British Detective Dramas Trivia Game | British TV

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. 'Rosemary and Thyme' was first broadcast on British television in 2003.The characters Rosemary Boxer and Laura Thyme have a gardening business and detect serious crime in each episode. Felicity Kendal played the part of Rosemary Boxer. Which actress played the part of Laura Thyme?

Answer: Pam Ferris

The title of the series came from an old English poem called,'Scarborough Fayre', which later became a well known ballad, the most famous version of this being 'Scarborough Fair' by Simon and Garfunkel, which formed part of the sountrack of the film, 'The Graduate', in 1968. It was subsequently released by them as a single.

Pam Ferris also starred in the British drama,'The Darling Buds of May', which was broadcast on British television between 1991 and 1993.
She also starred as Miss Trunchbull in the film 'Matilda', which was released in 1996.

Felicity Kendal starred as Barbara Good in,'The Good Life', which was first broadcast on British television in 1975.
She also featured in the magazine "FHM"'s '100 Sexiest Women in the World', in 1995.

2. 'Hazell' was broadcast on British television between 1978 and 1979. James Hazell was a Private Detective played by Nicholas Ball. The series was created by Gordon Williams and which well known English football manager?

Answer: Terry Venables

There were 22 episodes in the series.

Nicholas Ball also played the part of Gary Ryan in 'Footballers' Wives, which was first aired on British television in 2002.
He also featured in the UK soap 'Eastenders' in 2007 as the character Terry Bates, an Eastend gangster.

Terry Venables was manager of England between 1993 and 1996. He also played for Tottenham Hotspur between 1966 and 1969, he was manager of this club between 1987 and 1991.

3. 'Hetty Wainthropp Investigates' was broadcast on British television between 1996 and 1998. Hetty Wainthropp is a retired housewife who solves a whole host of crimes. Which English county is the series set in?

Answer: Lancashire

'Hetty Wainthropp Investigates' was written by David Cook. A feature length episode based on the novel, 'Missing Persons', was first shown on British television in 1990.

Robert Wainthropp is played by Derek Benfield, who played Mr.Scrimshaw in 'The First of the Summer Wine', shown on British television between 1988 and 1999.

Hetty's lodger and assistant, Geoffrey Shawcross, is played by Dominic Monaghan who played Charlie Pace in the cult series,'Lost', which was first shown on British television in 2004.

4. 'Shoestring' was broadcast on British television between 1979 and 1980. It starred Trevor Eve as Private Detective Eddie Shoestring who had his own radio show in Bristol. What was the name of the radio station which broadcast his show?

Answer: Radio West

Trevor Eve also stars in the police drama, 'Waking the Dead', which was first shown on British television in 2000.

Michael Medwin played the part of Don Satchley, the boss of Radio West. He produced the film 'If...', in 1968, which won a Palme D'Or at the Cannes film festival.

5. 'Boon' was broadcast on British television between 1986 and 1992. It starred Michael Elphick as the character Ken Boon, who was forced to retire from his job due to being injured at work. He had several business concerns in the series,(as well as being a Private Detective), including being the proprietor of a market garden, called The Ponderosa. What was Boon's occupation prior to his enforced retirement?

Answer: Fireman

Ken Boon was forced to retire from the West Midlands fire service, as whilst working, he went in to a burning house, without breathing apparatus and rescued a child. His lungs were permanently damaged due to inhaling toxic smoke,so he was forced to retire.

The theme tune to the series was called 'Hi Ho Silver', was written and sung by Jim Diamond. It was released as a single in 1986 and reached number 5 in the UK charts. Jim Diamond also had a hit with, 'I Should Have Known Better', which reached number one in the UK charts in 1984.

6. 'Jonathan Creek' was broadcast on British television between 1997 and 2004. It starred Alan Davies in the title role of Jonathan Creek, who was a designer of illusions for stage magicians, solving crimes in each episode. Who played the part of the journalist Maddie Magellan, who colluded with Jonathan in solving the crimes?

Answer: Caroline Quentin

The series was written by David Renwick. He initially wanted Nicholas Lyndhurst to play the part of Jonathan Creek, but he turned it down. Numerous other actors were considered for the part, including Nigel Planer and Angus Deayton.

There were guest appearances in the series by British comedians Bob Monkhouse and Rik Mayall.

Alan Davies started his career as a stand-up comedian in 1988. He won 'Time Out's', Best Young Comic award, in 1991.

7. 'Agatha Christie's Poirot' was first broadcast on British television in 1989, starring David Suchet in the lead role of Poirot. What nationality is Hercule Poirot?

Answer: Belgian

The series has had guest appearances by many, including Stephanie Cole, Frances de la Tour and David Soul.

Hugh Fraser plays the part of Poirot's sidekick, Captain Arthur Hastings.

Hugh Fraser was also cast in the drama 'Sharp' as the Duke of Wellington. This was broadcast on British television between 1994 and 2006.

Philip Jackson stars as Chief Inspector James Japp, who also appeared in two episodes of the police drama, 'A Touch of Frost', in 1999 and 2005, playing the character DS Sharpe.

8. 'Cadfael' was broadcast on British television between 1994 and 1998. Cadfael is a monk, who uses his skills to detect murders, played by Derek Jacobi. In which century is 'Cadfael' set?

Answer: 12th

The character Cadfael, was born in Wales. He is a Benedictine monk at Shrewsbury Abbey in the county of Shropshire. The stories are set in the mid 12th century, between about 1135 and 1145.

The series is based on the novels by Edith Pargeter, who wrote them using the pen name Ellis Peters.

9. 'Miss Marple', created by Agatha Christie, was broadcast on British television between 1984 and 1992. It starred Joan Hickson in the lead role. Which other British actress is well known as playing the part of Miss Marple?

Answer: Margaret Rutherford

Joan Hickson also starred in several of the 'Carry On' comedy films, including 'Carry on Nurse'. She died in 1998, aged 92 years of age.

David Horovitch starred in the series as Inspector Slack. He also had roles in 'The New Avengers' and 'Foyle's War'.

Margaret Rutherford died in 1982, and was 80 years of age.

10. 'Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)' was broadcast on British television between 1969 and 1970. It starred Mike Pratt as James Randall and Kenneth Cope as Marty Hopkirk. Hopkirk is murdered whilst working and returns as a ghost and can only be seen by Randall. Hopkirk assists Randall from beyond the grave in solving cases. There was a remake of the series in 2000, which well known British comedy duo played the roles of Randall and Hopkirk?

Answer: Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer

The theme music to the series was composed by Edwin Astley, who also wrote the theme tunes for 'The Baron' and 'The Saint'.

In the remake, Vic Reeves plays Hopkirk and Bob Mortimer plays Randall.

The 2000 version also stars Annette Andre as Hopkirk's widow, Jeannie Hopkirk.

Annette Andre, who is Australian by birth, has also made guest appearances in many British dramas including 'The Avengers' and 'The Saint'.

Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer hosted the celebrity comedy panel game, 'Shooting Stars', between 1995 and 2002.

Source: Author demurechicky

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ladymacb29 before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

British Detective Dramas Trivia Quiz

A quiz on an assortment of British Detective dramas.

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