It shouldn't have worked. Really. On paper, a show about three retired, grumpy police officers and their female boss solving cold cases sounds like a recipe for a daytime television snooze-fest. But when the cast of New Tricks first assembled for that pilot episode in 2003, something weird happened. The chemistry was instant. It wasn't just "good acting." It was that rare, lightning-in-a-bottle magic where four distinct personalities mashed together and created a unit that felt more real than most actual police forces.
Honestly, the BBC probably didn't realize they had a decade-long juggernaut on their hands. For twelve seasons, viewers tuned in not just for the DNA evidence or the dusty files, but to hear the bickering. You wanted to see Gerry Standing lose his temper over modern technology. You wanted to see Brian Lane oscillate between genius and obsessive-compulsive breakdown. You wanted to see Jack Halford talk to his dead wife in the garden. And you definitely wanted to see Sandra Pullman try to keep these three chaotic old men from breaking every rule in the PACE handbook.
The Original Four: Why This Specific Cast of New Tricks Was Untouchable
The heart of the show will always be the original lineup. Amanda Redman, Alun Armstrong, James Bolam, and Dennis Waterman. That's a lot of acting royalty for one small office in a basement.
James Bolam played Jack Halford, the unofficial "conscience" of the Unsolved Crime and Open Case Squad (UCOS). Bolam brought a quiet, grieving dignity to the role. Jack was the one who kept the peace, even as he was quietly falling apart over the loss of his wife, Mary. It was a subtle performance. If you watch those early seasons again, notice how Bolam uses silence. He doesn't need to shout to be the leader.
Then you had Alun Armstrong as Brian "Memory" Lane. This was easily the most complex performance in the show. Brian wasn't just "the smart one." He was a man living with severe anxiety, depression, and what we’d now recognize as neurodivergent traits, all while being a literal human encyclopedia. Armstrong balanced the comedy of Brian’s eccentricities with the genuine tragedy of his mental health struggles. It was brave television for the early 2000s.
The Muscle and the Boss
Dennis Waterman, playing Gerry Standing, was the "old school" copper. He was the one who missed the days when you could "sort out" a suspect in the back of a van. Waterman played Gerry with a cheeky, London charm that made his constant rule-breaking somehow forgivable. He was the grandfather who’d teach you how to gamble but also the guy you’d want in your corner during a bar fight.
And then there’s Amanda Redman as Detective Superintendent Sandra Pullman. Let’s be real: her job was a nightmare. She was a high-flying officer whose career stalled because she shot a dog (the "dog incident" being a recurring joke that never got old). Redman had the hardest task. She had to be the "straight man" to three comedians. She had to be authoritative enough to command respect but vulnerable enough to show why she needed these men as much as they needed the job.
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Why the Dynamic Changed
Shows change. They have to. People get older, actors want to try new things, and budgets shift. But when the cast of New Tricks started to rotate, it felt like a personal loss for the fans. James Bolam was the first to leave in Season 9. He reportedly felt the show had become too "formulaic."
His departure was a massive risk. How do you replace the moral anchor of the group? They brought in Denis Lawson as Steve McAndrew. Lawson didn't try to be Jack Halford. He brought a Scottish energy, a different kind of "old school" vibe, and a messy personal life involving a son he barely knew. It worked, but the flavor of the room changed. It went from a quiet, somber office to something a bit more frantic.
Then came the mass exodus. Alun Armstrong and Amanda Redman left shortly after. Suddenly, the UCOS basement felt very empty.
The New Blood: Tamzin Outhwaite and Nicholas Lyndhurst
Replacing Brian Lane and Sandra Pullman at the same time seemed impossible. You can't just find another Brian. So, the producers didn't try. They brought in Nicholas Lyndhurst as Dan Griffin.
A lot of people were skeptical. Could "Rodney Trotter" really play a serious, socially awkward ex-Diplomatic Protection officer?
The answer was a resounding yes. Lyndhurst was magnificent. He brought a dry, razor-sharp wit to the role that was entirely different from Brian's manic energy. He was the "nerd" who could also probably kill you with a fountain pen. Pairing him with Tamzin Outhwaite’s Sasha Miller gave the show a second wind. Sasha was younger, more modern, and had to deal with the fallout of a messy divorce from a high-ranking police official. It turned the show into a different kind of procedural—still good, but the "grumpy old men" vibe had softened into something more professional.
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The Dennis Waterman Legacy
We have to talk about Dennis Waterman. He was the last of the original four to leave, departing in Season 12. When he left, the original DNA of the show officially vanished.
Waterman wasn't just an actor on the show; he was its soul. He even sang the theme tune ("It's alright, it's okay..."). There’s a long-standing joke in British comedy (thanks to Little Britain) about Waterman wanting to "write the theme tune, sing the theme tune" for everything he was in. But for New Tricks, that song became iconic. It signaled to millions of people that it was time to put the kettle on and settle in for a solid hour of mystery.
His passing in 2022 felt like the final closing of the UCOS files. He played Gerry Standing as a man out of time, and in many ways, that’s why the cast of New Tricks resonated so much. We all feel out of time occasionally.
Why We Still Binge-Watch UCOS
You can find the show on streaming services like BritBox or iPlayer now, and it still pulls numbers. Why?
It’s the lack of "grim-dark" cynicism. Modern police procedurals are often obsessed with being as miserable as possible. Everything is shot in blue filters with heavy rain and detectives who have drinking problems and zero friends. New Tricks had dark moments—it dealt with murder, after all—but it was ultimately about friendship.
It was about the idea that you aren't "spent" just because you’ve hit 60. These characters were discarded by the modern force, but they were the only ones who could solve the cases because they had "the touch." They knew how to talk to people. They didn't rely solely on pings from cell towers; they relied on looking a liar in the eye.
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The Supporting Players You Forgot
While we obsess over the main four, the cast of New Tricks was peppered with incredible guest stars and recurring roles.
- Anthony Calf as Robert Strickland: The boss everyone loved to hate. He was the quintessential "suit." His constant battle between wanting the PR win and actually supporting his team was a great secondary conflict.
- Susan Jameson as Esther Lane: Fun fact—Susan is Alun Armstrong's real-life wife. Their chemistry on screen was effortless because it was genuine. She was the only person who could truly handle Brian, and their scenes in the Lane household provided the emotional grounding the show needed.
- The guest suspects: Over the years, everyone from David Bradley to Joss Ackland showed up. Part of the fun was seeing which veteran British actor would turn up as the "hidden" murderer from 1974.
A Quick Reality Check on the "New" New Tricks
When Larry Lamb joined as Ted Case in the final season, the show was essentially a different series. Lamb is a fantastic actor (Gavin & Stacey fans know), and he brought a superstitious, quirky energy that was fun to watch. But by Season 12, the audience was watching more out of habit than the white-knuckle devotion of the early years.
The ratings stayed decent, but the "magic" was spread thin. The show ended in 2015, not because it failed, but because it had simply run its course. Twelve years is a massive run for a drama. Most shows are lucky to get three.
What You Can Learn from UCOS
If you’re a fan of the show or a writer looking at why it worked, the takeaway is simple: Character trumps plot every single time.
You probably can't remember the specific details of the plot in Season 4, Episode 6. But you remember Gerry Standing’s reaction when he found out one of his daughters was dating someone he didn't like. You remember Brian Lane’s obsession with a specific type of biscuit. You remember the way the four of them sat in that Chinese restaurant at the end of an episode, exhausted but together.
Actionable Insights for the Ultimate Rewatch:
- Watch for the "Basement" growth: Notice how the UCOS office starts as a literal dump and slowly becomes a home. The set design reflects the characters' acceptance of their "second act" in life.
- The "Sandra" Shift: Pay attention to Amanda Redman's wardrobe and hairstyle changes. It sounds superficial, but it tracks her character's journey from a woman trying to "fit in" with the boys to a leader who is comfortable in her own skin.
- Spot the Real-Life Connections: Knowing that Alun Armstrong and Susan Jameson are married makes their domestic scenes 10x better.
- The Theme Tune Evolution: The opening credits changed several times to reflect the shifting cast, but the song remained the same. It's a masterclass in branding.
The cast of New Tricks proved that there is a massive audience for stories about experience, age, and the stubborn refusal to go quietly into retirement. They weren't just solving old crimes; they were proving they still mattered. Whether you're a Gerry, a Brian, a Jack, or a Sandra, there’s something in that basement for everyone.
If you're looking to dive back in, start with the Pilot and the first two seasons. That’s where the rhythm was established, and honestly, the chemistry in those early episodes is some of the best in British television history. No fancy gadgets needed—just four people, a lot of old paper, and a refusal to give up.