Wikipedia / Chancer
Wikipedia / Chancer
Chancer is a British television crime drama serial, produced by Central Independent Television for ITV, that first broadcast on 6 March 1990. Starring Clive Owen in the title role of Stephen Crane, Chancer tells the story of a likable conman and rogue at the end of the yuppie 1980s. The first series concerns Crane's attempts to save an ailing car firm, which at first seem to be straightforward, until he is forced to reconcile himself with his past. In the second series, Crane, now using his real name of Derek Love, assists his friend Piers, who has inherited a stately home, and with it, a financial nightmare.
The series boasted a high-profile cast, including Simon Shepherd, Susannah Harker, Leslie Phillips and Peter Vaughan in leading roles. Notably, Christopher Eccleston also had one of his first television roles, featuring in the opening episode of series two as a prison inmate. Across the two series, a total of twenty episodes were broadcast, with both series airing on Tuesdays at 21:00. The theme music for the series was written by Jan Hammer. 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. The release charted at 47 on the UK Singles Chart.
Both series have since been released on DVD via Network, with a complete box set first issued on 4 October 2004.
Cast
Clive Owen as Derek Love / Stephen Crane
Simon Shepherd as Piers Garfield-Ward
Susannah Harker as Joanna Franklyn
Leslie Phillips as James Xavier 'Jimmy' Blake
Peter Vaughan as Thomas 'Tom' Franklyn
Ralph Riach as Willy Stebbings
Series 1 (1990)
Caroline Langrishe as Penny Nichols
Benjamin Whitrow as Robert Douglas
Lynsey Baxter as Victoria Douglas
Matthew Marsh as Gavin Nichols
Stephen Tompkinson as Markus Worton
Cliff Parisi as Lunchbox
Robert Glenister as Colin Morris
Andy Linden as Dink
Paul Barber as Gerald
Maureen Glackin as Lorraine
Karen Archer as Vanessa
Sam London as Tom Nichols
Cathryn Bradshaw as Sonya Morris
Sean Pertwee as Jamie Douglas
Nicholas Shelton as Richard Nichols
Series 2 (1991)
Louise Lombard as Anna
Jennie Linden as Olivia
Tom Tudgay as Joseph Franklyn
Ella Wilder as Ella
Derek Fowlds as Michael Coley
Episodes
Series 1 (1990)
Series 2 (1991)
References
External links
at the British Film Institute (BFI)