Heartbeat was the best of TV, here’s why I believe it can be revived - Yorkshire Post Letters

I have been watching episodes of Heartbeat on ITVX in the evenings over the past year and have now got to Series 18, the final one. While there have been one or two duds (such as the Australian ones) the producers, actors, technicians and extras exemplify what good British drama should be.

No gratuitous violence. No semi-audible conversations, no foul language.

No stupid AI effects, no dreary drawn out pre-plots, no Americanisation. Instead superb attention to detail in every respect.

The time taken to construct shots lasting only 10 or 15 seconds is impressive and contrasts with the tedious drawn-out woke stuff which so blights our screens today.

The actors are superb and play their parts to perfection. It's unfair to single out some from the huge number who have appeared over 18 years, but I will.

There is the ever-positive Dr Liz Merrick (Aislin McGuckan), the beautiful Nurse Carol Cassidy (Lisa Kay), the cheerful and wonderfully named Dr Tricia Summerbee (Claire Calbraith) and the perceptive and pioneering DS Rachel Dawson (Claire Wille).

No-nonsense but firm but fair sergeants George Millar (John Duttine) and Denis Merton (Duncan Bell) and wary solicitor Ronnie Smethers (Tim Brooke-Taylor) reprising the late Eric Sykes role as Mr Drinkwater.

And of course other stalwarts of the series such as honest as the day is long David Stockwell (David Lonsdale) the aristocratic, but caring Lord Ashfordly (Rupert Vansittart) and a host of others, not to mention the latter landlord of the Aidensfield Arms Gina Ward (Tricia Penrose) who has now put her money back into Goathland by owning and revamping the famous hotel.

Sadly there are many actors who are no longer with us, such as the legendary Derek Fowlds, but the love and affection they have created lives on.

The directors and crew were also at the top of their game along with the stunt men engaging in realistic car crashes, motorbike spills, various accidents and disasters, but avoiding the horrific scenes which seem de rigeur today.

I do feel sorry, however, for the extras who have fleshed out every story; non-speaking parts contribute so much to drama by providing context and authenticity.

Back of all this is the beauty of the moors, the changing seasons and weather, and of course the famous North Yorkshire Moors Railway.

I do wonder if it would be possible to do a remake of Heartbeat, perhaps moving it forward to the next decade where a Ford Anglia police car was replaced by a Mark 1 Escort, the BSA A65 Lightning by a Triumph Bonneville and so on.

It would require a lot of time and effort and discipline which is in short supply today and would need very special directors and producers to cut it.

But I do believe we still have the actors and directors out there and that the project would be very successful as well as a money spinner for Yorkshire.

Other villages rather than Goathland could be chosen for such an endeavor.