Synopsis: Jeff Randall (Bob Mortimer)
and Marty Hopkirk (Vic Reeves) are private investigators with a unique
working relationship - one of them is a ghost.
Marty Hopkirk is killed in a tragic car accident in the first episode
of the series, but is given a chance to come back as a white-suited ghost
to investigate his death. He chooses to haunt his former partner, Jeff
Randall, hoping together they can get to the bottom of his mysterious
demise. But when Marty fails to return to his grave before dawn, he finds
himself stranded between the world of the living and the afterlife and
becomes Jeff's ghost indefinitely - making them reluctant partners for
life.
With the help of his spiritual mentor and fellow ghost, Wyvern (Tom Baker,
Dr. Who), Marty finds out he possesses special powers. As someone who
was full of hot air in life, he's able to create wind - a useful skill
to have as Marty and Jeff team up to solve surreal and bizarre mysteries.
Jeff is also helped byMarty's bereaved fiancée, Jeannie(Emilia Fox, The
Pianist, Pride and Prejudice). After Marty's untimely death, Jeannie starts
working with Jeff at the detective firm. Her quick thinking and superior
fighting skills soon prove invaluable, often rescuing Marty from an illustrious
cast of baddies, including Paul Whitehouse (Brilliant!), Hugh Laurie (Stuart
Little) and Martin Clunes (British Men Behaving Badly).
The unlikely trio take on everything from haunted hotels, brainwashed
mental patients, crazed artists and mafia assassins in this fast-paced
and surreal comedy drama. Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased)is a remake of a
'70s series of the same name.
UK comedian Vic Reeves who plays Marty in the 2000 version says: "People
will enjoy it because they always like seeing ghosts and magic. We've
remained true to the original concept, but the main thing is that we've
got very strong characters and stories." While the characters are
the same, the look of the show has changed with the times.
With surreal storylines and a ghost as a main character, both the original
and remake of Randall & Hopirk (Deceased) relied on special effects. In
the original '70s series, simple camera tricks were used to make Marty
appear and disappear in a scene. The modern remake has him materializing
from a ghostly haze, walking through walls, appearing through ceilings
and being part of a deadly computer game.
Series writer and producer, Charlie Higson (co-creator, Brilliant!) says
remaking an older series is just part of "our constant recycling
of the past. Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased) is not a 1970's retro revival.
The original series is merely an inspiration. The great thing is, our
show is something a bit different, and how often can you say that about
television drama these days?"
The Cast:
Production Credits: |