Canterbury Tales (TV series)

The Canterbury Tales is a series of six single dramas that originally aired on BBC One in 2003. Each story is an adaptation of one of Geoffrey Chaucer's 14th century Canterbury Tales which are transferred to a modern, 21st century setting, but still set along the traditional Pilgrims' route to Canterbury.

The Canterbury Tales
GenreDrama
StarringJulie Walters
Billie Piper
James Nesbitt
Kenny Doughty
John Simm
Keeley Hawes
Chiwetel Ejiofor
Dennis Waterman
Andrew Lincoln
Nikki Amuka-Bird
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series1
No. of episodes6
Production
Production locationsChalfont St. Giles, Buckinghamshire, England, Rochester, Kent, England, Gravesend, Kent, England, River Medway, Kent, England
Running time349 min (6 parts)
Production companyZiji Productions
Release
Original networkBBC One
Original release11 September (2003-09-11) –
16 October 2003 (2003-10-16)

Repeats of the series in the UK have been on channels including ITV3.

Production

The anthology series was conceived by executive producers Laura Mackie and Franc Roddam in 2001, and produced by Kate Bartlett, while a number of writers and directors were chosen specifically to work on individual episodes.[1]

Bartlett said of the productions that:

I wanted to be as faithful to the stories and spirit of the Tales as possible and we have tried to achieve that. ... They had to appeal to those more familiar with Chaucer but also work in their own right as single films, to an audience unfamiliar with Chaucer, and this was important to all of us.[1]

The production filmed in Kent at Rochester which is the setting for The Pardoner’s Tale and features the castle, Cathedral, Chertsey Gate, the High Street, Esplanade and various streets, pubs and restaurants. Gravesend is the setting in The Sea captain’s Tale where old waterfront warehouses, the pier and Town Pier Square feature and the river scenes in The Man of Laws’ Tale were filmed on the River Medway and The Medway Estuary.[2]

Episodes

From Chaucer's original collection, the producers chose six tales:

# Title Starring Directed by Written by Original airdate Viewers
1The Miller's TaleJames Nesbitt, Dennis Waterman, Billie Piper, Kenny DoughtyJohn McKayPeter Bowker11 September 2003 (2003-09-11)8.18 million[3]
John runs a pub in suburban Kent. He hosts a regular Karaoke night, where his much younger and beautiful wife Alison is queen bee. One night a smooth talking stranger, Nick (James Nesbitt), arrives claiming to be a talent scout and declaring that Alison has what it takes to be a star. Alison is drawn to him by the promise of fame, but his motives are not quite what they seem.
2The Wife of BathJulie Walters, Paul Nicholls, Bill NighyAndy de EmmonySally Wainwright18 September 2003 (2003-09-18)7.86 million[3]
Fifty-three-year-old Beth Craddock is a successful television actress who still believes in Mr Right, despite a number of failed marriages behind her. When her husband of sixteen years leaves her for another woman, she finds comfort in the arms of her 22-year-old co-star Jerome. They fall passionately in love, but behind the smiles and laughter the pressures of their age difference are never far away.
3The Knight's TaleJohn Simm, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Keeley HawesMarc MundenTony Marchant25 September 2003 (2003-09-25)5.44 million[3]
Ace and Paul are two young, working-class prisoners who have been best friends since childhood. When they both fall in love with the same woman, Emily, a teacher at their prison, their friendship is torn apart and they become bitter enemies consumed by jealousy. When Ace has served his sentence and Paul makes an escape from prison, events hurtle towards a tragic conclusion.
4The Sea Captain's TaleOm Puri, Nitin Ganatra, Indira VarmaJohn McKayAvie Luthra2 October 2003 (2003-10-02)6.22 million[3]
A film noir set in the Asian community of Gravesend. Jetender is a wealthy money-lender and importer/exporter: an Asian 'Godfather' figure to his community. He goes into business with the young Pushpinder who falls in love with Jetender's beautiful and extravagant wife, Meena. Meena claims that Jetender is a tyrant who makes her life hell. Pushpinder and Meena begin a passionate affair and Pushpinder borrows money for Meena from her husband. Slowly, though, Pushpinder starts to learn the truth about Meena and her manipulative, lying ways.
5The Pardoner's TaleJonny Lee Miller, William BeckAndy de EmmonyTony Grounds9 October 2003 (2003-10-09)4.4 million[4]
The local community of Rochester, still in shock after a girl was raped and murdered the previous year, launch a search for missing teenager, Amy. Arty, Colin and Baz are three unemployed drunken wasters who try to cash in on the search, falsely starting a collection for all the volunteers. But their greed and treatment of a girl called Kitty, who is desperate to find the missing Amy, proves to be their downfall.
6The Man of Law's TaleAndrew Lincoln, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Leo BillJulian JarroldOlivia Hetreed16 October 2003 (2003-10-16)4.3 million[5]
Constance is a Nigerian refugee found on a small boat in the Chatham docks by a couple, Mark and Nicky, who take her in. A devout Christian, Constance cannot remember what has happened to her. At church a young man, Terry, falls for her. But the feelings are not mutual, as Constance is falling in love with Mark's boss, Alan. When Constance rejects Terry's physical advances, his violent revenge has tragic consequences for all involved.

Awards and nominations

On 29 March 2004 The Wife of Bath was nominated for three awards at the British Academy Television Awards, for Best Single Drama, Best Actress for Julie Walters and Best Costume Design. Walters went on to win the award.[6]

References
  1. "Stars line up for modern retelling of The Canterbury Tales for BBC One". BBC Press Office. 6 August 2003. Retrieved 16 January 2010.
  2. Kent Film Office. "Kent Film Office Canterbury Tales Article".
  3. "Weekly Top 30 Programmes". BARB. Retrieved 16 January 2010.
  4. Cozens, Claire (10 October 2003). "Sweet Medicine shows signs of life". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 January 2010.
  5. Cozens, Claire (17 October 2003). "Superstars returns in triumph". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 January 2010.
  6. "Bafta TV Award 2004 winners". BBC News Online. 18 April 2004. Retrieved 16 January 2010.
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