Lucy Robinson Movies

In the tradition of the classic movie The Sting and the '60s television show The Rogues, the lighthearted British adventure series Hustle was about a gang of London con artists who only ripped off the rich, the nasty, and the greedy -- in other words, people who deserved being conned, and who could afford to lose the cash. Masterminding the gang was "Mickey Bricks" Stone (Adrian Lester), a veteran of 49 successful scams who had ironically done jail time on unrelated charges. The father-figure of the bunch was Alfred Stroller (Robert Vaughn), a slick and stylish "roper" who located likely suckers. Ash Morgan (Robert Glenister) was the "detail man" of the outfit, a positive wizard with technical devices and indispensable in meticulously researching each assignment; hot-headed young amateur Danny Blue (Marc Warren) was Mickey's protégé and verbal sparring partner; and Stacie Monroe (Jaime Murray) provided the feminine interest. Created by Tony Jordan, the series was distinguished by two trademarks -- the constant breaking down of the "fourth wall" as the characters directly addressed the camera to explain potentially confusing plot points; and the inevitable third-act twist, in which the con job at hand was imperiled by unforeseen circumstances. First telecast by the BBC on February 24, 2004, Hustle made its American bow on January 14, 2006, by way of cable's American Movie Classics, which partially bankrolled the series' third season. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The fifth and final season of the British "dramedy" Cold Feet was originally telecast between February 23 and March 16, 2003, yielding four 90-minute episodes. The three couples that seemed to be so happy at the outset of the season have all broken up. Fay Ripley briefly returns to the role of Jenny, ex-wife of Adam (James Nesbitt), who since his divorce has undergone an even briefer marriage to Jo Ellison (Kimberly Joseph). Likewise separated are David and Karen Marsden (Robert Bathurst, Hermione Norris), thanks largely to David's affair with Robyn Duff (Lucy Robinson). And after a brief period of optimism and contentment, live-in couple Adam Williams (James Nesbitt) and Rachel Bradley (Helen Baxendale) have been torn apart by the simple iniquities of everyday life. ~ Rovi

By the time this "highlights" series made its BBC bow on August 6, 1996, British comedian Paul Kaye was already well into his alter-ego characterization Dennis Pennis, who specialized in gate-crashing important show-business events and ambushing celebrities with stupid and inane questions. Dennis Pennis had in fact become a fixture on The Sunday Show, from which this limited comedy series was compiled. Telecast in three 30-minute dollops, Very Important Pennis was seen again on August 16, 1996 and finally on June 6, 1997. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Miraculously, the Gasforth soccer team makes it all the way to the semifinals. As a result, Inspector Raymond Fowler trains his staff to prepare for riots in the street. Neither the team nor Fowler could have picked a worse time for their individual "projects"; Mayoress Wickerham has launched a campaign to attract foreign investors to the community. "Come On You Blues" was first telecast on December 12, 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The Thin Blue Line launched its second season with the November 14, 1996, episode "Court in the Act." Inspector Raymond Walker of the Gasforth police squad faces a formidable new opponent in the form of the excessively politically correct Mayoress Wickerham (Lucy Robinson). Meanwhile, the rest of the officers are thoroughly confused by the station's new "time saving" electronic equipment. And while trying to help the CID trap a local drug dealer, Detective Inspector Grim is thwarted by one of his own men, Constable Kevin Goody (whose garish new uniform unexpectedly saves everyone's job!) ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi