Spender, written by Jimmy Nail & Ian La Frenais (Auf Wiedersehen Pet), tells the tale of Freddie Spender (Nail) a tough and able cop cleaning up the streets of London with his somewhat unorthodox methods. Following a tragic incident, he's sent home, back to the North-East to his home-town of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, which had taken him 20-odd years to get out of. Now re-united with old friends and haunting ghosts from his untamed past, the loathing he feels for the city and his new assignment drives his character to push the limits, and test the powers that be that govern his jurisdiction. But once we meet Spender's family - divorced wife Frances (Denise Welch) and his two young daughters - we witness an unexpected dimension to the character: that of a father and protector of his children, who finds it awkward to work his way back into their lives.
Excellent scripts, hard-hitting drama and action accompany a wealth of talent involved in the making of this quality program. Jimmy Nail not only stars, but pens a few of those scripts. Together with his friend Tony McAnaney (who also co-stars as Keith and writes the music for the series) they combine to produce a unique and often haunting musical score which creates just the right kind of atmosphere for the program.
Supplied as an 8 Disc Set, the quality (compared to a retail DVD) is as follows; Video 8 - Audio 8 (Very Good)
DVD Episodes are as follows;
Spender DVD One
Spender Season 1 - Episode 1 - Homecoming
After an undercover operation goes wrong in London, Spender's partner is injured. It is felt that Spender should lie low for a while. He is reluctantly sent back to his native Newcastle for what he thinks is a one-off assignment to try and get evidence against a local businessman, Spender also catches up with his ex wife and kids and also his old mate an ex building society robber 'Stick' who will become his side-kick to help him in his investigations into the murky criminal world.
Spender Season 1 - Episode 2 - Half a Ton of Heartaches
Spender goes undercover on an oil rig as a fitters mate after a worker is murdered and his body washed up on the shore. As Spender gets near the truth he finds the bad guys closing in on him, once he has discovered the death is to do with drug smuggling. Spender also finds out that his youngest daughter has been seriously injured in his flat while he was away on the oil rig.
Spender Season 1 - Episode 3 - Double Jeopardy
A group of criminals from the south have come up to team up with some local wekk know muscle to pull of an armed raid. Meanwhile Spender finds out that his best mate Keith is struggling to come to terms with his illness.
Spender DVD Two
Spender Season 1 - Episode 4 - The Candidate
Spender is put in charge of the security of a female politician during an election because she has been receiving some death threats and poison pen letters. Spender finds that his own life is on the line trying to keep the politician alive, as someone close to her is trying to kill her.
Spender Season 1 - Episode 5 - Iced
A young student is killed in a motorbike accident. Spender is the godfather to the girlfriend of the dead young man. Meanwhile a known drug courier is arrested coming back into the country. Spender poses as an old friend from the army days of the courier, now turned informer. With the help of Booney, a female detective, they set about trying to find where and how the drugs are shifted around the North East. Spender finds out that the death of the young student is linked with a drug called 'ice', which is being distributed around the North East by their target.
Spender Season 1 - Episode 6 - Dance Girl Dance
Young girls, recruited by a local nightclub for dancing work overseas, have been disappearing. Spender poses as a potential owner and, with Stick's help, sets up a rival club. Spender enlists the help of the sister of one of the missing girls to find out what happened to them.
Spender DVD Three
Spender Season 1 - Episode 7 - Tough
Spender tries to find a way to help a reluctant fist-fighter escape from the clutches of his unscrupulous promoter.
Spender Season 1 - Episode 8 - Well, Well, Well
Spender tries to help when Stick gets involved in a dodgy deal involving stolen jewelry, and the man he was dealing with is murdered.
Spender DVD Four
Spender Season 2 - Episode 1 - Here We Go Again
Spender is involved in a close protection operation involving members of the government. Meanwhile, Stick and former cellmate Spud get involved in a local vendetta, while Frances has a new man in her life.
Spender Season 2 - Episode 2 - Fly By Night
Spender goes under cover at a glass factory to check out a suspect for a security van robbery. Meanwhile, Keith's friend, Blakey, is involved in a war between illegal fly posting outfits.
Spender Season 2 - Episode 3 - Fee
Spender sets out to help a couple who are in trouble with a local drug dealer, and uncovers corruption in the drugs squad.
Spender DVD Five
Spender Season 2 - Episode 4 - Family Business
Spender's aunt asks him to find her son, who has been missing for eight months, and has spent most of his life in trouble.
Spender Season 2 - Episode 5 - The Golden Striker
Spender is assigned to track down a footballer who has gone missing shortly after arriving home from Italy.
Spender Season 2 - Episode 6 - At The End of the Day
Gillespie puts pressure on Spender to arrest his criminal friends. Frances is on jury duty and is being pressured into giving a not guilty verdict. Spender investigates a series of ram-raids.
Spender DVD Six
Spender Season 3 - Episode 1 - The More Things Change
Spender is assigned to investigate attacks on women in a local park, and investigates a small record bootlegging operation. Stick gets involved with some hot jewelry. Meanwhile, Spender, Stick and Keith all have new women in their lives, and Frances plans to remarry.
Spender Season 3 - Episode 2 - Kid
Spender investigates the attempted murder of a runaway teenage boy after his daughters see him fall from a cliff-top.
Spender Season 3 - Episode 3 - Puck
Spender investigates a local villain and discovers he is blackmailing a local ice hockey star.
Spender DVD Seven
Spender Season 3 - Episode 4 - Bad Company
Spender is under investigation by CID as he continues his affair with the wife of a local villain. Gillespie is kidnapped.
Spender Season 3 - Episode5 - Best Friends
Spender and Boyd investigate a series of car thefts, but Boyd is caught by the gang. Stick opens a jewelry shop, but it is robbed on its first day. Spender discovers that Stick's girlfriend, Emily, is only fifteen.
Spender Season 3 - Episode 6 - Retreat
Spender goes undercover as a prisoner to investigate the murder of a key witness. Stick flees Newcastle when he falls behind with his rent.
Spender DVD Eight
Spender Christmas Special - The French Collection
Spender is sent to Marseilles to escort Tommy Thornton back to the UK.
