History Series / Heartbeat

Not to be confused with the short-lived 2015 television series of the same name.

* {{Fanservice}}: Kate, to the extent where Niamh Cusack had a very brief topless scene in the [[EarlyInstallmentWeirdness first season]].

The series originally began with Constable Nick Rowan (Nick Berry) and his doctor wife, Kate (Niamh Cusack), accepting a reassignment from London, which was troubled with considerable civil unrest at the time. As Rowan and his comrades keep the peace, they keep a wary eye for the local con man, Claude Greengrass (Creator/BillMaynard), who is forever looking for the next big score, which is usually just this side of legal to keep them from arresting him.

A spin-off series ''The Royal'', ran from 2003 to 2011.

''Heartbeat'' was a [[LongRunners long running]] British drama series which aired from 1992 to 2010. Set in rural Yorkshire in TheSixties, it was about the adventures of the local constabulary and medical services of the village of Aidensfield and the larger town of Ashfordly where the main police station of the area is situated. Later on, real places (particularly Whitby) would appear, placing the fictional Aidensfield in much the same location as the real Goathland, where much of the location filming took place.

The series originally began with Constable Nick Rowan and his doctor wife accepting a reassignment from London, which was troubled with considerable civil unrest at the time. As Rowan and comrades keep the peace, they keep a wary eye for the local con man, Claude Greengrass, who is forever looking for the next big score, which is usually just this side of legal to keep them from arresting him.

''Heartbeat'' was a [[LongRunners long running]] British drama series set in rural Yorkshire in TheSixties, about the adventures of the local constabulary and medical services of the village of Aidensfield and the larger town of Ashfordly where the main police station of the area is situated. Later on, real places (particularly Whitby) would appear, placing the fictional Aidensfield in much the same location as the real Goathland, where much of the location filming took place.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/heartbeat_0.png]]

The series feels much like a police version of ''Series/AllCreaturesGreatAndSmall'' (Johnny Byrne was effectively the showrunner for both series) as small town life proves incredibly lively with numerous crimes to solve and medical problems to treat, usually with a touch of humour.

''Heartbeat'' is a [[LongRunners long running]] British drama series set in rural Yorkshire in TheSixties, about the adventures of the local constabulary and medical services of the village of Aidensfield and the larger town of Ashfordly where the main police station of the area is situated. Later on, real places (particularly Whitby) would appear, placing the fictional Aidensfield in much the same location as the real Goathland, where much of the location filming took place.

* WrenchWench: Rosie

** Oscar Blaketon, the original sargeant, started the series as a very bad-tempered and cynical character, often seen shouting at those under his command. He mellowed considerably as the show continued, especially following his retirement from the police.

* FakeDefector

* {{Fanservice}}: Niamh Cusack in a controversial "topless" scene in the [[EarlyInstallmentWeirdness first season]].

* ForgottenFallenFriend: [[spoiler: Rosie ]], despite being a supposedly a valued friend of many characters, was very suddenly forgotten from the show. A background character that appeared once or twice in the entire show got a bigger sendoff the very next episode.

* TheGhost: Mrs. Ventress.

* OvertookTheSeries: Already a very loose adaptation of Nicholas Rhea' source novels, the show quickly went its own way.

** originally a vehicle for Nick Berry, but seemed to manage well enough after his departure..

* RealSongThemeTune: "Heartbeat", originally a hit for Music/BuddyHolly which charted in the UK in 1959 and 1960. The TV series used a cover version sung by the actor who played Nick Rowan.

* NeverFoundTheBody: All they found was a mutilated passport picture of [[spoiler:Rosie]], it is implied that she died.

''Heartbeat'' is a [[LongRunners long running]] British drama series set in rural Yorkshire in TheSixties, about the adventures of the local constabulary and medical services of the village of Aidensfield and the larger town of Ashfordly where the main police station of the area is situated.

* DownerEnding: About OnceASeason, either as the result of a main character death, or as the conclusion of one of the occasional DarkerAndEdgier plots.

* TheGrimReaper: wanders around in the background shortly before [[spoiler: Oscar Blaketon]] cops it.

* ActorAllusion: Expect some very knowing dialogue whenever the guest star is anybody famous for something other than acting.
** Gary Barlow appeared as a diamond smuggler some time before the Music/TakeThat reunion, and his dialogue referred to having once been in a band that split up.
** When Brian Hibbard, formerly lead singer of The Flying Pickets, appeared as a guest star, the episode's final scene was accompanied by their 1983 number one "Only You", breaking the show's usual convention of only using music up to the early 70s.
** AdaptationDecay : originally a vehicle for Nick Rowan, at that time a very popular soap actor who made the mistake of believing his own advertising, the show lingered on for many years with ever-slipping production standards, second and third-string casting and less resemblance to its original form of a watered-down version of "AllCreaturesGreatAndSmall"

* TheCastShowoff: Tricia Penrose gets to sing every now and again.

* TheDanza: Nick Berry as Nick Rowan.

* PlayingAgainstType: Gwen Taylor took the role of Peggy Armstrong as it gave her an opportunity to play a nasty character for once. She later expressed disappointment at Peggy being softened up in her second season.