Honestly, if you missed the original run of WPC 56 on BBC One, you're missing out on one of the grittiest, most surprisingly nuanced police procedurals ever to hit the daytime slot. Most people hear "daytime BBC drama" and think of cozy mysteries or polite tea-drinking. This isn't that. It’s a 1950s period piece that feels less like Heartbeat and more like a proto-feminist noir.
Basically, the show follows the first female police constables—Woman Police Constables, or WPCs—at the fictional Brinford Police Station in the West Midlands. It starts in 1956. The vibe is thick with cigarette smoke, old-school sexism, and the damp chill of post-war England.
What WPC 56 Got Right (And Why It Feels Different)
The heart of the first two seasons is WPC Gina Dawson, played with a brilliant mix of steel and vulnerability by Jennie Jacques.
She isn't welcomed with open arms. Far from it. Her "office" is a repurposed storage cupboard. Her colleagues expect her to make tea, file paperwork, and stay out of the way of the "real" coppers. But Gina isn't there to be a secretary in a skirt.
The show doesn't sugarcoat the era. You see the casual, systemic misogyny that women faced when trying to break into a "man's world." It’s uncomfortable at times.
The Shift in Season 3
By the time Season 3 rolled around, things changed significantly. Jennie Jacques left the show—ironically to join the cast of Vikings—and we got a new lead.
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Enter Claudia Jessie as WPC Annie Taylor. You might recognize Jessie now as Eloise from Bridgerton, but here she’s a copper’s daughter with a lot to prove. The transition was risky. Changing a lead character can kill a show, but the writing held up because the focus remained on the institution of Brinford station itself.
- Sgt Sidney Fenton (Charles De'Ath): A cynical, old-school sergeant who isn't exactly a champion of women's rights but becomes a fascinating, flawed anchor for the show.
- Chief Superintendent Coulson (John Bowler): The true antagonist for much of the series. He’s predatory and power-hungry, representing the worst of the "old guard."
- DI Harry Sawyer (Oliver Rix): Introduced in the later run, adding a different energy to the investigation side of things.
The cases weren't just "crime of the week" fluff either. We’re talking about serial attackers, child abuse, and even Cold War-era paranoia. It touched on things that were genuinely shocking for a 2:15 PM broadcast.
Real History vs. TV Drama
While Brinford is a made-up place, the struggles depicted in WPC 56 are rooted in the very real history of the West Midlands Constabulary.
In the mid-50s, women in the force were restricted. They dealt primarily with "women and children" cases. They couldn't even carry the same equipment as men. The show captures that frustration perfectly.
The filming locations help sell the reality. They shot all over Birmingham and the Black Country. If you look closely, you’ll see the Birmingham and Midland Institute doubling as the exterior of the station. They even used the Black Country Living Museum to get those authentic 1950s streetscapes. It looks expensive, which is rare for daytime TV.
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Why did it end?
It only ran for 15 episodes across three series. That’s a tragedy, really.
The show was a victim of its own success in a way. The cast was so talented that they all started getting bigger offers. When you have actors like Claudia Jessie and Jennie Jacques, you can't keep them on a daytime budget forever.
Actionable Insights for Fans and New Viewers
If you're looking to dive into this world, here is how to get the most out of the experience:
1. Watch for the subplots.
Don't just focus on the murders. The long-arc drama involving Chief Inspector Briggs (Mark Healy) and the corrupt Chief Superintendent Coulson is where the real tension lies. It’s a slow-burn power struggle that pays off in Season 3.
2. Check the streaming status.
The show often cycles through services like BritBox or Acorn TV in the US and Canada. In the UK, it occasionally pops back up on iPlayer. It’s worth the hunt.
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3. Notice the costume design.
The uniforms aren't just for show. Pay attention to how the WPC uniform—especially the hat and the handbag (which held their radio and notebook)—separates them visually from the men. It’s a constant reminder of their "otherness" in the station.
4. Explore the filming locations.
If you're ever in Birmingham, the Jewellery Quarter still retains much of that 1950s architectural grit. Walking through those streets gives you a real sense of the "Brinford" atmosphere.
WPC 56 stands as a testament to what happens when you treat a daytime audience with respect. It didn't talk down to people. It gave us a complex, often dark look at a turning point in British social history through the eyes of two women who refused to just stay in the kitchen.
To experience the full arc of the series, start with Series 1, Episode 1, "Sink or Swim." It sets the tone immediately when Gina walks through those station doors for the first time. Keep an eye out for the recurring character of Susie Nightingale (Rachel Leskovac), the station secretary; her evolution from a background character to a vital part of the station's heartbeat is one of the show's most underrated strengths.