Lynda Bellingham Movies

Several American stars add marquee value to this British comedy about a single mom who's back in the dating game, whether she likes it or not. Jenny Seagrove plays Suzanne, a recently widowed woman in her 30's with two children, teenage son Ben (Ben Reynolds) and younger daughter Natalie (Ace Ryan). Suzanne is still dealing with her husband's passing and doesn't feel ready for a new man in her life. But her friends have other plans and they try fixing her up with Frank (Charles Dance), a dentist so eager to win her hand he hypnotizes her during an appointment in hopes she'll accept his offer of a dinner date. Frank soon has competition when Tony (Anthony Edwards), an American sports therapist, meets Suzanne at a concert; their paths cross again when he finds a wallet she's lost and stops by her home to return it. The first film production from noted stage producer Bill Kenwright, Don't Go Breaking My Heart also features cameos from Jane Leeves and Tom Conti. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Born in Dorsetshire, Thomas Hardy (1840-1928) fictionalized the region as Wessex in his short stories and novels. In 1973, stories from Thomas Hardy's collection Wessex Tales (1888) were adapted to television for a BBC-2 series (also titled Wessex Tales) that included a memorable contribution ("A Tragedy of Two Ambitions") scripted by acclaimed British dramatist Dennis Potter, who later adapted Hardy's The Mayor of Casterbridge for the BBC2 in 1978. The Scarlet Tunic is based on another story from Wessex Tales, "The Melancholy Hussar of the German Legion," a 20-page tale of thwarted love, structured as a recollection by Phyllis as told to Hardy shortly before she died. For this $800,000-budgeted British period film, set in the early 19th century, the name Phyllis was changed to Frances (Emma Fielding), daughter of retired doctor Edward Groves (Jack Shepherd). Frances is engaged to her father's friend, dull Humphrey Gould (John Sessions), away on business. A German cavalry regiment is encamped on Groves' land, and one day, Frances meets handsome hussar Matthaus (Jean-Marc Barr), who's ready for action. He would like to either fight the French or return to Germany. The two have an immediate attraction. When the bored soldiers, including Matthaus, make plans to desert, Frances decides to leave with Matthaus. Unfortunately, Gould visits the Groves home on that very night, with resulting confrontations and conflicts. Former second-unit director and stunt coordinator Stuart St. Paul makes his feature directorial debut, with the screenplay (St. Paul, Mark Jenkins, Colin Clements) expanding on both the events and characters as penned by Hardy. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide

Yorkshire veterinarian James Herriot (Christopher Timothy) nears his second decade ministering to the animals of Darrowby as All Creatures Great & Small enters its sixth season. Motivating several of this year's plotlines is the on-again, off-again romance between James' young assistant Calum (John McGlynn) and his fiancée Deirdre (Andrea Gibb). This, of course, does not mean that the enduring marriage between James and his wife Helen (Lynda Bellingham) is ignored by the scriptwriters. Although we have now reached the '50s, James' crusty senior partner Siegfried Farnon (Robert Hardy) continues to have difficulty convincing the locals to abandon their traditional medical beliefs in favor of lab-tested modern methods. Siegfried also exhibits his rarely exposed human side when he attempts to heal old emotional wounds amongst those countrymen and countrywomen who can't seem to get along. And, of course, some other things never change -- notably wealthy Mrs. Pumphrey (Margaretta Scott), who clearly continues to regard dogs as nobler animals than any other...including humans. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Having brought the series' storyline all the way up to the '50s, season five of All Creatures Great & Small begins as Yorkshire veterinarian James Herriot (Christopher Timothy) dons skis to make his usual rounds during an extremely heavy snowfall. Meanwhile, Tristan Farnon (Peter Davison), younger brother of James' partner Siegfried Farnon (Robert Hardy), resigns from the Ministry of Agriculture in hopes of joining Siegfried's practice again; and the medical expertise of James' young assistant Calum (John McGlynn) continues to grow apace, with a brief period of tuberculin testing in Ireland. Calum also endeavors to woo and win the lovely Dierdre McEwan (Andrea Gibb), though a number of available females in the area would rather he dally with them. Many of James' familiar clients are still around and about, notably wealthy dog fancier Mrs. Pumphrey (Margaretta Scott), who invites James to be guest of honor at a birthday party for her pampered Pekinese Tricky Woo. As for James' wife and sometimes assistant Helen (Lynda Bellingham), she spends much of the season laid up with a painful back injury. Finally, rival veterinarian Granville Bennett (James Grout) continues to flaunt the success of his animal hospital to the struggling James, with sometimes amusing results. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the second episode of the season-long continuity "The Trial of a Time Lord," the Doctor (Colin Baker) faces a death sentence unless he can prove that his breaking of the Laws of Time was for a good purpose. As evidence for the prosecution, the Valeyard (Michael Jayston) shows the Doctor and his travelling companion, Peri (Nicola Bryant), acting in a highly suspicious manner on the earthlike planet Ravolox. Subtitled "The Mysterious Planet," this chapter of "The Trial of a Time Lord" was written by Robert Holmes and originally aired on September 13, 1986. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The 23rd season of Doctor Who ended with chapter four of the 14-part adventure "The Trial of a Time Lord." Written by Pip and Jane Baker and titled Doctor Who: The Ultimate Foe, Episode 1 the two-episode conclusion of the story finds the Doctor (Colin Baker) still on trial for violating the laws of space. Facing a death sentence on a charge of genocide, the Doctor receives unexpected support from two old enemies: The Master (Anthony Ainley) and intergalactic con artist Glitz (Tony Selby). This episode originally aired on November 29, 1986. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the 11th episode of the season-long continuity "The Trial of a Time Lord," the Doctor (Colin Baker) presents videotaped evidence that he and his companion, Mel (Bonnie Langford), used the Laws of Time to rescue the passengers of the spaceliner Hyperion III from the Vervoids, a species of voracious plants. But the Valeyard (Michael Jayston), determined to condemn the Doctor for violating the rules of the Time Lords, insists that the images on the videotape do not correspond with the actual facts. Curiously, both the Doctor and the Valeyard are telling the truth. Written by Pip and Jane Baker and first broadcast on November 15, 1986, this episode is officially known as "Terror of the Vervoids, Episode 3." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Returning to television after an overlong hiatus (save for a brief "revival" in the BBC radio serial "Slipback"), Doctor Who launched its 23rd season on September 6, 1986. In an unusual move, the producers decided to devote the entire season to a single continuity, with the overall title "The Trial of a Time Lord." The story was subdivided into four chapters, each given its own subtitle (those these subtitles did not appear onscreen), each running between two to four episodes. In "The Mysterious Planet, Episode 1," the Doctor (Colin Baker) is put on trial for his life for breaking the Laws of Time. The Valeyard (Michael Jayston), or chief prosecutor, endeavors to seal the Doctor's doom with selected videotaped examples of the Doctor's "treachery." Doctor Who: The Mysterious Planet, Episode 1 was written by Robert Holmes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The season-long Doctor Who adventure "The Trial of a Time Lord" continued on November 1, 1986 with episode one of the story's third chapter, "Terror of the Vervoids" (a subtitle that did not appear onscreen). Still defending himself against charges of breaking the Laws of Time, the Doctor (Colin Baker) presents videotaped evidence of his innocence. It should not surprise fans of the series that the evidence consists of events that have yet to transpire, and that the Doctor has suddenly acquired a new companion: Earth girl Melanie "Mel" Bush (Bonnie Langford). Doctor Who: The Trial of a Time Lord, Episode 9 was written by Pip and Jane Baker. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the seventh episode of the season-long continuity "The Trial of a Time Lord," videotaped evidence presented by the Valeyard (Michael Jayston) would seem to prove that the Doctor (Colin Baker) is not only guilty of violating the Laws of Time, but was also responsible for various acts of treachery on the planet Thoros Beta. Certainly, the evidence suggests an evil alliance between the Doctor and the infamous Sil (Nabil Shaban). Making matters worse, Peri (Nicola Bryant), the only person able to clear the Doctor of the charges against him, is nowhere to be found. Written by Philip Martin and originally telecast on October 18, 1986, "Mindwarp, Episode 3" is listed in most sources as Doctor Who: The Trial of a Time Lord, Episode 7. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Subtitled "Mindwarp," the second story arc of the 14-week Doctor Who continuity "The Trial of a Time Lord" began on October 4, 1986. In the first of the arc's four episodes, the Valeyard (Michael Jayston), still bent on condemning the Doctor (Colin Baker) for breaking the Laws of Time, offers videotaped evidence between the Doctor and the infamous Sil (Nabil Shaban) on the latter's home planet, Thoros Beta. Written by Philip Martin, "Mindwarp, Episode 1" is listed in most sources as Doctor Who: The Trial of a Time Lord, Episode 5. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Avon (Paul Darrow) endeavors to enlist the aid of Muller (John Westbrook), a cybernetics expert. But an accident reveals that Muller is not Muller at all, but instead the scientist's lookalike, an insane android. Now the crew of the Scorpio must prevent Muller's electronic clone from merging its intellect with the computer Orac, as part of a master plan to take over the universe. "Headhunter" was originally broadcast on November 2, 1981. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide