- Radio Times
- Review by:
- Alison Graham
The first episode in the eighth series of this jokey, endearing cop show immediately mines a rich seam of self-mockery as the old geezers investigate a death at the Natural History Museum. Among the dinosaur bones. And the episode is called Old Fossils. Can you see what is happening here? But that’s part of the fun of New Tricks, which is no stranger to having a laugh at its own expense with a heavy-handed gag or two about ageing and the aged.
So, as we return to the Unsolved Crimes and Open Case Squad, wily Gerry, Brian and Jack (Dennis Waterman, Alun Armstrong and James Bolam) and their long-suffering boss Sandra (Amanda Redman) are examining a ten-year-old accidental death, which might not be accidental at all, thanks to a possibly incompetent pathologist (the late Trevor Bannister).
The victim was someone important at the Natural History Museum, where he was found dead after a big party. Of course, everyone behaves in a way guaranteed to attract suspicion and the gang are soon embroiled in the high-pressure, high-stakes world of fossil-selling and skulduggery.
About this programme
1/10. The veteran detectives investigate the murder of a palaeontologist at the Natural History Museum, discovering the victim was a respected but outspoken scientist with a knack for rubbing people up the wrong way. When it comes out he was strongly opposed to the museum's sponsorship deal with a large fuel company, the cops soon have plenty of suspects. Amanda Redman stars, with guest appearances by Trevor Bannister (Are You Being Served?), Lucy Brown (Primeval) and Natasha Little (Spooks).
Cast and crew
Cast
- Sandra Pullman
- Amanda Redman
- Jack Halford
- James Bolam
- Gerry Standing
- Dennis Waterman
- Brian Lane
- Alun Armstrong
- Bob Ruxton
- Trevor Bannister
- Madeleine Simmonds
- Vicki Pepperdine
- Sarah Winslow
- Natasha Little
- Marie Braden
- Lucy Brown
- Andrea Naylor
- Abigail Davies
- Diane Fletcher
- Jessica Turner
- Mark Slater
- Jamie Sives
- Barry Drake
- Adrian McLoughlin
- James Winslow
- Nicholas Farrell
- Michael Ratcliffe
- William Armstrong
- Tiffany Hayes
- Eleanor Matsuura
- Slater's neighbour
- Graham Bohea
- Uniform PC
- Dan Mersh
Crew
- Director
- Philip John
- Producer
- Keith Thompson
- Writer
- JC Wilsher
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