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Hope Springs. Image shows from L to R: Hannah Temple (Sian Reeves), Ellie Lagden (Alex Kingston), Shoo Coggan (Christine Bottomley), Josie Porritt (Vinette Robinson). Copyright: Shed Productions
Hope Springs

Hope Springs

  • TV comedy drama
  • BBC One
  • 2009
  • 8 episodes (1 series)

Eight-part comedy drama about four female ex-cons trying to go straight. Stars Alex Kingston, Vinette Robinson, Christine Bottomley, Sian Reeves, Annette Crosbie and more.

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Episode menu

Series 1, Episode 2

Their millions burnt to a cinder following the mysterious fire, Ellie, Hannah, Shoo and Josie face the harsh reality that their Barbados dream is all but over.

Further details

Hope Springs. Image shows from L to R: Hannah Temple (Sian Reeves), Ellie Lagden (Alex Kingston), Josie Porritt (Vinette Robinson). Copyright: Shed Productions

Sadie is out of hospital and her daughter, Ann Marie, wants to put her into a home but she's having none of it - she insists she'd rather be the sitting tenant in the Hope Springs Hotel. But the girls aren't exactly welcoming towards Sadie, convinced she's responsible for their financial strife.

Taking money matters into their own hands, Shoo and Josie decide to rob the local bookies. Before they can put their ill-conceived plan into action, Gil arrives. When Josie sees Gil lead Shoo out of the bookies, she assumes her friend is under arrest and calls Ellie - who's furious that Shoo has needlessly drawn attention to the gang.

Broke and desperate, the women's only option is to rob Sadie of the thousands they paid for the hotel but, feeling decidedly unwelcome, Sadie sets her sights on buying a luxury new flat. The girls need to stop Sadie before she discovers her money is missing.

Following the bungled robbery at the bookies, a rift grows between the girls and Shoo decides to take her cut of the money and run, but Josie and Hannah aren't quite so keen to leave Hope Springs and Ellie behind.

Elsewhere, Ann Marie and Euan meet to discuss a secret venture but it is clear there's more to their relationship than just business.

Leaving Hope Springs behind, meanwhile, Shoo uses a borrowed mobile phone to call her ex-boyfriend, drugs dealer Nathan Donovan. She arranges to meet Nathan in Glasgow to rekindle their romance but, after she discovers his plans to rob her, she makes a hasty return to Hope Springs.

An ex-boyfriend with a sore head is a dangerous thing and, unbeknown to the women, Nathan is about to give vengeful hitman Marius the lead on the girls he's been waiting for.

Broadcast details

Date
Sunday 14th June 2009
Time
8pm
Channel
BBC One
Length
60 minutes

Cast & crew

Cast
Alex Kingston Ellie Lagden
Vinette Robinson Josie Porritt
Christine Bottomley Shoo Coggan
Sian Reeves Hannah Temple
Annette Crosbie Sadie Cairncross
Alec Newman Euan Harries
Ronni Ancona Ann-Marie Miller
Paul Higgins Gil Cameron
Richard Madden Dean McKenzie
Mark Frost Roy Lagden
Clint Dyer Marius Gruber
Belgit Gill Rita Khan
Guest cast
Billy Mack Bookies Clerk
Oliver Gomm Nathan Donovan
Simon Weir Mr Patterson
Nicola Roy Frances McPherson
Writing team
Ann McManus Writer
Maureen Chadwick Writer
Liz Lake Writer
Hayley Gelling Script Editor
Production team
Sheree Folkson Director
Brian Park Producer
Brian Park Executive Producer
Anne Mensah Executive Producer
Sandra MacIver Executive Producer
Ben Yeates Editor
Andy Harris Production Designer
Tristin Norwell Composer
Nick Green Composer

Press

The four female ex-cons are still hiding in the pretty Scottish village of Hope Springs, although, after the disastrous fire at the hotel, it looks like they'll have to change their escape plans. Frankly, they're such a witless quartet I'm surprised any of them is capable of walking down a flight of stairs without doing something silly and girly. In fact, a nasty part of me hopes Ellie's evil husband's hitman gets to Scotland quickly to finish off the lot of them. There are another six episodes to go, so this would seem unlikely.

Alison Graham, Radio Times, 14th June 2009

Oh, ladies - the expression is 'money to burn', not 'burn the money'. If rich people burned their cash, how would they still be rich? Now totally skint thanks to a fire that turned their loot into cinders, the gang of ex-cons in this light comic drama hatch a couple of cunning plans to fund their dream flight to Barbados - either rob the bookies or rob Margaret Meldrew...

What's On TV, 14th June 2009

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