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.

Streaming

Watch Now

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.
Survivor
Running

Survivor

Eighteen to twenty castaways will compete against each other on Survivor. All castaways will compete to outwit, outplay, outlast and ultimately be crowned Sole Survivor.

Saturday Night Live
Running

Saturday Night Live

Saturday Night Live is an Emmy Award-winning late-night comedy showcase.

Since its inception in 1975, "SNL" has launched the careers of many of the brightest comedy performers of their generation. As The New York Times noted on the occasion of the show's Emmy-winning 25th Anniversary special in 1999, "in defiance of both time and show business convention, 'SNL' is still the most pervasive influence on the art of comedy in contemporary culture." At the close of the century, "Saturday Night Live" placed seventh on Entertainment Weekly's list of the Top 100 Entertainers of the past fifty years.

Lioness
Running

Lioness

Lioness, inspired by an actual U.S. Military program, follows the life of Joe while she attempts to balance her personal and professional life as the tip of the CIA's spear in the war on terror. The Lioness Program, overseen by Kaitlyn Meade and Donald Westfield, enlists an aggressive Marine Raider named Cruz to operate undercover alongside Joe among the power brokers of State terrorism in the CIA's efforts to thwart the next 9/11.

Doc
Running

Doc

Doc centers on the hard-charging, brilliant Dr. Amy Larsen, Chief of Internal and Family Medicine at Westside Hospital in Minneapolis. After a brain injury erases the last eight years of her life, Amy must navigate an unfamiliar world where she has no recollection of patients she's treated, colleagues she's crossed, the soulmate she divorced, the man she now loves and the tragedy that caused her to push everyone away. She can rely only on her estranged 17-year-old daughter, whom she remembers as a 9-year-old, and a handful of devoted friends, as she struggles to continue practicing medicine, despite having lost nearly a decade of knowledge and experience.

Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage
Running

Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage

Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage follows Georgie and Mandy as they raise their young family in Texas while navigating the challenges of adulthood, parenting and marriage.