El C.I.D.#Thursday's Child
{{short description|British television comedy drama series (1990–1992)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2017}}
{{EngvarB|date=May 2017}}
{{Infobox television
| image = ElC.I.D.ITV.jpg
| image_size = 250
| image_alt =
| caption = Series 3 Title Card
| genre = Crime drama
Comedy
| creator = Chris Kelly
Iain Roy
| based_on =
| writer =
| screenplay =
| story =
| director =
| starring = Alfred Molina
John Bird
Simón Andreu
Tony Haygarth
Donald Churchill
María Isbert
Kenneth Cranham
Amanda Redman
Cristina Sevilla
| narrated =
| theme_music_composer = Mike Moran
| country = United Kingdom
| language = English
| num_episodes = 19
| num_series = 3
| list_episodes =
| producer = Matthew Bird
| executive_producer = Sally Head
David Plowright
| editor =
| cinematography = Michael B. Poppley
David Head
| runtime = 60 minutes
| company = Granada Television
| network = ITV
| first_aired = {{start date|1990|2|7|df=yes}}
| last_aired = {{end date|1992|3|2|df=yes}}
}}
El C.I.D. is an ITV television crime drama comedy that ran for three seasons from 7 February 1990 until 2 March 1992.{{cite web | url=https://itvstudios.com/programmes/el-c-i-d | title=Itvstudios }} The series starred Alfred Molina as Bernard Blake, a C.I.D. officer who takes early retirement and moves to Spain where he and his work partner, Douglas Bromley (John Bird), a retired records officer, keep an eye on the expat community of British gangsters. As well as settling into life on the Costa del Sol, the storyline featured the pair helping out a local private eye, Delgado (Simón Andreu) to investigate cases.{{Cite web | url=http://www.memorabletv.com/tv/el-c-d-itv-1990-1992-alfred-molina-john-bird/ | title=El C.I.D. (ITV 1990-1992, Alfred Molina, John Bird)| date=2016-05-25}}
The series was highly publicised following criticism of Spain's extradition treaty with the UK, which was featured heavily in the newspapers during the series' run. Before the third series, Molina left the cast, and was subsequently replaced by Amanda Redman, who joined the series as the daughter of Bird's character, Bromley. The series also co-starred Kenneth Cranham as a notorious British gangster who fled to Spain. Scriptwriter Jimmy McGovern wrote episodes for both the first and second series. The title is a play on El Cid, the 11th-century Castilian knight and warlord in medieval Spain.{{Cite web | url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/el_cid/ | title=El C.I.D. - ITV Comedy Drama| website=British Comedy Guide}}
Cast
- Alfred Molina as Bernard Blake
- John Bird as Douglas Bromley
- Simón Andreu as Delgado
- Tony Haygarth as Frank
- Donald Churchill as Metcalf
- María Isbert as Senora Sanchez
- Kenneth Cranham as Gus Mercer
- Amanda Redman as Rosie Bromley
- Niven Boyd as Graham
- Viviane Vives as Mercedes
- Fiona Gillies as Linda
- Paul Brooke as James Henley Dodd
Episodes
=Series overview=
{{Series overview
| color1 = #FF623B
| link1 = #Series 1 (1990)
| episodes1 = 6
| start1 = {{Start date|1990|02|07|df=y}}
| end1 = {{End date|1990|03|14|df=y}}
| color2 = #FFB90F
| link2 = #Series 2 (1991)
| episodes2 = 7
| start2 = {{Start date|1991|01|01|df=y}}
| end2 = {{End date|1991|02|12|df=y}}
| color3 = #000080
| link3 = #Series 3 (1992)
| episodes3 = 6
| start3 = {{Start date|1992|01|27|df=y}}
| end3 = {{End date|1992|03|02|df=y}}
}}
=Series 1 (1990)=
{{Episode table |background=#FF623B |overall= |title= |director= |writer= |airdate= |episodes=
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber=1
| Title= {{va|Copping Out}}
| DirectedBy= Tom Clegg
| WrittenBy= Chris Kelly & Iain Roy
| OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|1990|2|7|df=y}}
| ShortSummary= Douglas Bromley, attending a training course in Spain, entertains thoughts of quitting the Met and starting a new life on the Costa del Sol. Back in London, his friend and colleague, Bernard Blake, sees the appeal.
| LineColor=FF623B
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber=2
| Title= {{va|Spanish Eyes}}
| DirectedBy= Tom Clegg
| WrittenBy= Chris Kelly & Iain Roy
| OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|1990|2|14|df=y}}
| ShortSummary= Douglas and Bernard arrive in Spain, having quit policing the streets of London for a beach bar on the Costa del Sol. However, there is someone in Spain who remembers them from London - and he's determined to put them out of business.
| LineColor=FF623B
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber=3
| Title= {{va|Dog Days}}
| DirectedBy= Brian Parker
| WrittenBy= Terry Hodgkinson
| OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|1990|2|21|df=y}}
| ShortSummary= When 'ex-pat' Dinny returns to London for a few days, he enlists Graham to mind his Villa with the strict instruction that no-one is allowed in. When Dinny's wife finds out he is away, she arrives in Spain to claim the villa which is in her name. To do that she must have the villa officially declared vacant, but it's guarded by Graham and three vicious dogs. Blake is called in to find a way past the dogs.
| LineColor=FF623B
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber=4
| Title= {{va|The Price of Love}}
| DirectedBy= Robert Gabriel
| WrittenBy= Paul W.S. Anderson
| OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|1990|2|28|df=y}}
| ShortSummary= When a woman he has never met before kisses him in the street, Blake is bemused. As he stands watching her as she walks away, two men bundle her into a car and drive away. Blake contacts the Spanish police who seem reluctant to investigate, so Blake sets out to find the mysterious woman.
| LineColor=FF623B
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber=5
| Title= {{va|A Proper Copper}}
| DirectedBy= Tim Sullivan
| WrittenBy= Jimmy McGovern
| OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|1990|3|7|df=y}}
| ShortSummary= Bromley is depressed and irritable, that can only mean one thing: it's his birthday, his 56th. Blake offers to take him out to cheer him up, so they spend the night at the casino. Whilst there Bromley overpowers an armed man, the intended targets are two British drug dealers. The man blames them for the death of his son. Bromley promises to bring the men to justice.
| LineColor=FF623B
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber=6
| Title= {{va|Getting Even}}
| DirectedBy= Robert Tronson
| WrittenBy= Paul W.S. Anderson
| OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|1990|3|14|df=y}}
| ShortSummary= Mercer and Graham have returned from South Africa and they need a favour. They are trying to do a deal to buy some diamonds from a recent robbery in, London. They are £50,000 short, so put pressure on Frank to raise the money. Seeing this as a chance to get rid of Mercer and Graham for good, Frank enlists the help of Bromley and Blake. Meanwhile, at the marina, Blake investigates a series of thefts, thefts which Metcalf has accused Senora Sanchez of being involved in.
| LineColor=FF623B
}}
}}
=Series 2 (1991)=
{{Episode table |background=#FFB90F |overall= |title= |director= |writer= |airdate= |episodes=
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber=1
| Title= {{va|Christmas Spirit}}
| DirectedBy= Richard Spence
| WrittenBy= Jimmy McGovern
| OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|1991|1|1|df=y}}
| ShortSummary=Blake investigates when a thief, apparently under the possession of special powers, disrupts Christmas preparations.
| LineColor=FFB90F
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber=2
| Title= {{va|Piece of Cake}}
| DirectedBy= Richard Spence
| WrittenBy= Jimmy McGovern
| OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|1991|1|8|df=y}}
| ShortSummary=Blake comes across an old criminal, and investigates a case of food poisoning at Frank's restaurant.
| LineColor=FFB90F
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber=3
| Title= {{va|In the Rough}}
| DirectedBy= Baz Taylor
| WrittenBy= Alan Clews
| OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|1991|1|15|df=y}}
| ShortSummary=Bromley and Blake investigate an attack on a golf course.
| LineColor=FFB90F
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber=4
| Title= {{va|Paradise Mislaid}}
| DirectedBy= Lawrence Gordon Clark
| WrittenBy= Paul W.S. Anderson
| OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|1991|1|22|df=y}}
| ShortSummary=Blake is surprised by the arrival of his half-brother, and investigates when a retired couple are conned.
| LineColor=FFB90F
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber=5
| Title= {{va|Thursday's Child|Thursday’s Child}}
| DirectedBy= Baz Taylor
| WrittenBy= Bill Gallagher
| OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|1991|1|29|df=y}}
| ShortSummary=Blake agrees to help find a missing girl, and gets caught up in the case of a stolen racehorse.
| LineColor=FFB90F
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber=6
| Title= {{va|All Grown Up and Nowhere to Go}}
| DirectedBy= Lawrence Gordon Clark
| WrittenBy= Bill Gallagher
| OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|1991|2|5|df=y}}
| ShortSummary=Bromley and Blake's work on a case is threatened when they realise their cover could be blown by a face from the past.
| LineColor=FFB90F
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber=7
| Title= {{va|Ticket to Ride}}
| DirectedBy= Tom Clegg
| WrittenBy= Rod Beecham
| OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|1991|2|12|df=y}}
| ShortSummary=Bromley and Blake decide to try their luck on a local lottery.
| LineColor=FFB90F
}}
}}
=Series 3 (1992)=
{{Episode table |background=#000080 |overall= |title= |director= |writer= |airdate= |episodes=
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber=1
| Title= {{va|Making Amends}}
| DirectedBy= William Brayne
| WrittenBy= Paul W.S. Anderson
| OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|1992|1|27|df=y}}
| ShortSummary= Douglas's daughter Rosie flies out to join him in Spain. Frank has problems with his new pizza delivery service.
| LineColor=000080
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber=2
| Title= {{va|Nothing is Forever}}
| DirectedBy= Lawrence Gordon Clark
| WrittenBy= Rod Beecham
| OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|1992|2|3|df=y}}
| ShortSummary= Gus is accused of stealing a diamond necklace, and Douglas tries to prove his innocence.
| LineColor=000080
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber=3
| Title= {{va|My Brother's Keeper|My Brother’s Keeper}}
| DirectedBy= Lawrence Gordon Clark
| WrittenBy= Joe Ainsworth
| OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|1992|2|10|df=y}}
| ShortSummary= Douglas and Rosie are hired to act as minders to a young English footballer.
| LineColor=000080
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber=4
| Title= {{va|Who Needs Enemies?}}
| DirectedBy= Lawrence Gordon Clark
| WrittenBy= Brian Finch
| OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|1992|2|17|df=y}}
| ShortSummary= Douglas investigates reports of a poltergeist.
| LineColor=000080
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber=5
| Title= {{va|Day of the Gato}}
| DirectedBy= Tim Sullivan
| WrittenBy= Joe Ainsworth
| OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|1992|2|24|df=y}}
| ShortSummary= Douglas investigates a series of church burglaries.
| LineColor=000080
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber=6
| Title= {{va|The Lone Stranger}}
| DirectedBy= Lawrence Gordon Clark
| WrittenBy= Alan Whiting
| OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|1992|3|2|df=y}}
| ShortSummary= Douglas suspects Mercer of murder, and gets some welcome attention from Stephanie.
| LineColor=000080
}}
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb title|id=0122343|title=El C.I.D.}}
Category:1990s British comedy-drama television series
Category:1990s British crime drama television series
Category:1990 British television series debuts
Category:1992 British television series endings
Category:ITV television dramas
Category:Television series by ITV Studios
Category:Television shows produced by Granada Television