Vernon faked his own death to avoid the tax man…but popped back again later and revealed he was running a bar in Spain. Attracting a peak audience of 14 million, Heartbeat has garnered a devoted following and remains prime-time viewing world-wide. This first series sees Nick and his doctor wife Kate (Niamh Cusack) settling in Aidensfield, having left the bustle of London behind. Featuring guest turns from Eric Sykes, Graeme Garden and Tim Brooke-Taylor, among others, this series introduces new village bobbies Joe Mason and Don Wetherby and sees the final episode of one of Heartbeat's best-loved characters - PC Phil Bellamy, played for 16 years by Mark Jordon. The fur lined duffle coat that Kate was often seen wearing was made especially because Niamh really felt the cold when filming external scenes in Yorkshire.

Nick is not based upon any identifiable individual, but is really an amalgamation of rural bobbies, and the same applies to Sergeant Blaketon and PC Alf Ventress.

Heartbeat - The Complete Series 17 [DVD] Set in rural North Yorkshire during the 1960s, Heartbeat's combination of crime and medical storylines, charismatic regular characters and wonderfully nostalgic soundtrack made it staple Sunday-night viewing for two decades, with the series' many prestigious awards including Best Performing Peak-Time Drama and several ITV Programme of the Year awards.

It was only when I was singing on this night that the 'bye bye' bit of the lyrics hit me, and I couldn't finish the song - I was off again. As villagers' initial suspicion gives way to acceptance, the couple become increasingly involved, both professionally and personally, in the daily life of the rural community. I do wish that she had some more glamorous outfits though - she's very tweedy when she goes to work. Nick had a number 1 single in 1986 and he followed this in 1992 with the Heartbeat theme tune which made number 2 in the charts. Tricia Penrose's portrayal of Gina is excellent, and we all hope Gina finds true happiness in the future.Heartbeat was a long-running and highly popular TV series produced originally by Yorkshire Television, and subsequently by ITV, in the UK and based upon the Constable series of novels written by Nicholas Rhea.

Attracting a peak audience of 14 million, Heartbeat has garnered a devoted following and remains primetime viewing world-wide.Introducing much-loved regulars like cheeky rogue Claude Jeremiah Greengrass and his nemesis Sgt Blaketon, PC Phil Bellamy, barmaid Gina and Maggie the district nurse, the set also features the 1999 special in which Nick and his family begin a new life in Canada as well as the introduction of Rowan's successor, Mike Bradley, played by Jason Durr.

Set during the 1960s in the fictional North Yorkshire village of Aidensfield and initially starring former EastEnder Nick Berry as PC Nick Rowan, this enduringly popular series interweaves crime and medical storylines, with a host of colourful characters that viewers took to their hearts and a wonderfully nostalgic soundtrack. I like to think that Constable Nick typified the country constable of that time and he did fit the image of the constable in my books, even if the name is slightly different!

Bradley's good looks, his wide police experience before coming to Aidensfield and his strong personality have combined to produce a very interesting character.