Spender, written by Jimmy Nail & Ian La
Frenais (Auf Wiedersehen Pet), tells
the tale of Freddie Spender (Nail) a tough and able cop cleaning up the streets
of London with his somewhat unorthodox methods. Following a tragic incident,
he's sent home, back to the North-East to his home-town of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne,
which had taken him 20-odd years to get out of. Now re-united with old friends
and haunting ghosts from his untamed past, the loathing he feels for the city
and his new assignment drives his character to push the limits, and test the
powers that be that govern his jurisdiction. But once we meet Spender's family -
divorced wife Frances (Denise Welch) and his two young daughters - we witness an
unexpected dimension to the character: that of a father and protector of his
children, who finds it awkward to work his way back into their lives.
Excellent scripts, hard-hitting drama and action accompany a wealth of talent
involved in the making of this quality program. Jimmy Nail not only stars, but
pens a few of those scripts. Together with his friend Tony McAnaney (who also
co-stars as Keith and writes the music for the series) they combine to produce a
unique and often haunting musical score which creates just the right kind of
atmosphere for the program.
Supplied as an 8
Disc Set, the quality (compared to a retail DVD) is as follows; Video 8 - Audio
8 (Very Good)
DVD Episodes
are as follows;
Spender DVD One
Spender Season 1 - Episode 1 - Homecoming
After an undercover operation goes wrong in London, Spender's partner is
injured. It is felt that Spender should lie low for a while. He is reluctantly
sent back to his native Newcastle for what he thinks is a one-off assignment to
try and get evidence against a local businessman, Spender also catches up with
his ex wife and kids and also his old mate an ex building society robber 'Stick'
who will become his side-kick to help him in his investigations into the murky
criminal world.
Spender Season 1 - Episode 2 - Half a Ton of Heartaches
Spender goes undercover on an oil rig as a fitters mate after a worker is
murdered and his body washed up on the shore. As Spender gets near the truth he
finds the bad guys closing in on him, once he has discovered the death is to do
with drug smuggling. Spender also finds out that his youngest daughter has been
seriously injured in his flat while he was away on the oil rig.
Spender Season 1 - Episode 3 - Double Jeopardy
A group of criminals from the south have come up to team up with some local wekk
know muscle to pull of an armed raid. Meanwhile Spender finds out that his best
mate Keith is struggling to come to terms with his illness.
Spender DVD Two
Spender Season 1 - Episode 4 - The Candidate
Spender is put in charge of the security of a female politician during an
election because she has been receiving some death threats and poison pen
letters. Spender finds that his own life is on the line trying to keep the
politician alive, as someone close to her is trying to kill her.
Spender Season 1 - Episode 5 - Iced
A young student is killed in a motorbike accident. Spender is the godfather to
the girlfriend of the dead young man. Meanwhile a known drug courier is arrested
coming back into the country. Spender poses as an old friend from the army days
of the courier, now turned informer. With the help of Booney, a female
detective, they set about trying to find where and how the drugs are shifted
around the North East. Spender finds out that the death of the young student is
linked with a drug called 'ice', which is being distributed around the North
East by their target.
Spender Season 1 - Episode 6 - Dance Girl Dance
Young girls, recruited by a local nightclub for dancing work overseas, have been
disappearing. Spender poses as a potential owner and, with Stick's help, sets up
a rival club. Spender enlists the help of the sister of one of the missing girls
to find out what happened to them.
Spender DVD Three
Spender Season 1 - Episode 7 - Tough
Spender tries to find a way to help a reluctant fist-fighter escape from the
clutches of his unscrupulous promoter.
Spender Season 1 - Episode 8 - Well, Well, Well
Spender tries to help when Stick gets involved in a dodgy deal involving stolen
jewelry, and the man he was dealing with is murdered.
Spender DVD Four
Spender Season 2 - Episode 1 - Here We Go Again
Spender is involved in a close protection operation involving members of the
government. Meanwhile, Stick and former cellmate Spud get involved in a local
vendetta, while Frances has a new man in her life.
Spender Season 2 - Episode 2 - Fly By Night
Spender goes under cover at a glass factory to check out a suspect for a
security van robbery. Meanwhile, Keith's friend, Blakey, is involved in a war
between illegal fly posting outfits.
Spender Season 2 - Episode 3 - Fee
Spender sets out to help a couple who are in trouble with a local drug dealer,
and uncovers corruption in the drugs squad.
Spender DVD Five
Spender Season 2 - Episode 4 - Family Business
Spender's aunt asks him to find her son, who has been missing for eight months,
and has spent most of his life in trouble.
Spender Season 2 - Episode 5 - The Golden Striker
Spender is assigned to track down a footballer who has gone missing shortly
after arriving home from Italy.
Spender Season 2 - Episode 6 - At The End of the Day
Gillespie puts pressure on Spender to arrest his criminal friends. Frances is on
jury duty and is being pressured into giving a not guilty verdict. Spender
investigates a series of ram-raids.
Spender DVD Six
Spender Season 3 - Episode 1 - The More Things Change
Spender is assigned to investigate attacks on women in a local park, and
investigates a small record bootlegging operation. Stick gets involved with some
hot jewelry. Meanwhile, Spender, Stick and Keith all have new women in their
lives, and Frances plans to remarry.
Spender Season 3 - Episode 2 - Kid
Spender investigates the attempted murder of a runaway teenage boy after his
daughters see him fall from a cliff-top.
Spender Season 3 - Episode 3 - Puck
Spender investigates a local villain and discovers he is blackmailing a local
ice hockey star.
Spender DVD Seven
Spender Season 3 - Episode 4 - Bad Company
Spender is under investigation by CID as he continues his affair with the wife
of a local villain. Gillespie is kidnapped.
Spender Season 3 - Episode5 - Best Friends
Spender and Boyd investigate a series of car thefts, but Boyd is caught by the
gang. Stick opens a jewelry shop, but it is robbed on its first day. Spender
discovers that Stick's girlfriend, Emily, is only fifteen.
Spender Season 3 - Episode 6 - Retreat
Spender goes undercover as a prisoner to investigate the murder of a key
witness. Stick flees Newcastle when he falls behind with his rent.
Spender DVD Eight
Spender Christmas Special - The French Collection
