ITV Discussion Thread

Apparently a lot of the cast have recently been injured in a tractor accident on set - wonder if Health and Safety have said "if you don't move on from the dangers of the 1960s - we'll have no reason but to tell you to abandon filming..."

I wouldn't be surprised if they do axe it (personally I think they should now) The show has been stuck in the same era, same theme and dodgy filmic since it began.

According to BBC News online, they aren't being axed, they are just stopping production due to a back log of episodes, which is obvious as they have been showing other programmes in that slot lately but still making long 20 episode series

I cant say im surprised by this news - im only surprised Heartbeat has lasted so long.

Also I dont think the decline in ratings can be blamed on Corrie moving from Sundays - whilst its true that Corrie provided a strong lead in for the show if it cant maintain its ratings without Corrie there it needs axing.

This is the problem with Heartbeat, which to me has always been a bit of a strange stance to take. It's been running for 14-16 years & yet they're still in the 1960's, I mean what's wrong with the current series been set in 1975/6?

However have to say that this Grade fellow doesn't seem to improving ITV that much does he?

Because it's a drama set in the sixties?

Yes but how long can you keep that up for, the programme started in 1992, if each series equals a new year for example & they started at 1960 then we should be in 1976 by now surely, even if you took two series to equal one year then surely by now they should be in the late 60's by now, especially when the few remaining characters have noticeably aged over the years?

The problem is it's called "Heartbeat" after the song (also the theme tune) written by Buddy Holly in the late 1950s. They would perhaps have been better off doing what Life on Mars did - return and call it something else but I guess it's a little difficult with Heartbeat hence they chose to do another 60s spin-off instead - The Royal perhaps should have been set in the 70s I don't know, it's all turning into one big TARDIS.

I suppose so, oh well it kind of has run out of steam, I mean 18 series is a long time for a show which is basically the same thing every couple of years.

That is why the Royal has appeared! I would like heartbeat to be set in the ealry 1970's give it a nice twist

They are in the late 60s (1969) now. Trouble is, they've been in 1969 for about twelve years. Since 1969 began, Gina's been through two pregnancies and yes, the first was a premature birth but that's still pushing it somewhat!

Wasn't there actually one series (about 7 or 8 years ago) that was actually set during 1970 and used the music from that year before reverting back to the generic 60's era?

Good riddance to Heartbeat and The Royal - certainly way past their sell by dates! A good choice from ITV I think!