The Singing Detective

The Singing Detective (1986)

EndedScripted showDrama, Crime

The Singing Detective was broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC1 in 1986 on Sunday nights from 16 November to 21 December with later PBS and cable television showings in the United States. Mystery writer Philip E. Marlow is suffering writer's block and is hospitalised because his psoriatic arthropathy, a chronic skin and joint disease, is at an acute stage forming lesions and sores over his entire body, and partially cripples his hands and feet. As a result of constant pain, a fever caused by the condition, and his refusal to take medication, Marlow falls into a fantasy world involving his Chandleresque novel, The Singing Detective, an escapist adventure about a detective (also named "Philip Marlow") who sings at a dance hall and takes the jobs "the guys who don't sing" won't take.

Network
Scheduleevery Sunday (70 min)

Recent Episodes

EpisodeNameAirdate
S01E06Who Done ItDec 21, 1986
S01E05Pitter PatterDec 14, 1986
S01E04CluesDec 7, 1986
S01E03Lovely DaysNov 30, 1986
S01E02HeatNov 23, 1986
View all episodesView all seasons

Frequently Asked Questions  Warning: Spoilers

When did The Singing Detective premiere?

The Singing Detective premiered on November 16, 1986.

Who created The Singing Detective?

The Singing Detective was created by Dennis Potter.

What genre does The Singing Detective belong to?

The Singing Detective belongs to the genre of musical crime drama.

Who played the lead role in The Singing Detective?

The lead role in The Singing Detective was played by Michael Gambon.

What is the name of the lead character in The Singing Detective?

The lead character in The Singing Detective is named Philip Marlow.

In which country is the setting for The Singing Detective?

The Singing Detective is set in England.

Who directed the episodes of The Singing Detective?

The episodes of The Singing Detective were directed by Jon Amiel.

What was the budget for The Singing Detective?

The budget for The Singing Detective is unknown.

How many episodes were there in the first season of The Singing Detective?

There was only one season of The Singing Detective which consisted of six episodes.

In what year is the majority of The Singing Detective set?

The majority of The Singing Detective is set in the year 1945.

Who played Detective Mark Binney in The Singing Detective?

The role of Detective Mark Binney in The Singing Detective was played by Patrick Malahide.

How many awards did the series receive?

The series received a total of 12 awards including a BAFTA Award for Best Drama Series.

Did The Singing Detective receive any Emmy nominations?

Yes, The Singing Detective was nominated for five Emmy Awards.

Who wrote the screenplay for The Singing Detective?

The screenplay for The Singing Detective was written by Dennis Potter.

Is the series based on a book?

No, The Singing Detective is not based on a book.

Cast

View all cast

Characters

View all characters

Recently Updated Shows

Recently updated shows that might be of your interest.
Peacemaker
Running

Peacemaker

The series will explore the origins of the Peacemaker, a man who believes in peace at any cost - no matter how many people he has to kill to get it.

Resident Alien
Running

Resident Alien

Resident Alien is a dark, twisted and comedic fish-out-of-water story that follows a crash-landed alien named Harry who, after taking on the identity of a small-town Colorado doctor, slowly begins to wrestle with the moral dilemma of his secret mission on Earth — ultimately asking the question, "Are human beings worth saving?"

Futurama
Running

Futurama

Futurama follows pizza guy Philip J. Fry, who reawakens in 31st century New New York after a cryonics lab accident. Now part of the Planet Express delivery crew, Fry travels to the farthest reaches of the universe with his robot buddy Bender and cyclopsian love interest Leela, discovering freaky mutants, intergalactic conspiracies and other strange stuff.

Ghosts
Running

Ghosts

Samantha and Jay throw caution to the wind when they convert their recently inherited country estate into a bed-and-breakfast. Call it mislaid plans. Not only is the place falling apart, but it's also inhabited by spirits of previous residents -- whom only Samantha can see and hear. Ghosts spins the funny, heartfelt story about a newfound dream that reveals connection and self-discovery aren't just for the living.

Hijack
Running

Hijack

Told in real time, Hijack is a tense thriller that follows the journey of a hijacked plane as it makes its way to London over a seven-hour flight, as authorities on the ground scramble for answers. Sam Nelson is an accomplished negotiator in the business world who needs to step up and use all his guile to try and save the lives of the passengers — but his high-risk strategy could be his undoing.