13 March 1994 (1994-03-13) – 17 August 1997 (1997-08-17)
Pie in the Sky is a British policecomedy drama starring Richard Griffiths and Maggie Steed, created by Andrew Payne and first broadcast in five series on BBC1 between 13 March 1994 and 17 August 1997, as well as being syndicated on other channels in other countries.
The protagonist, Henry Crabbe, while still being an on-duty, "semi-retired" policeman (much against his will), is also the head chef at his wife's restaurant "Pie in the Sky", set in the fictional town of Middleton and county of Westershire.
Premise
Crabbe's portrait of Alexis Soyer that hung on the wall in his kitchen.[1]
The series focuses on the life of Detective Inspector Henry Crabbe, who serves in the police force for the fictional county of Westershire. After 25 years on the job, Crabbe wishes to retire and set up his own restaurant, and is brought one step closer after an attempt to catch a high-profile criminal backfires, leaving him shot in the leg. His boss, Assistant Chief Constable Freddie Fisher, is unwilling to let Crabbe leave the Westershire force, and so, when a corrupt officer frames Crabbe for taking a bribe, effectively blackmails him into taking on occasional cases when required.
As a result, Crabbe finds his life divided between his duties as a police detective, and a chef in his new restaurant — "Pie in the Sky" — which he runs with his wife Margaret. Each episode thus focuses on two separate plotlines, in which one sees Crabbe investigating a case, while the other sees him, his wife and their staff dealing with a problem that affects their restaurant.
Cast
Richard Griffiths as DI Henry Crabbe, detective and restaurant owner. He is an astute detective, a lover of food, and a great cook.
Maggie Steed as Margaret Crabbe, Henry's wife. She is an accountant and cares little for good food herself, but works in the restaurant and supports Henry's venture, as long as it makes a profit.
Malcolm Sinclair as ACC Freddy Fisher, Assistant Chief Constable of Police, Henry's boss. He is most concerned with furthering his career, but recognises that Crabbe is an excellent detective.
Bella Enahoro as WPC [Later DS] Sophia Cambridge, detective (Series 1–4). She is a trustworthy officer who accompanies Crabbe on most cases.
Mary Woodvine as WPC Jane Morton, police constable (Series 5), accompanies Crabbe on most cases in Series 5.
Derren Litten as PC Ed Guthrie, police constable (Series 5), accompanies Crabbe on most cases in Series 5.
Joe Duttine as Steve Turner, chef (Series 1–2). He is an ex-criminal but an honest worker, and a good young chef.
Nicholas Lamont as Gary Palmer, chef (Series 3–5). Like Steve, he is an ex-criminal, an honest worker and a good young chef.
Nick Raggett as Leon Henderson, a food supplier for the restaurant, and occasional worker in the restaurant.
Alison McKenna as Linda Walker, waitress, and girlfriend of Steve (Series 1)
Ashley Russell as John Dawson, waiter (Series 1–2)
Robert Putt as Chief Constable Braithwaite, Fisher's boss (Recurring; Series 3 and 5)
Caroline Loncq as Jenny Drabble, police PR officer (Recurring; Series 4–5)
Michael Kitchen as Dudley Hooperman, a high-class thief who is supposed to be Crabbe's last arrest but instead shoots him in the leg and escapes (Guest; Series 1)
Henderson's neighbour finds a dismembered corpse, which may prove the innocence of an imprisoned man. A visiting French policewoman Marianne Dupont (fr:Marianne Borgo) gives Crabbe a gift of Alexandre Dumas' Dictionary of Cuisine.
10
10
"Endangered Species"
Lawrence Gordon Clark
Andrew Payne
15 May 1994 (1994-05-15)
Margaret and Henderson side with Reynard the Fox in opposing a new bypass, while Henry must question his loyalties.
Series 2 (1995)
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Title
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Original air date
11
1
"Hard Cheese"
Jim Hill
Andrew Payne
15 January 1995 (1995-01-15)
Henry investigates a prowler fond of older ladies, and begins to suspect the celibate supplier of his cheese.
12
2
"Brown Bread"
Martin Hutchings
Andrew Payne
22 January 1995 (1995-01-22)
A corpse vanishes from the Pie in the Sky's lavatories, and Henry soon finds himself investigating a counterfeit currency.
13
3
"The Policeman's Daughter"
Jim Hill
John Milne
29 January 1995 (1995-01-29)
Fisher's daughter joins a squat on Henderson's field, and Henry is recruited to bring her back.
14
4
"The One That Got Away"
Martin Hutchings
Richard Maher
5 February 1995 (1995-02-05)
The fish farmer's fiancé appears to have been murdered, and it's up to Henry to save his best trout supplier.
15
5
"Dead Right"
Jim Hill
Lizzie Mickery
12 February 1995 (1995-02-12)
Henry becomes entangled with a self-publicising psychic, and together they solve the mystery of a missing girl.
16
6
"Black Pudding"
Danny Hiller
Andrew Payne
19 February 1995 (1995-02-19)
Henry is reunited with his hero, Hillary Smallwood, and becomes embroiled in her nephew's wicked plot.
17
7
"Swan in His Pride"
Lawrence Gordon Clark
John Milne
26 February 1995 (1995-02-26)
Henry goes undercover in Bath to investigate the local constabulary, who are using a serial killer to mask their errors.
18
8
"The Mild Bunch"
Danny Hiller
John Milne
5 March 1995 (1995-03-05)
As two pensioners go on a fraud spree, the inclusion of Dundee marmalade in their trademark pudding motivates Henry to find them.
19
9
"The Mystery of Pikey"
Danny Hiller
John Milne
12 March 1995 (1995-03-12)
Two posh children take advantage of a poor fisherman, and Henderson falls in the river.
20
10
"Lemon Twist"
Lawrence Gordon Clark
Andrew Payne
19 March 1995 (1995-03-19)
Henry goes on a management training course, while Pie in the Sky is mobbed following a glowing review.
Series 3 (1995-96)
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21
1
"Money Talks"
Martin Hutchings
Andrew Payne
31 December 1995 (1995-12-31)
Henry stakes out a pizza parlour. John and Steve have left. A new chef, Gary arrives and helps Henry catch the pizza gang.
22
2
"Game Pie (In the Sky)"
Martin Hutchings
Richard Maher
7 January 1996 (1996-01-07)
Henry caters for his friend's pheasant shoot, where Fisher is among the guests. A member of the estate staff is shot and killed and it looks as if Fisher accidentally shot him.
23
3
"Irish Stew"
Keith Boak
Christina Reid
14 January 1996 (1996-01-14)
An Irishwoman books the restaurant for a wedding banquet for her and her new husband. Byron's briefcase is stolen from his hotel and Henry is suspicious of his reaction.
24
4
"Doggett's Coat and Badge"
Danny Hiller
John Milne
21 January 1996 (1996-01-21)
Charles Rider, a wine-loving regular at Pie in the Sky, is being threatened, and comes to Crabbe for help.
25
5
"This Other Eden"
David Innes Edwards
Matthew Leys
28 January 1996 (1996-01-28)
Henry investigates thefts of valuable plants from gardens, while Margaret unknowingly employs the chief suspect.
26
6
"Coddled Eggs"
David Innes Edwards
John Milne
4 February 1996 (1996-02-04)
While recovering stolen cars, Henry apprehends a larger smuggling ring headed by two Russians.
Series 4 (1996)
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Original air date
27
1
"Devils on Horseback - Part 1"
Malcolm Mowbray
Richard Maher
15 September 1996 (1996-09-15)
Henry and Margaret spend a day at the races with her new client Bob Bishop. The corpse of stable lad Ben Tucker is found in a horse-box. Keeley Hawes appears in an early part.
28
2
"Devils on Horseback - Part 2"
Malcolm Mowbray
Richard Maher
22 September 1996 (1996-09-22)
Margaret stumbles on the killer. Meanwhile Nicola is annoyed when a school friend appears to be making a play for Gary.
29
3
"Chinese Whispers"
Bill Pryde
Andrew Payne
29 September 1996 (1996-09-29)
The Chen family's Chinese takeaway is the target of an arson attack, but Mr. Chen will not go to the police. His daughter Mei asks Henry for help.
30
4
"New Leaf"
Keith Boak
Robert Jones
6 October 1996 (1996-10-06)
Henry must guard a safe house protecting an uncooperative star witness. He eventually wins her over with his cooking.
31
5
"Breaking Bread"
Paul Harrison
Robert Jones
13 October 1996 (1996-10-13)
To save money, Fisher employs a new company to supply the police canteen. Arrests go down and Fisher relies on Henry to find a reason to get rid of the new company.
32
6
"Gary's Cake"
Bill Pryde
Andrew Payne
20 October 1996 (1996-10-20)
When the restaurant is robbed, Henry closes down to do his own investigation, solving the crime in time to mark two years of Gary giving up alcohol with a celebratory cake. Guest stars Steven Hartley
Series 5 (1997)
No. overall
No. in series
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Original air date
33
1
"Squashed Tomatoes"
Bill Pryde
Andrew Payne
29 June 1997 (1997-06-29)
Cambridge is gone and Henry is saddled with two new staff members. At the restaurant, Nicola has left and Gary is unhappy.
34
2
"Ugly Customers"
Simon Massey
Niall Leonard
6 July 1997 (1997-07-06)
Henry's team goes to the garish Luxor Hotel to protect a jury. Back at the restaurant Sally learns to get the better of a sex pest.
35
3
"Pork Pies"
David Innes Edwards
John Milne
13 July 1997 (1997-07-13)
Henry and the squad go to a meat factory where animal rights protesters are demonstrating against the owner. Henry finds the sausages contain soya and are wholly meat-free.
36
4
"Cutting the Mustard"
David Innes Edwards
Robert Jones
20 July 1997 (1997-07-20)
Henry is called to a school where a student has been beaten up by local youths. Henry finds a member of the Chemistry Department staff selling Ecstasy tablets.
37
5
"Return Match"
Rob Evans
Robert Jones
27 July 1997 (1997-07-27)
Henry has to solve a series of thefts from lorries and gets unexpected help from private security firm Troubleshooters. Guest stars Bruce Byron and Mark Womack
38
6
"The Apprentice"
Morag Fullarton
Ann Marie Di Mambro
3 August 1997 (1997-08-03)
Nicky comes to Pie in the Sky, claiming he is there for work experience. Henry uses him in the kitchen and he impresses everyone. The till is robbed and Nicky goes missing.
39
7
"In the Smoke"
David Innes Edwards
Andrew Payne
10 August 1997 (1997-08-10)
The Crabbes holiday in London. Henry discovers a friend in hiding, while Margaret finds a body in the trash. Guest stars Nicola Walker and Michael Attwell
40
8
"Smelling of Roses"
Rob Evans
Andrew Payne
17 August 1997 (1997-08-17)
Henry loses his sense of smell and mysteriously regains it when he resigns from the police once and for all. Guest stars John Bowler and Anthony O'Donnell
Filming locations
Westershire, the fictional county where the series is set, is based on Berkshire in southern England. Although scenes in Middleton were often filmed in Marlow in Buckinghamshire, the exterior of the restaurant, Pie in the Sky, was filmed outside number 64 High Street in the Old Town in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire. Originally, a florist and then a toy shop, the building became a minor tourist attraction while the series ran, then housed the business of a dolls’-house maker, and as of 2019, a hair salon. A nearby restaurant at 80 High Street renamed itself "Pie in the Sky" (later becoming "Les Amants") to capitalise on the programme's popularity. In Olinda, Victoria in Australia, a very successful restaurant called "Pie in the Sky" also serves many of the TV series' recipes and especially its famous crusty steak and kidney pies. All internal filming at the restaurant was carried out at Bray Studios at Water Oakley, near Windsor in Berkshire. The local newspaper, the Maidenhead Advertiser, occasionally appears in the series redubbed the 'Barstock and Middleton Advertiser'. Freddie Fisher plays golf at Stoke Park Golf Club at Stoke Poges.[2][3][4]
Broadcast, DVD and streaming
The series was originally broadcast in the UK on BBC1 between 13 March 1994 and 17 August 1997.
In the United States, Acorn Media has released separate sets of all five series on 12 May 2009 (Series 1), 26 January 2010 (Series 2),[5] 7 September 2010 (Series 3),[6] 25 January 2011 (Series 4)[7] and 2 August 2011 (Series 5).[8] The complete series was released on DVD by Acorn Media on 11 November 2011.
The entire series is available for streaming through AcornTV.[9]
In Australia, Via Vision Entertainment have released series 1 & 2 on 21 July 2021 and will release series 3–5 on 15 September 2021.
All episodes are currently available to watch in the UK via the UKTV Play platform.
All five seasons became available in the US on BritBox in March 2023.
