Trivia / Prime Suspect

• Dyeing for Your Art: Helen Mirren cut her hair for the series, as policewomen are required to have short hair.
• Inspiration for the Work: Lynda La Plante made the series after watching reality-television crime shows. After calling Scotland Yard and learning that there were only four female DCIs, she interviewed one of them (Jackie Malton), who impressed her so much that La Plante decided to base the plot on Malton's experiences during her career.
• Unfinished Episode: Jimmy McGovern said that he was expecting to be asked to write an episode where Jane was raped, but then Cracker happened and he used the storyline for that instead. ("Men Should Weep", series 2.)
• Word of Gay: In March 2015, Helen Mirren was asked what Jane Tennison would be doing now. She replied "She's a lesbian, living with a very attractive female partner."

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