''Chancer'' is a British television

crime drama Crime film is a film belonging to the crime fiction genre. Films of this genre generally involve various aspects of crime and fiction. Stylistically, the genre may overlap and combine with many other genres, such as Drama (film and television), dr ...

serial, produced by

Central Independent Television ITV Central, previously known as Central Independent Television, Carlton Central, ITV1 for Central England and commonly referred to as simply Central, is the ITV (TV network), Independent Television franchisee in Midlands, the English Midlands ...

for ITV, that first broadcast on 6 March 1990. Starring

Clive Owen Clive Owen (born 3 October 1964) is an English actor. He first gained recognition in the United Kingdom for playing the lead role in the ITV series '' Chancer'' from 1990 to 1991. He received critical acclaim for his work in the film '' Close ...

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 Jan Hammer () (born 17 April 1948) is a Czech-American musician, composer, and record producer. He rose to prominence while playing keyboards with the Mahavishnu Orchestra during the early 1970s, as well as with his film scores for television an ...

. 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

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 Stephen Phillip Tompkinson (born 15 October 1965) is an English actor, known for his television roles as Marcus in '' Chancer '' (1990), Damien Day in '' Drop the Dead Donkey'' (1990–1998), Father Peter Clifford in '' Ballykissangel'' (1996� ...

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

* *{{Epguides, Chancer
''Chancer''
at the British Film Institute (BFI) ITV television dramas 1990 British television series debuts 1991 British television series endings 1990s British drama television series Television series by ITV Studios British English-language television shows Television shows produced by Central Independent Television