Seed	Kay Mellor	15 March 1998 (1998-03-15)
3	"Episode 3"	Paul Seed	Kay Mellor	22 March 1998 (1998-03-22)
4	"Episode 4"	Catherine Morshead	Kay Mellor	29 March 1998 (1998-03-29)
5	"Episode 5"	Catherine Morshead	Kay Mellor	5 April 1998 (1998-04-05)
6	"Episode 6"	Catherine Morshead	Kay Mellor	12 April 1998 (1998-04-12)

Series 2 (1999)

Episode	Titel	Directed by	Written by	Original air date
7	"Episode 1"	Nicholas Laughland	Kay Mellor	18 February 1999 (1999-02-18)
8	"Episode 2"	Nicholas Laughland	Kay Mellor	25 February 1999 (1999-02-25)
9	"Episode 3"	Nicholas Laughland	Kay Mellor	4 March 1999 (1999-03-04)
10	"Episode 4"	Nicholas Laughland	Sally Wainwright	11 March 1999 (1999-03-11)
11	"Episode 5"	Robin Sheppard	Valerie Windsor	18 March 1999 (1999-03-18)
12	"Episode 6"	Robin Sheppard	Valerie Windsor	25 March 1999 (1999-03-25)
13	"Episode 7"	Robin Sheppard	Sally Wainwright	1 April 1999 (1999-04-01)

Series 3 (2000)

Episode	Titel	Directed by	Written by	Original air date
14	"Episode 1"	Dermot Boyd	Kay Mellor	1 February 2000 (2000-02-01)
15	"Episode 2"	Dermot Boyd	Katie Baxendale	8 February 2000 (2000-02-08)
16	"Episode 3"	Dermot Boyd	Jan McVerry	15 February 2000 (2000-02-15)
17	"Episode 4"	David Innes Edwards	Kay Mellor	24 February 2000 (2000-02-24)
18	"Episode 5"	David Innes Edwards	Kay Mellor	2 March 2000 (2000-03-02)
19	"Episode 6"	David Innes Edwards	Katie Baxendale	9 March 2000 (2000-03-09)

Series 4 (2000)

Episode	Titel	Directed by	Written by	Original air date
20	"Episode 1"	Alrick Riley	Sally Wainwright	13 July 2000 (2000-07-13)
21	"Episode 2"	Alrick Riley	Katie Baxendale	20 July 2000 (2000-07-20)
22	"Episode 3"	Alrick Riley	Greg Snow	27 July 2000 (2000-07-27)
23	"Episode 4"	Dermot Boyd	Sally Wainwright	3 August 2000 (2000-08-03)
24	"Episode 5"	Dermot Boyd	Katie Baxendale	10 August 2000 (2000-08-10)
25	"Episode 6"	Dermot Boyd	Russell Lewis	17 August 2000 (2000-08-17)
26	"Episode 7"	Dermot Boyd	Greg Snow	24 August 2000 (2000-08-24)

Series 5 (2002)

Episode	Titel	Directed by	Written by	Original air date
27	"Episode 1"	Robert Knights	Gaynor Faye^[1]	6 January 2002 (2002-01-06)
28	"Episode 2"	Robert Knights	Gaynor Faye^[1]	13 January 2002 (2002-01-13)
29	"Episode 3"	Andrew Margetson	Sarah-Louise Hawkins	20 January 2002 (2002-01-20)
30	"Episode 4"	Andrew Margetson	Sarah-Louise Hawkins	27 January 2002 (2002-01-27)
31	"Episode 5"	Rob Bailey	Katie Baxendale	3 February 2002 (2002-02-03)
32	"Episode 6"	Rob Bailey	Katie Baxendale	10 February 2002 (2002-02-10)

Ratings

Episode No.	Airdate	Total Viewers	BBC Weekly Rank
2.1	18 February 1999	8,160,000	18
2.2	25 February 1999	7,490,000	22
2.3	4 March 1999	7.200,000	22
2.4	11 March 1999	Under 6,050,000	K.A.
2.5	18 March 1999	7,090,000	24
2.6	25 March 1999	7,710,000	18
2.7	1 April 1999	7,770,000	17

Episode No.	Airdate	Total Viewers	BBC Weekly Rank
3.1	1 February 2000	Under 6,490,000	K.A.
3.2	8 February 2000	7,430,000	18
3.3	15 February 2000	7,730,000	17
3.4	24 February 2000	6,010,000	30
3.5	2 March 2000	6,930,000	22
3.6	9 March 2000	6,290,000	27

Episode No.	Airdate	Total Viewers	BBC Weekly Rank
4.1	13 July 2000	6,440,000	12
4.2	20 July 2000	5,310,000	25
4.3	27 July 2000	5,670,000	24
4.4	3 August 2000	5,760,000	19
4.5	10 August 2000	5,450,000	26
4.6	17 August 2000	5,650,000	27
4.7	24 August 2000	6,020,000	18

Episode No.	Airdate	Total Viewers	BBC Weekly Rank
5.1	6 January 2002	6,160,000	17
5.2	13 January 2002	5,250,000	25
5.3	20 January 2002	5,290,000	25
5.4	27 January 2002	Under 4,700,000	K.A.
5.5	3 February 2002	Under 4,430,000	K.A.
5.6	10 February 2002	Under 4,490,000	K.A.

Home media

The first four series of Playing the Field have been made available via Universal Playback.

Playing the Field: Series 1 & 2 (VHS) – 23 October 2000
Playing the Field: Series 3 & 4 (VHS) – 23 October 2000
Playing the Field: Series 1 & 2 (DVD) – 29 January 2007 (released as "Seasons 1 & 2")
Playing the Field: Series 3 & 4 (DVD) – 23 April 2007 (released as "Seasons 3 & 4")

Series 5, which was broadcast in 2002 has not received a VHS release, nor has it been released on DVD.

References

^ ^a ^b As Gaynor Mellor.

External links

Playing the Field at IMDb

[GaynorMellor-1] As Gaynor Mellor.

[1]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{Other uses|Playing the field (disambiguation){{!}}Playing the field}}
-{{more footnotes|date=March 2013}}
+{{more footnotes needed|date=March 2013}}
-{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2012}}
+{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}
 {{Infobox television
-|name          = Playing the Field
+| image              = Playing the Field.jpg
-|image              =
+| caption            =
-|caption            =
+| runtime            = 60 minutes
-|picture_format     =
+| creator            = [[Kay Mellor]]
-|runtime            = 60 minutes
+| starring           =
+| executive_producer = Charles Brand <br> [[Tessa Ross]] <br> Kay Mellor
-|creator            = [[Kay Mellor]]
+| producer           = [[Kathleen Hutchison]] <br> Hugh Warren <br> Greg Brenman <br> Lis Steele
-|starring           =
+| channel            = [[BBC One]]
-|executive_producer = Charles Brand <br> [[Tessa Ross]] <br> Kay Mellor
+| first_aired        = {{start date|1998|3|8|df=yes}}
-|producer           = [[Kathleen Hutchison]] <br> Hugh Warren <br> Greg Brenman <br> Lis Steele
-|channel            = [[BBC One]]
+| last_aired         = {{end date|2002|2|10|df=yes}}
+| country            = United Kingdom
-|first_aired        = {{start date|1998|3|8|df=yes}}
-|last_aired         = {{end date|2002|2|10|df=yes}}
+| language           = English
-|country            = United Kingdom
+| num_series         = 5
-|language           = English
+| num_episodes       = 32
-|num_series         = 5
+| list_episodes      =
-|num_episodes       = 32
+| company            = [[Tiger Aspect Productions]]
-|list_episodes      =
+| related            =
-|company            = [[Tiger Aspect Productions]]
-|status             =
-|related            =
-|website            =
 }}
@@ Line 29: / Line 25: @@
 ==Outline==
-Inspired by [[Pete Davies]]’s book ''I Lost My Heart To The Belles'' — which was written about a real-life club, the [[Doncaster Belles]] — ''Playing the Field'' ran for five series, from 1998–2002, with scripts by, amongst others, [[Kay Mellor]], [[Sally Wainwright]] and [[Gaynor Faye]].
+Inspired by [[Pete Davies]]'s book ''I Lost My Heart to the Belles'' – which was written about a real-life club, the [[Doncaster Belles]] – ''Playing the Field'' ran for five series, from 8 March 1998 to 10 February 2002, with scripts by, amongst others, [[Kay Mellor]], [[Sally Wainwright]] and [[Gaynor Faye]].
-Despite being set in South Yorkshire, much of the location filming took place in [[Ilkeston]], [[Derbyshire]], although the fifth (and final) series was filmed around Leeds; whilst the theme song, "Blue" by [[Alison Moyet]], was originally a B-side track about the singer's love of [[Southend United FC]]. A young [[Marsha Thomason]] — who has since appeared in [[United States|U.S.]] shows ''[[Las Vegas (TV series)|Las Vegas]]'' and ''[[Lost (TV series)|Lost]]'' — featured in the first three series of ''Playing the Field''. The first four series have been released on DVD in the UK, but the fifth has yet to be made available.
+Despite being set in South Yorkshire, much of the location filming took place in [[Ilkeston]], [[Derbyshire]], although the fifth (and final) series was filmed around Leeds; whilst the theme song, "Blue" by [[Alison Moyet]], was originally a B-side track about the singer's love of [[Southend United FC]]. A young [[Marsha Thomason]] – who has since appeared in [[United States|U.S.]] shows ''[[Las Vegas (TV series)|Las Vegas]]'' and ''[[Lost (2004 TV series)|Lost]]'' – featured in the first three series of ''Playing the Field''. The first four series have been released on DVD in the UK, but the fifth has yet{{as of?|date=April 2022}} to be made available.
 ==Main cast==
-*[[Lorraine Ashbourne]] … Geraldine Powell
+*[[Lorraine Ashbourne]] ... Geraldine Powell
-*[[Melanie Hill]] … Rita Dolan
+*[[Melanie Hill]] ... Rita Dolan
-*Jo McInnes … Jo Mullen
+*Jo McInnes ... Jo Mullen
-*[[Lesley Sharp]] … Theresa Mullen
+*[[Lesley Sharp]] ... Theresa Mullen
-*[[Marsha Thomason]] … Sharon 'Shazza' Pearce
+*[[Marsha Thomason]] ... Sharon 'Shazza' Pearce
-*Saira Todd … Gabrielle 'Gabby' Holmes
+*Saira Todd ... Gabrielle 'Gabby' Holmes
-*[[Debra Stephenson]] … Diane Powell
+*[[Debra Stephenson]] ... Diane Powell
-*Tracy Whitwell … Angie Gill
+*Tracy Whitwell ... Angie Gill
-*Emma Rydall … Mikey
+*Emma Rydall ... Mikey
-*Olivia Caffrey … Kate Howard
+*Olivia Caffrey ... Kate Howard
-*[[Gaynor Faye]] … Holly Quinn
+*[[Gaynor Faye]] ... Holly Quinn
-*[[Claudie Blakley]] … Kelly Powell
+*[[Claudie Blakley]] ... Kelly Powell
-*[[James Nesbitt]] … James Dolan
+*[[James Nesbitt]] ... James Dolan
-*[[Tim Dantay]] … Dave Powell
+*[[Tim Dantay]] ... Dave Powell
-*[[Nicholas Gleaves]] … Rick Powell
+*[[Nicholas Gleaves]] ... Rick Powell
-*[[Ralph Ineson]] … Luke Mullen
+*[[Ralph Ineson]] ... Luke Mullen
-*[[Chris Walker (actor)|Chris Walker]] … Matthew Mullen
+*[[Chris Walker (actor)|Chris Walker]] ... Matthew Mullen
-*[[John Thomson (comedian)|John Thomson]] … Eddie Ryan
+*[[John Thomson (comedian)|John Thomson]] ... Eddie Ryan
-*[[James Thornton (actor)|James Thornton]] … Scott
+*[[James Thornton (actor)|James Thornton]] ... Scott
-*[[Lee Ross (actor)|Lee Ross]] … Ryan Pratt
+*[[Lee Ross (actor)|Lee Ross]] ... Ryan Pratt
-*[[James Ellis (actor)|James Ellis]] … Mr. Mullen
+*[[James Ellis (actor)|James Ellis]] ... Mr. Mullen
-*[[Brigit Forsyth]] … Francine Pratt
+*[[Brigit Forsyth]] ... Francine Pratt
-*[[Elizabeth Spriggs]] … Mrs. Mullen
+*[[Elizabeth Spriggs]] ... Mrs. Mullen
-*[[Ricky Tomlinson]] … Jim Pratt
+*[[Ricky Tomlinson]] ... Jim Pratt
-*[[Jason O'Mara]] … Lee Quinn
+*[[Jason O'Mara]] ... Lee Quinn
-*Tom Moore … Martin Dolan
+*Tom Moore ... Martin Dolan
-*[[Stephanie Putson]] … Heidi
+*[[Stephanie Putson]] ... Heidi
+*[[Kelli Hollis]] … Lizzie Makin
 ==Episodes==
-'''Series 1'''
+===Series overview===
+<onlyinclude>
+{{Series overview
+| color1    = #72A0C1
+| link1     = #Series 1 (1998)
+| episodes1 = 6
+| start1    = {{Start date|1998|3|8|df=y}}
+| end1      = {{End date|1998|4|12|df=y}}
+| color2    = #B87BF6
+| link2     = #Series 2 (1999)
+| episodes2 = 7
+| start2    = {{Start date|1999|2|18|df=y}}
+| end2      = {{End date|1999|4|1|df=y}}
+| color3    = #2F6144
+| link3     = #Series 3 (2000)
+| episodes3 = 6
+| start3    = {{Start date|2000|2|1|df=y}}
+| end3      = {{End date|2000|3|9|df=y}}
+| color4    = #AE1A1A
+| link4     = #Series 4 (2000)
+| episodes4 = 7
+| start4    = {{Start date|2000|7|13|df=y}}
+| end4     = {{End date|2000|8|24|df=y}}
+| color5    = #FF7F50
+| link5     = #Series 5 (2002)
+| episodes5 = 6
+| start5    = {{Start date|2002|1|6|df=y}}
+| end5     = {{End date|2002|2|10|df=y}}
+}}</onlyinclude>
+===Series 1 (1998)===
 {| class="wikitable" style="width: 60%; margin-right: 0; background: #ffffff;"
 |-
@@ Line 129: / Line 161: @@
 |}
-'''Series 2'''
+===Series 2 (1999)===
 {| class="wikitable" style="width: 60%; margin-right: 0; background: #ffffff;"
 |-
@@ Line 203: / Line 235: @@
 |}
-'''Series 3'''
+===Series 3 (2000)===
 {| class="wikitable" style="width: 60%; margin-right: 0; background: #ffffff;"
 |-
@@ Line 268: / Line 300: @@
 |}
-'''Series 4'''
+===Series 4 (2000)===
 {| class="wikitable" style="width: 60%; margin-right: 0; background: #ffffff;"
 |-
@@ Line 342: / Line 374: @@
 |}
-'''Series 5'''
+===Series 5 (2002)===
 {| class="wikitable" style="width: 60%; margin-right: 0; background: #ffffff;"
 |-
@@ Line 355: / Line 387: @@
  |Title=Episode 1
  |DirectedBy=[[Robert Knights]]
- |WrittenBy=[[Gaynor Faye]] <ref name="GaynorMellor">As Gaynor Mellor.</ref>
+ |WrittenBy=[[Gaynor Faye]]<ref name="GaynorMellor">As Gaynor Mellor.</ref>
  |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2002|01|06|df=yes}}
  |ShortSummary=
@@ Line 364: / Line 396: @@
  |Title=Episode 2
  |DirectedBy=Robert Knights
- |WrittenBy=Gaynor Faye <ref name="GaynorMellor" />
+ |WrittenBy=Gaynor Faye<ref name="GaynorMellor" />
  |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2002|01|13|df=yes}}
  |ShortSummary=
@@ Line 483: / Line 515: @@
 The first four series of ''Playing the Field'' have been made available via Universal Playback.
-* ''Playing the Field: Series 1 & 2'' (VHS) - 23 October 2000
+* ''Playing the Field: Series 1 & 2'' (VHS) – 23 October 2000
-* ''Playing the Field: Series 3 & 4'' (VHS) - 23 October 2000
+* ''Playing the Field: Series 3 & 4'' (VHS) – 23 October 2000
-* ''Playing the Field: Series 1 & 2'' (DVD) - 29 January 2007 (released as "Seasons 1 & 2")
+* ''Playing the Field: Series 1 & 2'' (DVD) – 29 January 2007 (released as "Seasons 1 & 2")
-* ''Playing the Field: Series 3 & 4'' (DVD) - 23 April 2007 (released as "Seasons 3 & 4")
+* ''Playing the Field: Series 3 & 4'' (DVD) – 23 April 2007 (released as "Seasons 3 & 4")
 Series 5, which was broadcast in 2002 has not received a VHS release, nor has it been released on DVD.
@@ Line 495: / Line 527: @@
 ==External links==
 *{{IMDb title|id=0144728|title=Playing the Field}}
+{{Kay Mellor}}
 [[Category:1998 British television series debuts]]
@@ Line 501: / Line 535: @@
 [[Category:2000s British drama television series]]
 [[Category:BBC television dramas]]
-[[Category:Television series by Endemol]]
+[[Category:Television series by Banijay]]
 [[Category:Television series by Tiger Aspect Productions]]
-[[Category:English-language television programs]]
+[[Category:British English-language television shows]]
-[[Category:Television shows set in Nottinghamshire]]
+[[Category:Television shows set in South Yorkshire]]

v t e Kay Mellor
TV series created by	Children's Ward (1989–2000) Families (1990–1993) Band of Gold (1995–1997) Playing the Field (1998–2002) Fat Friends (2000–2005) Between the Sheets (2003) Strictly Confidential (2006) The Chase (2006–2007) A Passionate Woman (2010) The Syndicate (2012–2021) In the Club (2014–2016) Love, Lies and Records (2017) Girlfriends (2018)
Films written	Jane Eyre (1997)
Plays written	Fat Friends The Musical (2017)
Related	Lucky 7 (2013)