Chancer

Chancer is a British television crime drama serial, produced by Central Television for ITV, that first broadcast on 6 March 1990. Starring Clive Owen in the title role of Stephen Crane, Chancer tells the story of a likable conman and rogue at the end of the yuppie 1980s. The first series concerns Crane's attempts to save an ailing car firm, which at first seem to be straightforward, until he is forced to reconcile himself with his past. In the second series, Crane, now using his real name of Derek Love, assists his friend Piers, who has inherited a stately home, and with it, a financial nightmare.

The series boasted a high-profile cast, including Simon Shepherd, Susannah Harker, Leslie Phillips and Peter Vaughan in leading roles. Notably, Christopher Eccleston also had one of his first television roles, featuring in the opening episode of series two as a prison inmate. Across the two series, a total of twenty episodes were broadcast, with both series airing on Tuesdays at 21:00. The theme music for the series was written by Jan Hammer. In 1991, Hammer's Miami Vice soundtrack "Crockett's Theme" was re-released with his Chancer theme tune as a double A-side, after the former featured in a series of NatWest adverts. The release charted at #47 on the UK Singles Chart.

Both series have since been released on DVD via Network, with a complete box set first issued on 4 October 2004.

Cast

 * Clive Owen as Derek Love / Stephen Crane
 * Simon Shepherd as Piers Garfield-Ward
 * Susannah Harker as Joanna Franklyn
 * Leslie Phillips as James Xavier 'Jimmy' Blake
 * Peter Vaughan as Thomas 'Tom' Franklyn
 * Ralph Riach as Willy Stebbings

Series 1 (1990)

 * Caroline Langrishe as Penny Nichols
 * Benjamin Whitrow as Robert Douglas
 * Lynsey Baxter as Victoria Douglas
 * Matthew Marsh as Gavin Nichols
 * Stephen Tompkinson as Markus Worton
 * Cliff Parisi as Lunchbox
 * Robert Glenister as Colin Morris
 * Andy Linden as Dink
 * Paul Barber as Gerald
 * Maureen Glackin as Lorraine
 * Karen Archer as Vanessa
 * Sam London as Tom Nichols
 * Cathryn Bradshaw as Sonya Morris
 * Sean Pertwee as Jamie Douglas
 * Nicholas Shelton as Richard Nichols

Series 2 (1991)

 * Louise Lombard as Anna
 * Jennie Linden as Olivia
 * Tom Tudgay as Joseph Franklyn
 * Ella Wilder as Ella
 * Derek Fowlds as Michael Coley