Chancer

Chancer
Genre	crime drama
Directed by	principally Alan Grint with Laurence Moody and others
Starring	Clive Owen Simon Shepherd Leslie Phillips Peter Vaughan Benjamin Whitrow Stephen Tompkinson Susannah Harker Lynsey Baxter
Composer(s)	Jan Hammer
Country of origin	UK
Original language(s)	English
No. of series	2
No. of episodes	20
Production
Executive producer(s)	Ted Childs
Producer(s)	Sarah Wilson
Running time	50 min.
Release
Original network	ITV
Original release	6 March 1990 – 4 June 1991

Chancer is a British television serial produced by Central Television for ITV. It tells the story of a likable conman and rogue (played by Clive Owen) at the end of the yuppie eighties. There were a total of twenty episodes, split into two series which aired on Tuesdays at 21:00 in 1990 and 1991.

Episodes

Series One 1990

The first series concerned lead character Stephen Crane's (Clive Owen) attempts to save an ailing car firm. The plot is complicated when he is forced to reconcile himself with his past. Dates listed are original broadcast dates for ITV:

1. "Weapons from the Wall" (6 March 1990)
2. "Killing Floor" (13 March 1990)
3. "Hazard" (20 March 1990)
4. "Trust" (27 March 1990)
5. "Pretenders" (3 April 1990)
6. "Possessions" (10 April 1990)
7. "Faith" (17 April 1990)
8. "Lies" (24 April 1990)
9. "Wreckage" (1 May 1990)
10. "Sanctuary" (8 May 1990)
11. "History" (15 May 1990)
12. "Temptation" (22 May 1990)
13. "Love" (29 May 1990)

Series Two 1991

Crane, now going by his real name of Derek Love, assists his friend Piers, who has inherited a stately home and with it a financial nightmare. Dates listed are original broadcast dates for ITV:

1. "Jo" (23 April 1991)
2. "Ashes" (30 April 1991)
3. "Secrets" (7 May 1991)
4. "Remembrance" (14 May 1991)
5. "Blood" (21 May 1991)
6. "Fall" (28 May 1991)
7. "Sacrifice" (4 June 1991)

Cast

The cast included Clive Owen, Susannah Harker, Leslie Phillips, Peter Vaughan, Simon Shepherd, Louise Lombard, Caroline Langrishe, Ralph Riach, Stephen Tompkinson, Benjamin Whitrow and Lynsey Baxter. The theme music was written by Jan Hammer. Christopher Eccleston had a small role of prison inmate in one of the episodes.

In 1991, Hammer's Miami Vice soundtrack "Crockett's Theme" was re-released with his Chancer theme tune as a double A-side after the former featured in a series of NatWest adverts. This release was a UK number 47 single.

References and notes

External links

• Chancer at the Internet Movie Database
• Chancer at TV.com
• Chancer at the British Film Institute (BFI)