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Series: The series was based on The Burglar Diaries and it ran for six 30 min episodes. It was first screened on BBCThree early in 2007, and then again in Plot: Bex and Ollie area couple of jobbing burglars. They make a living out of lifting stuff from factories, warehouses, offices and shops, and take work where they can find it. Neither’s particularly ambitious or courageous, preferring instead to aim low and live comfortably rather than aim high and risk time. They are small fish in a small suburban pond, although they don't have it all their own way; ‘Weasel’ of CID is only ever one faltering step behind them, the local criminal competition will do anything to stitch them up them and their better halves are wondering what the hell they’ve done to deserve them. |
Cast (regulars): Bex . . . . . . . . . . . . .Tom Brooke Ollie . . . . . . . . . . . Fraser Ayres Mel . . . . . . . . . . . Jessica Harris Belinda . . . . . . Chereen Buckley Weasel . . . . . . . . . . Gary Beadle Norris . . . . . . . . . Darren Tighe Electric . . . . . . . . David Bradley Roland . . . . . . Andrew Buckley Charlie . . . . . . . . Roger Sloman Sgt Atwell . . . Ian Bartholomew PC Bennett . . . . . . . . Robin King Keith. . . . . . . . . . . . Mark Burdis
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Episode One: The Warehouse Job |
Bex and Ollie have a lucrative job lined up; a warehouse full of widescreen televisions and an eager buyer to with cash on the hip. There's only one problem; Mel's on the warpath. bex doesn't know what he's done, only what will happen to him and his lucrative deal if Mel catches up with him. First screened 22nd January 2007 on BBCThree. Bob Shaw . . . . . Lloyd McGuire |
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Episode Two: The Alarm Job |
Mel has an important meeting in the morning but she can't get to sleep. A neighbour’s burglar alarm is ringing across the roach and no one’s home to turn it off. The police don’t care and her earplugs are useless. Perhaps her good-for-nothing burglar boyfriend is good for something after all? First screened 29th January 2007 on BBCThree. Clip: You Tube |
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Episode Three: The Teapot Job |
Electric's been turned over. Among the items nicked is a precious antique teapot. Electric wants it back and he ain’t kidding. Bex and Ollie must help him recover his property or find another fence for their gear. First screened 5th February 2007 on BBCThree. Mr Cooper . . . . . John Normington Clip: You Tube |
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Episode Four: The Jackets Job |
Episode Five: The Footballer Job |
Episode Six: The Office Job |
Episode Seven: The Key Job |
Bex and Ollie are released from prison after their first serious stretch. Mel's done a runner, some beardy weirdy’s living in Bex’s flat and worst of all, the key to Bex’s safety deposit box is missing. The boys need help. Sounds like a job for ‘Special Constable’ Norris. Alas this one was never filmed. It was to be the first episode of the second series but shortly after the script was written we got word that the BBC had pulled the plug. Still, I include it here for posterity. |
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VANITY CAMEO |
Eagle-eyed viewers can find me in the first episode, The Warehouse Job, propping up the bar as scummy Dan and putting paid to any hopes of an acting career, although I do come back and make a second, less obvious, appearance in The Jackets Job as ‘man in cell’. I’m the first guy Sergeant Atwell turns to for help with his crossword at the start of the episode – once again tumble drying Sir Larry in his grave. Oh well, at least I got to be on telly before I died. |
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FUTURE OF THIEVES? |
Unfortunately, as I say, Thieves Like Us was never recommissioned so if Bex and Ollie are to get another outing, it won't be through a second series, which is a shame. Still, never mind. The BBC have also said they have no plans to release it on DVD or repeat it on any of their other channels at present, so it may just be one of those television programmes that disappears into the mists of time. I have heard from one source that the BBC plan to put all its programmes onto the net and make them downloadable (right), so that should presumably include Thieves unless they've already recorded Dog Borstal over the top of it. I'll keep you posted. |
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DVD RELEASE? If enough people enquire after or request a DVD release, then the BBC say they will consider it, so if you'd like to lend your support to this cause and drop them a line, you can write to the appropriate department at the following address: Programming & Acquisitions Dept |
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MORE BURGLAR DIARIES Because very little of the original book appeared in the series, I adapted the scripts and the seventh [unfilmed] episode into a novel and originally published it myself through lulu.com. It will now be republished by Byker Books and available in December 09. More details can be found on the More Burglar Diaries page. |
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PC Bennett and DS ‘Weasel’ between bacon rolls. |
Official Site: www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/thieveslikeus |