Heartbeat

Fans of Heartbeat are sure to feel their pulses racing once more when the long-running drama returns to ITV1 for a new series.

"Heartbeat, why do you miss when my baby kisses me?"

Ever since Nick Berry first sang the now instantly recognisable theme tune back in 1992, Heartbeat has proved a perennial favourite with viewers - more than 13 million tuned in at the show's peak.

Set in the 1960s, in the Yorkshire town of Ashfordly and the nearby village of Aidensfield, Heartbeat was originally a vehicle for the former EastEnders' star, whose character Pc Nick Rowan had arrived as Aidensfield's new local bobby with his doctor wife Kate in tow, to escape life in London.

It's Heartbeat's mix of colourful characters, heart-warming stories and a blend of humour and pathos that have kept people entertained for more than 16 years. For such a small a village, there's never a dull moment in Aidensfield. If the police aren't out catching criminals then the resident GP is tending to the sick and wounded.

And there's always Aidensfield's loveable rogue to look out for - the dishevelled Claude Greengrass (Bill Maynard) was always finding himself on the wrong side of the law. These days you're likely to see Peggy Armstrong with her fingers in some unsavoury pies.

The locals frequent the Aidensfield Arms where they can still get a swift half and a sexy smile from barmaid Gina Ward (played by Tricia Penrose). As well as Gina, other characters who have stayed with the series since the early years are Oscar Blaketon (Derek Fowlds), Alf Ventress (William Simons) and Pc Phil Bellamy (Mark Jordan) - but the long-serving bobby was killed in a shooting at the end of the last series, leaving behind new bride Gina.

By 2003, Heartbeat was such a banker for ITV1 that a spin-off medical drama, The Royal, was launched. The seventh series recently ended.

Following Berry's departure in 1998, actors Jason Durr (Mike Bradley), James Carlton (Steve Crane) and, most recently, Jonathan Kerrigan (Rob Walker) have all assumed the role of Aidensfield's resident bobby. Joseph 'Joe' McFadden recently joined the cast as maverick Pc Joe Mason, replacing outgoing Pc Rob Walker.

A great many celebrities have cropped up in Aidensfield over the years, including David Essex, Charlotte Church, Gary Barlow, David Dickinson and Lulu. Emmerdale's Jeff Hordley has already appeared as a guest in the latest series.

So, how will Gina cope with the loss of Phil? And will Joe settle into life in Aidensfield?

Keep up to date with what�¯�¿�½s going on in Aidensfield by logging onto whatsontv.co.uk.