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The Singing Detective

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The Singing Detective

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• 1986

• Drama
• Musical

• 15

Summary

Michael Gambon stars in Dennis Potter's surreal 1986 drama about a novelist who begins to mentally assume the role of one of his characters while confined to a hospital bed.

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Review

Gabriel Tate

1986’s The Singing Detective boasts, thanks to Michael Gambon, one of the greatest performances in television history. And in an ensemble including Alison Steadman, Patrick Malahide and Janet Suzman, that’s no mean feat.

Bedbound with acute psoriasis, Gambon’s mystery novelist Philip E Marlow is plagued by hallucinations and fantasies of his own life and childhood trauma, alongside the adventures of his noirish detective, woven together through song with kaleidoscopic brilliance by Dennis Potter.

The confidence and sense of mischief is as breathtaking as ever – it has been rerun a few times in recent years, but remains simply unmissable.

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8.5/10

How to watch

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Streaming

• BBC iPlayer

Credits

Cast

rolenamePhilip MarlowMichael GambonNurse MillsJoanne WhalleyReginaldGerard HoranMr HallDavid Ryall

Crew

rolenameDirectorJon Amiel

Seasons

Latest season

Season 1

Special episodes

News & features about The Singing Detective

• 
  
  The Singing Detective at 40: Remembering the iconic BBC drama with Michael Gambon
  
  It’s 40 years since The Singing Detective launched and became a singular TV classic

• 
  
  BBC Four will air The Singing Detective, more classics to mark BBC centenary
  
  The BAFTA-winning series is the latest classic to be added to BBC Four's centenary line-up.

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• 
  
  Harry Potter and acting icon Michael Gambon dies, aged 82
  
  The actor has died peacefully in hospital, according to his family.

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  Adrian Dunbar is “really hoping” to sing again in Ridley season 2
  
  Will the actor be able to show off his pipes again in the ITV drama?

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  Harry Potter stars pay tribute to late Dumbledore star Michael Gambon
  
  Harry Potter actors Jason Isaacs and James Phelps led the tributes to the late Dumbledore star.

• 
  
  Adrian Dunbar returns for Ridley season 2 as drama gets 4 new episodes
  
  The "singing detective" will return.

• 
  
  Nicholas Pinnock on being a Mind ambassador and six-week stay in mental-health facility: "I was suicidal"
  
  Pinnock stars in Channel 4's first digital original drama, Beth.

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• 
  
  Gavin and Stacey legend Alison Steadman recalls her main concern before breaking barriers with first lesbian kiss on British TV
  
  The actress on badgers, broken bones, the birth of the Beatles — and the debt she will always owe to Beverly…

• 
  
  Adrian Dunbar on being "very keen" for new Line of Duty and his new Channel 5 travel show
  
  The Line of Duty star chats to Lauren Morris for The Big RT Interview about his hopes for the show's seventh season, singing in Ridley and his new Channel 5 travel show.

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