This unusual six part musical drama was first shown in the UK at the end of 2004 on BBC One.
The plot centeres around the murder of a young man in a Blackpool arcade, and how it affects the people
involved in the arcade and the investigation:
Ripley Holden (David Morrissey), the ambitious, bullying arcade owner who believes strongly in luck, and
who is planning to turn his arcade into a Las Vegas-style casino hotel and thus revive Blackpool's fortunes;
DI Peter Carlisle (David Tennant), the investigating officer of the murder: a charming and good-natured,
although extremely manipulative, police officer, who dislikes Holden almost on sight;
Natalie Holden (Sarah Parish), Ripley's shy, frustrated and lonely wife, whom Ripley takes for granted and
to whom Carlisle takes a shine to;
Shyanne Holden (Georgina Taylor); Ripley and Natalie's spoilt daughter, who worships her doting father but
is cruel and distant to her mother; and
Danny Holden (Thomas Morrison); Ripley and Natalie's troubled and awkward son, who is constantly belittled
by his father.
As the investigation proceeds, it takes its toll on the characters; Ripley, under suspicion of murder, finds
his public and private life slowly unravelling as both his bullying nature and long-forgotten demons from his past return
to bite him, whilst Carlisle, intent on proving Ripley is the murderer and planning to use Natalie to get to him, finds himself
genuinely falling in love with her instead.
