Murder on the Home Front

Murder on the Home Front is a two-part British television crime drama, written by David Kane and directed by Geoffrey Sax, that first broadcast on ITV on 9 May 2013.[1] The series, which stars Patrick Kennedy and Tamzin Merchant in the principal roles, follows Dr. Lennox Collins (Kennedy), a home office pathologist new to murder cases who teams up with his receptionist, Molly Cooper (Merchant) to investigate a serial killer operating at the height of the blitz.[1] The series' script was based upon the memoirs of Molly Lefebure, secretary to the former Second World War Home Office pathologist Keith Simpson.[1]

Murder on the Home Front
GenreCrime drama
Written byDavid Kane
Directed byGeoffrey Sax
Starring
ComposerRobert Lane
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series1
No. of episodes2 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
ProducerChristopher Hall
CinematographyDavid Higgs
EditorPaul Knight
Running time60 minutes
Production companyCarnival Film & Television
DistributorITV Productions
Release
Original networkITV
Picture format16:9 (1080i)
Audio formatStereo
Original release9 May (2013-05-09) –
16 May 2013 (2013-05-16)

The series aired as a single presentation on PBS in the United States on 16 February 2014.[2] Executive producer Sally Woodward Gentle said of the production; “With Geoffrey Sax directing Davy Kane’s witty and fast paced script, we hope to depict London in the Blitz as a city living life on the edge.”[1] The series was released on DVD via Universal Pictures on 29 July 2013.[3]

Reception

The series broadcast to strong critical acclaim, with Sarah Rainey of The Telegraph writing; "A decent, gritty portrayal of Second World War Britain - one that doesn’t pretend life on the Home Front was a cosy tea party of do-it-yourselfers and make-do-and-menders - [which] has been a long time coming."[4]

Alison Graham of the Radio Times commented; "Imagine a cross between Foyle's War and Silent Witness and you have Murder on the Home Front. It’s one of those brown, wartime dramas where lights are dim, ITMA’s on the radio and everyone is terribly plucky. A strange mix of the jaunty and the gruesome, though there’s a loving attention to period detail; even the bomb-sites look hand-crafted."[5]

Keith Watson of the Metro was however slightly more scathing, writing; "The acting is spot on, but the tone is a touch wobbly. At times a cartoonish skit on 1940s stereotypes – think The Fast Show’s Cholmondeley Warner [sic][6] – Murder on the Home Front wants it all ways, throwing in the kind of grisly gore that’s customary in modern serial killer cases, but feels at odds with jaunty banter that’s saucily tongue-in-cheek."[7]

Cast

Episodes
Episode Title Written by Directed by Original airdate Viewers
(millions)[8]
1"Part 1"David KaneGeoffrey Sax9 May 2013 (2013-05-09)5.04
When several young women are found murdered, DI Freddy Wilkins believes the obvious suspect is loner Wilfred Ziegler, but Home Office pathologist Lennox Collins and his secretary Molly Cooper have their doubts and employ ground-breaking forensic techniques to ensure the right man is brought to justice. - Episode length is unknown.
2"Part 2"David KaneGeoffrey Sax16 May 2013 (2013-05-16)4.30
As the story of the “Nazi Strangler” is leaked to the newspapers, Lennox and Molly face a battle not only with their bosses but also with the police when they try to save a seemingly innocent man from the gallows. As more victims of the Nazi Strangler turn up, they put their own lives at risk in a quest for the truth. - Episode length is unknown.

References
  1. "Murder on the Home Front". ITV Press Centre. 29 April 2013. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  2. http://www.pbs.org/program/murder-home-front/
  3. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Murder-Home-Front-Tamzin-Merchant/dp/B00CI39RYC/
  4. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/10047491/Murder-on-the-Home-Front-ITV-review.html
  5. https://www.radiotimes.com/tv-programme/e/wkggy/murder-on-the-home-front--series-1-episode-1/
  6. Mr Miles Cholmondley-Warner was actually a character in Harry Enfield & Chums#Mr Cholmondley-Warner, not The Fast Show.
  7. https://metro.co.uk/2013/05/10/murder-on-the-home-front-had-novelty-on-its-side-fresh-faces-3747973/
  8. "Weekly Top 30 Programmes". BARB. 19 May 2013. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
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