Playing the Field

Playing the Field is a BBC television drama series following the lives of the Castlefield Blues, a fictitious female football team from South Yorkshire.

Outline

Inspired by Pete Davies's book I Lost My Heart to the Belles – which was written about a real-life club, the Doncaster Belles – Playing the Field ran for five series, from 8 March 1998 to 10 February 2002, with scripts by, amongst others, Kay Mellor, Sally Wainwright and Gaynor Faye.

Despite being set in South Yorkshire, much of the location filming took place in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, although the fifth (and final) series was filmed around Leeds. The theme song, "Blue" by Alison Moyet, was originally a B-side track about the singer's love of Southend United FC. A young Marsha Thomason – who has since appeared in U.S. shows Las Vegas and Lost – featured in the first three series of Playing the Field. The first four series have been released on DVD in the UK, but the fifth has yetTemplate:As of? to be made available.

Main cast

• Lorraine Ashbourne – Geraldine Powell
• Melanie Hill – Rita Dolan
• Jo McInnes – Jo Mullen
• Lesley Sharp – Theresa Mullen
• Marsha Thomason – Sharon 'Shazza' Pearce
• Saira Todd – Gabrielle 'Gabby' Holmes
• Debra Stephenson – Diane Powell
• Tracy Whitwell – Angie Gill
• Emma Rydall – Mikey
• Olivia Caffrey – Kate Howard
• Gaynor Faye – Holly Quinn
• Claudie Blakley – Kelly Powell
• James Nesbitt – James Dolan
• Tim Dantay – Dave Powell
• Nicholas Gleaves – Rick Powell
• Ralph Ineson – Luke Mullen
• Chris Walker – Matthew Mullen
• John Thomson – Eddie Ryan
• James Thornton – Scott
• Lee Ross – Ryan Pratt
• James Ellis – Mr. Mullen
• Brigit Forsyth – Francine Pratt
• Elizabeth Spriggs – Mrs. Mullen
• Ricky Tomlinson – Jim Pratt
• Jason O'Mara – Lee Quinn
• Tom Moore – Martin Dolan
• Stephanie Putson – Heidi
• Kelli Hollis – Lizzie Makin

Ratings

Episode No.	Airdate	Total Viewers	BBC Weekly Rank
2.1	18 February 1999	8,160,000	18
2.2	25 February 1999	7,490,000	22
2.3	4 March 1999	7.200,000	22
2.4	11 March 1999	Under 6,050,000	N/A
2.5	18 March 1999	7,090,000	24
2.6	25 March 1999	7,710,000	18
2.7	1 April 1999	7,770,000	17

Episode No.	Airdate	Total Viewers	BBC Weekly Rank
3.1	1 February 2000	Under 6,490,000	N/A
3.2	8 February 2000	7,430,000	18
3.3	15 February 2000	7,730,000	17
3.4	24 February 2000	6,010,000	30
3.5	2 March 2000	6,930,000	22
3.6	9 March 2000	6,290,000	27

Episode No.	Airdate	Total Viewers	BBC Weekly Rank
4.1	13 July 2000	6,440,000	12
4.2	20 July 2000	5,310,000	25
4.3	27 July 2000	5,670,000	24
4.4	3 August 2000	5,760,000	19
4.5	10 August 2000	5,450,000	26
4.6	17 August 2000	5,650,000	27
4.7	24 August 2000	6,020,000	18

Episode No.	Airdate	Total Viewers	BBC Weekly Rank
5.1	6 January 2002	6,160,000	17
5.2	13 January 2002	5,250,000	25
5.3	20 January 2002	5,290,000	25
5.4	27 January 2002	Under 4,700,000	N/A
5.5	3 February 2002	Under 4,430,000	N/A
5.6	10 February 2002	Under 4,490,000	N/A

Home media

The first four series of Playing the Field have been made available via Universal Playback.

• Playing the Field: Series 1 & 2 (VHS) – 23 October 2000
• Playing the Field: Series 3 & 4 (VHS) – 23 October 2000
• Playing the Field: Series 1 & 2 (DVD) – 29 January 2007 (released as "Seasons 1 & 2")
• Playing the Field: Series 3 & 4 (DVD) – 23 April 2007 (released as "Seasons 3 & 4")

Series 5, which was broadcast in 2002 has not yet received a VHS release, nor has it been released on DVD.

External links

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