From one Trick to big hit

Starring Amanda Redman, Dennis Waterman, Alun Armstrong and James Bolam, New Tricks was commissioned as a one-off with the possibility of a series. A huge hit when it was screened in 2003, it was picked up for a six-part series and it has continued to attract huge audiences to this day.

New, New Tricks

For the 2012 series, James Bolam was replaced by Denis Lawson. Amanda Redman and Alun Armstrong later announced their departure, with Only Fools And Horses star Nicholas Lyndhurst and former EastEnder Tamsin Outhwaite joining the cast.

Sing the theme tune

He may have been lampooned for writing and singing the theme tunes for a number of shows in a famous Little Britain sketch, but Dennis Waterman only sings the theme tune here. "It's All Right" was written by Mike Moran. Moran is famous for performing Rock Bottom alongside co-writer Lynsey de Paul at the 1977 Eurovision Song Contest (they came second). He also co-wrote the Freddie Mercury album Barcelona and composed the themes for quiz shows Chain Letters, Lucky Ladders and The Krypton Factor.

Taking the stand

The three characters Halford, Lane and Standing were named after The Halford Lane Stand at The Hawthorns West Bromwich Albion football ground. Writer Roy Mitchell is a huge West Brom fan.