Lovejoy

The adventures of the eponymous Lovejoy, a likeable but roguish antiques dealer based in East Anglia. Within the trade, he has a reputation as a “divvie”, a person with an almost supernatural powers for recognising exceptional items as well as distinguishing genuine antique from clever fakes or forgeries.

Lovejoy (1986-1994) is a British national-television comedy drama series created by Ian La Frenais and Jonathan Gash for BBC One. Ian McShane plays the title character, a likeable but roguish antiques dealer based in East Anglia, whose reputation as a divvie gives him an almost supernatural eye for exceptional items and for telling genuine antiques from clever forgeries. Each episode follows his hustle through auctions, country houses and back-room deals, as he chases a profitable find while dodging rivals and scheming dealers. Dudley Sutton plays his sidekick Tinker Dill, and the recurring cast includes Chris Jury as Eric Catchpole, Caroline Langrishe as Charlotte Cavendish and Phyllis Logan as Lady Jane Felsham. The series runs six seasons and seventy-three episodes, and its structure is largely case-of-the-week, with each story built around a single object and its tangled ownership. The mood is breezy and wry, with a warm, comic sensibility undercut by the sharp dealing of a trade where nothing is quite what it seems. Fans of Magnum, P.I., Columbo and Only Fools and Horses will find a similar blend of charm, cunning and light caper energy in a sun-washed, unpretentious British setting.

Viewers broadly rate the series positively, with its charming lead and light, witty take on the antiques trade holding up across its run.

• Magnum, P.I.roguish charming protagonist, case-of-the-week episodic structure, light caper tone
• Columboquick-witted lone operator with a knack for uncovering truth, episodic mystery format
• Only Fools and HorsesBritish comedy-drama with an antiques or shop-trade setting and a likeable rogue lead

Created by

Ian La Frenais, Jonathan Gash

Release Date

1986-01-10

Episode runtime

50 min

Rating

7.8 / 10 (56)

What is Lovejoy about?

A likeable but roguish East Anglian antiques dealer uses his almost supernatural gift for spotting genuine treasures and fakes to get by in a shady trade.

What is Lovejoy like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Lovejoy as measured, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as simple.

Is Lovejoy violent?

Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Lovejoy as mild.

What did critics think of Lovejoy?

Viewers broadly rate the series positively, with its charming lead and light, witty take on the antiques trade holding up across its run.

Which shows are like Lovejoy?

Shows with a similar feel include Magnum, P.I., Columbo, and Only Fools and Horses.

How long is Lovejoy?

Lovejoy: 6 seasons, 73 episodes.

Is Lovejoy still running?

No, Lovejoy has ended.

Where can I watch Lovejoy?

In United States, Lovejoy streams on Britbox Apple TV channel, PBS, BritBox, PBS Masterpiece Amazon Channel, BritBox Amazon Channel, Spectrum On Demand, Thirteen, WETA+.