5 HEARTBEAT FACTS

IN TOTAL It’s difficult to total up the number of cars in Heartbeat because several vehicles often assumed the same identity with registration number changes and so on. Still, 250 would be a sensible estimate. Some cars also appeared with different owners over the years.

ON HIS WAY OUT Actor Jason Durr, aka PC Mike Bradley, narrowly escaped serious injury when he accidentally knocked a door handle and found himself falling out of a Ford Anglia at 30mph, while being filmed as a passenger. The actor driver rescued him and the director was so impressed that he used the piece in an episode.

FAREWELL MY LOVELY Numerous accidents were staged involving everything from a Vauxhall Viva to a unique Bellhouse Hartwell-bodied Ford Coach. Such activities often caused consternation among enthusiasts. A Ford Anglia died after being hurled into a lake for spin-off, The Royal.

BERRY NICE Nick Berry, aka PC Rowan, was an ardent classic fan who owned a Jaguar E-type S3 at the time of filming. It was rather appropriate, then, that his character was restoring an MG TA Midget on which work was done as the series continued. Not by Nick himself, though...

COMMERCIAL TIME Commercial vehicles appeared regularly in the series, and the 1956 Morris Commercial lorry belonging to loveable rogue, Claude Greengrass, is said to have been one of the most popular wheeled stars from the series. Several buses also appeared regularly.