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 ItDez. 21, 1986
S01E05Pitter PatterDez. 14, 1986
S01E04CluesDez. 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.
Jeopardy!
Running

Jeopardy!

Jeopardy! is a classic game show -- with a twist. The answers are given first, and the contestants supply the questions. Three contestants, including the previous show's champion, compete in six categories and in three rounds (with each round's "answers" being worth more prize money).

Matlock
Running

Matlock

After achieving success in her younger years, the brilliant septuagenarian Madeline Matlock rejoins the work force at a prestigious law firm where she uses her unassuming demeanor and wily tactics to win cases and expose corruption from within.

Outlander
Running

Outlander

Outlander follows the story of Claire Randall, a married combat nurse from 1945 who is mysteriously swept back in time to 1743, where she is immediately thrown into an unknown world where her life is threatened. When she is forced to marry Jamie, a chivalrous and romantic young Scottish warrior, a passionate affair is ignited that tears Claire's heart between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives.

The Outlander series, adapted from Diana Gabaldon's international best-selling books, spans the genres of romance, science fiction, history and adventure into one epic tale.

Monarch: Legacy of Monsters
Running

Monarch: Legacy of Monsters

After surviving Godzilla's attack on San Francisco, Cate is shaken yet again by a shocking secret. Amid monstrous threats, she embarks on a globetrotting adventure to learn the truth about her family—and the mysterious organization known as Monarch.

Fire Country
Running

Fire Country

In Fire Country, seeking redemption and a shortened prison sentence, young convict Bode Donovan joins a firefighting program that returns him to his small Northern California hometown, where he and other inmates work alongside elite firefighters to extinguish massive blazes across the region.