It’s been more than 30 years since police drama Heartbeat first aired on ITV and the show is still loved by millions – but it remains one of ITV’s highest-rated and cherished dramas
It’s been over a decade and a half since the beloved drama series Heartbeat bid farewell to our screens, yet it continues to hold a special place in the hearts of its fans. The show first graced ITV in 1992 and swiftly captured the attention of viewers.
Set against the backdrop of 1960s North Yorkshire, the period drama chronicled the lives of police officers, medical staff, and locals in the fictitious locales of Ashfordly and Aidensfield. With millions tuning in regularly, it ran for an impressive 18 series until its cancellation in 2010, much to the dismay of its ardent followers.
Despite more than three decades passing since its debut episode, Heartbeat remains one of ITV’s highest-rated and cherished dramas, with loyal fans still enjoying reruns on ITV3, as reported by Wales Online.
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Like many successful shows, Heartbeat served as a launchpad for numerous careers. Many of its stars went on to feature in other popular soaps, films, and theatre productions, while others stepped away from the limelight to pursue different paths.
Let’s take another nostalgic trip down memory lane and see where the cast of Heartbeat is now. While this list isn’t exhaustive, you might recognise quite a few familiar faces.
Nick Berry – Nick Rowan & Niamh Cusack – Kate Rowan
Nick Berry first rose to prominence as Simon Wicks in EastEnders from 1985 to 1990. In Heartbeat, he portrayed the lead character of PC Nick Rowan for the show’s initial six years. After his departure in 1998, Nick graced the screens in BBC’s Harbour Lights and crime drama In Deep. He made a brief return to EastEnders in 2012 for a special episode following the demise of his on-screen mother, Pat Evans.
Nick, who also ventured into music with his 1986 pop song ‘Every Loser Wins’, has since retired from acting. He is happily married to former Levi’s model Rachel Robertson, and they have two sons together.
Niamh Cusack portrayed Dr Kate Rowan for three years starting from 1992 until her character succumbed to leukaemia, leaving her onscreen husband, PC Nick Rowan, a widower. Since her exit from the show in 1995, Niamh has remained active in both theatre and television.
Her acting credits include Always and Everyone, New Tricks, Silent Witness and The Virtues. Her recent roles feature in Brassic, The Tower, Death in Paradise, the 2024 film We Live In Time and Channel 4’s Big Mood.
Hailing from the renowned Cusack acting family, Niamh’s siblings include Sinead Cusack, wife of Jeremy Irons. Off-screen, she is married to actor Finbar Lynch, and they share a son.
Tricia Penrose – Gina Ward & Jason Durr – Mike Bradley
Tricia Penrose, who didn’t make an appearance until the second series, played Gina Ward, the longest-running character on Heartbeat. Initially slated for a 12-month stint, the Liverpool actress ended up staying on the show for 18 years.
Tricia also graced the screen as Gina in two episodes of The Royal, a spin-off from Heartbeat, back in 2003. She later featured in popular soaps including Brookside, The Royal, Coronation Street and Emmerdale. She’s no stranger to reality TV either, having participated in Celebrity Masterchef and the 2013 series of Celebrity Big Brother. These days, she’s found her niche as a radio presenter.
Jason Durr took on the role of PC Mike Bradley from 1997 to 2003. His character, a Londoner, initially ruffled feathers before eventually becoming part of the village fabric. Post-Heartbeat, he’s had a diverse acting career, featuring in shows like The Wrong Side of the Rainbow, Mysterious Island and Summer Solstice. In 2016, he joined Casualty as David Hide, a role he reprised in Holby City and continued until 2023.
Off-screen, Durr is a father of three and married to TV presenter and gardener Kate Charman. More recently, he shared the stage with former Coronation Street actress Ellie Leach in the theatre production Cluedo 2.
Bill Maynard – Claude Jeremiah Greengrass & Mark Jordon – Phil Bellamy
Bill Maynard brought to life the charming scoundrel Claude Jeremiah Greengrass from the show’s inception until 2000. His departure was reportedly due to health concerns. Maynard reprised his role as Greengrass in the Heartbeat spin-off, The Royal.
He also made an appearance in The Moorside in 2017. Sadly, Maynard passed away in 2018 at the age of 89. He is fondly remembered for his roles in the Carry On films.
Mark Jordon portrayed PC Phil Bellamy from 1992 until 1997. After his stint on the show, Mark took on the role of Daz Spencer in Emmerdale in 2014 and made a comeback to the soap between 2017 and 2024.
He was previously wedded to Happy Valley star Siobhan Finneran, with whom he shares two children. He is currently married to Emmerdale actress Laura Norton and has two additional children.
Throughout his career, he has also featured in Casualty, Coronation Street, Doctors and Rocket’s Island. Following his stage work, The Mirror revealed his plans for a TV return as Ray Wood in the ITV drama series The Long Shadow.
Derek Fowlds – Oscar Blaketon
Derek embodied Sgt Oscar Blaketon for the entire run of the show, spanning 18 years. For the initial seven series of Heartbeat, he served as a sergeant before a heart attack led him to retire and take up other roles, including becoming the proprietor of the Aidensfield Arms pub.
Post-Heartbeat, Derek landed roles in other TV shows like Casualty and Doctors. Although he effectively retired from acting after the show concluded, he penned his autobiography, A Part Worth Playing, in 2015.
Earlier in his career, he was recognised for his role as Bernard Woolley in Yes Minister, a character he played for four years. Derek passed away at the age of 82 in January 2020.
William Simons – Alfred Ventress & Clare Wille – Rachel Dawson.
ITV
(Image: ITV)
Welsh-born William portrayed PC Alfred Ventress throughout the entire duration of the show. His character quickly won over viewers, with Ventress continuing to appear in the show even after the PC retired from the force.
Following Heartbeat, the actor from Wales secured roles in Casualty, The Bill, The Royal, Coronation Street, and Emmerdale. William passed away in 2019 at the age of 78.
Clare Wille took on the role of local DS Rachel Dawson, who was romantically involved with PC Joe Mason, for four years. She joined Heartbeat in 2006 and stayed until its finale in 2010. The actress from Cheshire later landed a recurring role as Trish Davidson in Coronation Street in 2012. Post-Corrie, she has appeared in Victoria, W1A, Vera and Silent Witness.
She has also featured in TV shows Defending the Guilty and Shakespeare and Hathaway: Private Investigators. More recently, she joined the cast of Doctors as Davinia Hargrove.
David Lonsdale – David Stockwell
Hailing from Southport, David Lonsdale portrayed the character of David Stockwell from 1996 until the show’s conclusion in 2010. While many viewers remember Greengrass as the comic relief, others will recognise David Stockwell as the village’s amusing simpleton.
Post-Heartbeat, Lonsdale has featured in Casualty, Emmerdale and Vera, as well as films The Real Full Monty and Downton Abbey.
The actor, who has been married for over three decades and has three children, has recently starred in The Bay, Anne, The Suspect and The Reckoning.
Peter Benson – Bernie Scripps
Peter played the part of Bernie Scripps in Heartbeat between 1995 and 2010. Bernie was the drama’s funeral director and also operated a garage in Aidensfield.
Following the finale of the show, he made two guest appearances on Casualty in 2011 and 2013. His list of acting jobs also includes A Touch of Frost, The Bill, and a stint as Mr Murdoch in Coronation Street. Peter passed away in September 2018 at the ripe old age of 75.
Nikki Sanderson – Dawn Bellamy
Nikki Sanderson stepped into the role of Dawn Bellamy from 2008 to 2009, quickly becoming a hit with viewers. Her arrival at the pub, seeking refuge from trouble back in Manchester, marked her as one to watch.
Initiating her TV career on Coronation Street as Candice at just 13, Nikki Sanderson kept the soap pedigree flourishing, securing the part of Maxine Minnver in Hollyoaks. She’s been portraying Maxine since 2012, scooping awards along the way. Her other credits span appearances on shows such as Holby City and Casualty.
Joe McFadden – Joe Mason & Geoffrey Hughes – Vernon Scripps
Joe McFadden brought PC Joe Mason to life on Heartbeat from 2007 till the show wound up in 2010. Post-Heartbeat, McFadden featured in Casualty before becoming a Holby City icon as Raffaello “Raf” di Lucca. In 2017, he dazzled audiences by winning Strictly Come Dancing alongside Katya Jones, expanding his repertoire into theatre.
Joe has shone in theatrical productions like Priscilla: Queen of the Desert, The Rocky Horror Show, and 2:22 A Ghost Story. In an exciting personal milestone, Joe announced his engagement to artist Rob Smales in 2024.
Liverpool-born actor Geoffrey was known for his role as Vernon Scripps, who stepped into the shoes of Greengrass as the village’s charming scoundrel. He also won over millions of viewers as Twiggy in The Royle Family and Onslow in Keeping Up Appearances.
However, he catapulted to fame as Coronation Street’s binman Eddie Yeats during the 1970s and 1980s. Earlier in his career, he lent his voice to Paul McCartney in the animated film Yellow Submarine. Sadly, he passed away in 2012 at the age of 68, following a fight with prostate cancer.
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