Playing the Field
{{Other uses|Playing the field (disambiguation){{!}}Playing the field}}
{{more footnotes needed|date=March 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{Infobox television
| image = Playing the Field.jpg
| caption =
| runtime = 60 minutes
| creator = Kay Mellor
| starring =
| executive_producer = Charles Brand
Tessa Ross
Kay Mellor
| producer = Kathleen Hutchison
Hugh Warren
Greg Brenman
Lis Steele
| channel = BBC One
| first_aired = {{start date|1998|3|8|df=yes}}
| last_aired = {{end date|2002|2|10|df=yes}}
| country = United Kingdom
| language = English
| num_series = 5
| num_episodes = 32
| list_episodes =
| company = Tiger Aspect Productions
| related =
}}
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. 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?|date=April 2022}} 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 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}}
}}
=Series 1 (1998)=
{{Episode table |background=#72A0C1 |overall= |series= |title= |director= |writer= |airdate=|episodes=
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber=1
| EpisodeNumber2 =1
| Title=Episode 1
| DirectedBy=Paul Seed
| WrittenBy=Kay Mellor
| OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1998|03|08|df=yes}}
| ShortSummary=
| LineColor=72A0C1
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber=2
| EpisodeNumber2 =2
| Title=Episode 2
| DirectedBy=Paul Seed
| WrittenBy=Kay Mellor
| OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1998|03|15|df=yes}}
| ShortSummary=
| LineColor=72A0C1
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber=3
| EpisodeNumber2 =3
| Title=Episode 3
| DirectedBy=Paul Seed
| WrittenBy=Kay Mellor
| OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1998|03|22|df=yes}}
| ShortSummary=
| LineColor=72A0C1
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber=4
| EpisodeNumber2 =4
| Title=Episode 4
| DirectedBy=Catherine Morshead
| WrittenBy=Kay Mellor
| OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1998|03|29|df=yes}}
| ShortSummary=
| LineColor=72A0C1
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber=5
| EpisodeNumber2 =5
| Title=Episode 5
| DirectedBy=Catherine Morshead
| WrittenBy=Kay Mellor
| OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1998|04|05|df=yes}}
| ShortSummary=
| LineColor=72A0C1
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber=6
| EpisodeNumber2 =6
| Title=Episode 6
| DirectedBy=Catherine Morshead
| WrittenBy=Kay Mellor
| OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1998|04|12|df=yes}}
| ShortSummary=
| LineColor=72A0C1
}}
}}
=Series 2 (1999)=
{{Episode table |background=#B87BF6 |overall= |series= |title= |director= |writer= |airdate=|episodes=
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber=7
| EpisodeNumber2 = 1
| Title=Episode 1
| DirectedBy=Nicholas Laughland
| WrittenBy=Kay Mellor
| OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1999|02|18|df=yes}}
| ShortSummary=
| LineColor=B87BF6
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber=8
| EpisodeNumber2 = 2
| Title=Episode 2
| DirectedBy=Nicholas Laughland
| WrittenBy=Kay Mellor
| OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1999|02|25|df=yes}}
| ShortSummary=
| LineColor=B87BF6
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber=9
| EpisodeNumber2 = 3
| Title=Episode 3
| DirectedBy=Nicholas Laughland
| WrittenBy=Kay Mellor
| OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1999|03|04|df=yes}}
| ShortSummary=
| LineColor=B87BF6
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber=10
| EpisodeNumber2 = 4
| Title=Episode 4
| DirectedBy=Nicholas Laughland
| WrittenBy=Sally Wainwright
| OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1999|03|11|df=yes}}
| ShortSummary=
| LineColor=B87BF6
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber=11
| EpisodeNumber2 = 5
| Title=Episode 5
| DirectedBy=Robin Sheppard
| WrittenBy=Valerie Windsor
| OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1999|03|18|df=yes}}
| ShortSummary=
| LineColor=B87BF6
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber=12
| EpisodeNumber2 = 6
| Title=Episode 6
| DirectedBy=Robin Sheppard
| WrittenBy=Valerie Windsor
| OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1999|03|25|df=yes}}
| ShortSummary=
| LineColor=B87BF6
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber=13
| EpisodeNumber2 = 7
| Title=Episode 7
| DirectedBy=Robin Sheppard
| WrittenBy=Sally Wainwright
| OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1999|04|01|df=yes}}
| ShortSummary=
| LineColor=B87BF6
}}
}}
=Series 3 (2000)=
{{Episode table |background=#2F6144 |overall= |series= |title= |director= |writer= |airdate=|episodes=
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber=14
| EpisodeNumber2 = 1
| Title=Episode 1
| DirectedBy=Dermot Boyd
| WrittenBy=Kay Mellor
| OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2000|02|01|df=yes}}
| ShortSummary=
| LineColor=2F6144
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber=15
| EpisodeNumber2 = 2
| Title=Episode 2
| DirectedBy=Dermot Boyd
| WrittenBy=Katie Baxendale
| OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2000|02|08|df=yes}}
| ShortSummary=
| LineColor=2F6144
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber=16
| EpisodeNumber2 = 3
| Title=Episode 3
| DirectedBy=Dermot Boyd
| WrittenBy=Jan McVerry
| OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2000|02|15|df=yes}}
| ShortSummary=
| LineColor=2F6144
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber=17
| EpisodeNumber2 = 4
| Title=Episode 4
| DirectedBy=David Innes Edwards
| WrittenBy=Kay Mellor
| OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2000|02|24|df=yes}}
| ShortSummary=
| LineColor=2F6144
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber=18
| EpisodeNumber2 = 5
| Title=Episode 5
| DirectedBy=David Innes Edwards
| WrittenBy=Kay Mellor
| OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2000|03|02|df=yes}}
| ShortSummary=
| LineColor=2F6144
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber=19
| EpisodeNumber2 = 6
| Title=Episode 6
| DirectedBy=David Innes Edwards
| WrittenBy=Katie Baxendale
| OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2000|03|09|df=yes}}
| ShortSummary=
| LineColor=2F6144
}}
}}
=Series 4 (2000)=
{{Episode table |background=#AE1A1A |overall= |series= |title= |director= |writer= |airdate=|episodes=
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber=20
| EpisodeNumber2 = 1
| Title=Episode 1
| DirectedBy=Alrick Riley
| WrittenBy=Sally Wainwright
| OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2000|07|13|df=yes}}
| ShortSummary=
| LineColor=AE1A1A
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber=21
| EpisodeNumber2 = 2
| Title=Episode 2
| DirectedBy=Alrick Riley
| WrittenBy=Katie Baxendale
| OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2000|07|20|df=yes}}
| ShortSummary=
| LineColor=AE1A1A
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber=22
| EpisodeNumber2 = 3
| Title=Episode 3
| DirectedBy=Alrick Riley
| WrittenBy=Greg Snow
| OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2000|07|27|df=yes}}
| ShortSummary=
| LineColor=AE1A1A
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber=23
| EpisodeNumber2 = 4
| Title=Episode 4
| DirectedBy=Dermot Boyd
| WrittenBy=Sally Wainwright
| OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2000|08|03|df=yes}}
| ShortSummary=
| LineColor=AE1A1A
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber=24
| EpisodeNumber2 = 5
| Title=Episode 5
| DirectedBy=Dermot Boyd
| WrittenBy=Katie Baxendale
| OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2000|08|10|df=yes}}
| ShortSummary=
| LineColor=AE1A1A
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber=25
| EpisodeNumber2 = 6
| Title=Episode 6
| DirectedBy=Dermot Boyd
| WrittenBy=Russell Lewis
| OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2000|08|17|df=yes}}
| ShortSummary=
| LineColor=AE1A1A
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber=26
| EpisodeNumber2 = 7
| Title=Episode 7
| DirectedBy=Dermot Boyd
| WrittenBy=Greg Snow
| OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2000|08|24|df=yes}}
| ShortSummary=
| LineColor=AE1A1A
}}
}}
=Series 5 (2002)=
{{Episode table |background=#FF7F50 |overall= |series= |title= |director= |writer= |airdate=|episodes=
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber=27
| EpisodeNumber2 = 1
| Title=Episode 1
| DirectedBy=Robert Knights
| WrittenBy=Gaynor FayeAs Gaynor Mellor.
| OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2002|01|06|df=yes}}
| ShortSummary=
| LineColor=FF7F50
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber=28
| EpisodeNumber2 = 2
| Title=Episode 2
| DirectedBy=Robert Knights
| OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2002|01|13|df=yes}}
| ShortSummary=
| LineColor=FF7F50
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber=29
| EpisodeNumber2 = 3
| Title=Episode 3
| DirectedBy=Andrew Margetson
| WrittenBy=Sarah-Louise Hawkins
| OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2002|01|20|df=yes}}
| ShortSummary=
| LineColor=FF7F50
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber=30
| EpisodeNumber2 = 4
| Title=Episode 4
| DirectedBy=Andrew Margetson
| WrittenBy=Sarah-Louise Hawkins
| OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2002|01|27|df=yes}}
| ShortSummary=
| LineColor=FF7F50
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber=31
| EpisodeNumber2 = 5
| Title=Episode 5
| DirectedBy=Rob Bailey
| WrittenBy=Katie Baxendale
| OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2002|02|03|df=yes}}
| ShortSummary=
| LineColor=FF7F50
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber=32
| EpisodeNumber2 = 6
| Title=Episode 6
| DirectedBy=Rob Bailey
| WrittenBy=Katie Baxendale
| OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2002|02|10|df=yes}}
| ShortSummary=
| LineColor=FF7F50
}}
}}
Ratings
| width="500" class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | |||
| 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 | N/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 |
| width="500" class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | |||
| Episode No. | Airdate | Total Viewers | BBC Weekly Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.1 | 1 February 2000 | Under 6,490,000 | N/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 |
| width="500" class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | |||
| 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 |
| width="500" class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | |||
| 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 | N/A |
| 5.5 | 3 February 2002 | Under 4,430,000 | N/A |
| 5.6 | 10 February 2002 | Under 4,490,000 | N/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 yet received a VHS release, nor has it been released on DVD.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb title|id=0144728|title=Playing the Field}}
{{Kay Mellor}}
Category:1998 British television series debuts
Category:2002 British television series endings
Category:1990s British drama television series
Category:2000s British drama television series
Category:BBC television dramas
Category:Television series by Banijay
Category:Television series by Tiger Aspect Productions