Badger was a British drama series about a police wildlife liaison officer and others who help him fight wildlife crime set in the rural county of Northumberland.
Animal-loving detective Tom McCabe is one of very few wildlife protection officers assigned to work for the Northumberland City police with his reluctant, sometime partner Jim Cassidy. In this mainly rural county Tom and Jim investigate wildlife related crime in close association with RSPB officer Claire Armitage, much to the chagrin of her husband, Tom's superior David Armitage who believes more than a professional relationship exists between them. Whilst Tom likes Claire he attention is currently focused on veterinary surgeon Steph Allen, a single-mum who runs the local wildlife sanctuary. However, Tom's life is radically altered by the arrival of his previously unknown daughter Wilf.
Has no connection to The Badger comic book.
Badger contains examples of:
- Beastly Bloodsports:
- Tom had to break up a badger baiting ring in "Setts, Lies and Videotape".
- In "Cock o' the Walk", Tom and Cassidy investigate a cockfighting ring.
- Counterfeit Cash: While investigating a shipment of counterfeit money in "The World According to Carp", McCabe and Cassidy keep watch on Frankie Moncur, an arrogant local villain who also runs an apparently respectable restaurant. Moncur is aware of their surveillance, and constantly mocks their efforts.
- Dead Animal Warning: In "The Price of a Daughter", a disemboweled badger is dumped in Tom's garden as a warning.
- Evil Poacher: "It's a Jungle Out There" involves a venison poaching ring and a birds' egg raider. The cases coincide when the 'egger' is poisoned by the poached venison, exposing the poaching ring.
- Gender-Blender Name: Tom's teenage daughter is nicknamed Wilf, which is normally short for Wilfred. Her actual name is Catherine.
- Great White Hunter: In "Predators", Harrington, the owner of a private collection of dangerous wild animals, reports that his animals - an iguana, a racoon, two wolves and a leopard - have all been released into the countryside. McCabe brings in a professional big-game hunter and, during their mutual pursuit of the animals, learns to respect the man's expertise.
- I Have Your Wife: Wilf is abducted "The Price of a Daughter".
- Kindly Vet: Tom's Love Interest Steph is the vet at the local wildlife refuge. She is extremely passionate about animal welfare, and pours her heart and soul into trying to save wounded animals.
- The Missus and the Ex: In "The Price of a Daughter", Steph's ex-husband Ralph shows up out of the blue and attempts to woo her back; much to the annoyance of her current partner Tom. This subplot continues over the next several episodes.
- One-Word Title
- Only Known by Their Nickname: Almost no one ever calls Wilf by her actual given name, which is Catherine.
- Oop North
- Protection Racket: In "Setts, Lies and Videotape", Chris and Jackie Mason, two teenage hoodlums, terrorize a council estate and run a protection racket which preys on the local traders, mocking the police when they try to intervene. But when they decide to step into the big time by running a badger bait in a wharfside warehouse, they incur McCabe's wrath.
- The Rustler: In "Blood Ties", a violent gang are rustling hill sheep and slaughtering them to sell the meat on the clandestine market. McCabe tries to track down the rustlers by hiding himself in their van during their next raid, and guiding the police task force to the illegal slaughterhouse by radio.
- Sex with the Ex: In "Flight", Liam is bullied at school and Ralph's genuine concern makes his ex-wife Steph warm to him. When he takes on the bully's parents and gets beaten up himself, she is touched and they end up in bed together. This fling later puts considerable strain on her relationship with her current boyfriend Tom.
- Sink or Swim Fatherhood: Tom to Wilf.
