Northern Lights (TV series)

Northern Lights
Format	Dramedy
Created by	Bob Mills Jeff Pope
Developed by	Bob Mills Jeff Pope
Starring	The Armstrongs: Robson Green (Colin) Nicola Stephonson (Jackie) Linzey Cocker (Brooke) Lee Worswick (Liam) Alex Rimmer (Leyton) The Scotts: Mark Benton (Howie) Siân Reeves (Pauline) Maisie Breakenridge (Victoria)
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Language(s)	English
No. of episodes	8 (Incl. Pilot and 1 special)
Production
Executive producer(s)	Andy Harries Jeff Pope
Producer(s)	Bob Mills Jeff Pope Spencer Campbell
Camera setup	Multi Cameria Set-Up
Running time	60 minutes (with commercials), approx 47-50 minutes (without commercials)
Broadcast
Original channel	ITV (ITV1/STV/UTV)
Picture format	Widescreen SDTV
Audio format	Stereo
Original run	December 21, 2004 – December 21, 2008

Northern Lights is a 2006 comedy-drama broadcast on ITV starring Mark Benton and Robson Green. It is a spin-off of the 2004 Christmas special Christmas Lights.

A sequel, City Lights, was broadcast in 2007. Also a Christmas special, Clash of the Santas, was broadcast in December 2008. It featured Colin and Howie taking a trip to Lithuania to represent the UK in a Santa convention. The main problem with this is that miserable Howie is picked as Santa, while true Christmas believer Colin is relegated to the role of cheerleading elf.

Cast

Colin Armstrong - Robson Green The phrase 'one of the lads' was made for Colin. His perfect night would be a kick-about on the football pitch, a pint and a 'craic' with his mates and then going for some nookie with his wife Jackie. Colin would walk over hot coals for his best friend Howard, but he can't help being a little narked at his new-found success at work. He's got a bit of a chip on his shoulder about always being seen as the joker and therefore not taken seriously and so he is fiercely competitive with his mate. Very happily married, he and Jackie have three children, Brooke, Liam and Leyton.

Howard Scott - Mark Benton Howie is both dependable and loyal - a 'gentle giant' who has always been there to pick up the pieces as Colin storms through life. He and Colin share the same child-like sense of humour and silly sense of competitiveness. Howie sometimes falls under Colin's shadow but he's no pushover and is more than capable of sticking up for himself when needs be. Recently promoted to management at work, he's keen to better himself and provide the luxuries of life for his wife Pauline and baby daughter Victoria.

Jackie Armstrong - Nicola Stephenson Jackie is fiery, kind and practical. She and Colin are the type of couple you want to be – good friends who also fancy the pants off each other. Jackie is incredibly close to her sister Pauline and they enjoy living next door to each other and combining their family's lives. When Colin and Howie are daggers drawn this can lead to the sisters' diplomatic skills being stretched to extremes, but the girls always stay united despite their husbands' antics.

Pauline Scott - Sian Reeves Pauline is a little quieter than her sister and has a traditional outlook on life. She is a tower of strength to them all and incredibly protective of her brood; she would fight tooth and nail to defend them against attack. She is torn between enjoying the perks that Howie's salary now allows and being unsettled by the changes it also brings. She gave birth to baby Victoria 18 months ago and as the series starts is on a quest to get her and Howie's sex life back on track.

Eric Foulkes - Keith Clifford Father to Jackie and Pauline, Eric has recently retired as foreman at Sherpa Freight where his sons-in-law still work and is fondly remembered by staff. He now splits his time between babysitting for the two families and his allotment. Towards the end of the series it comes to light that Eric is more of a dark horse than we thought.

Nigel Cockburn - James Midgley Colin's nemesis and a prize prat - Cockburn is humourless, ambitious and highly focussed on climbing the career ladder at Sherpa Freight. But will the winning combination of Howie and Colin get in his way?

Len Guthrie - Russell Dixon Old-school Len is often the voice of reason to counter Cockburn's management style. Respectful of his hard working staff, he is a champion of both Howie and Colin over the course of the series.

Episodes

#	Title	Original airdate	Production code
1	"Christmas Lights (Pilot)"	December 21, 2004 (2004-12-21)	#NL-P
In the first episode we are introduced to best mates: Howie Scott and Colin Armstrong. Both are workers at Sherpa Freight, but when Howie gets promoted to manager a rivalry develops between the friends. A rivalry that causes the two to attempt to outdo each other by decorating their houses with Christmas lights!
2	"Episode 1"	January 16, 2006 (2006-01-16)	#NL101
Colin & Jackie splash out on a Florida holiday but then Colin fails an alcohol test and gets fired from Sherpa! Meanwhile, Pauline feels neglected by Howie. Collin's daughter Brook gets a new boyfriend.
3	"Episode 2"	January 23, 2006 (2006-01-23)	#NL102
Colin is still job hunting so he takes work at the local taxi firm and he tries to replace Howie and Pauline by befriending a fellow taxi driver and his wife. Brooke goes missing and Colin & Jackie fear the worst. Meanwhile, Howie is offered his job back but he gives his boss an ultimatium.
4	"Episode 3"	January 30, 2006 (2006-01-30)	#NL103
Colin & Howie go to a school reunion at Newcastle and Howie hooks up with an old flame. Colin is torn between supporting his friend or telling Pauline, and Howie must decide who he really loves.
5	"Episode 4"	February 6, 2006 (2006-02-06)	#NL104
To show that he can be more than just a van driver, Colin becomes the new captain of the Sherpa Freight's football team, but when the power goes to his head, he begins losing friends, especially Howie. Meanwhile, the landlord of the local pub takes a shine to Jackie when she joins the snooker team.
6	"Episode 5"	February 13, 2006 (2006-02-13)	#NL105
Colin's father dies and his father-in-law has a heart attack. Pauline and Jackie discover some secrets concerning there father and Sherpa receptionist Jean. Meanwhile, Collin's brother Patrick arrives.
7	"Episode 6"	February 20, 2006 (2006-02-20)	#NL106
The Armstrongs and the Scotts go away for the weekend. Jackie & Pauline find out they have a long lost sister, who turns out to be a lesbian! Colin & Howie get drunk and disturb a shotgun-wielding farmer who attempts to hunt them down!
8	"Behind The Scenes"	April 10, 2007 (2007-04-10)	BTS-NL
This special behind the scenes look at the series, takes a peek behind the camera and sees that making of Northern Lights!
9	"Episode 1"	April 11, 2007 (2007-04-11)
After witnessing the shooting of a gangster. Collin & Howie are forced into witness protection. Pauline in particular is taking this hard because it means she cannot see her secret lover.
10	"Episode 2"	April 18, 2007 (2007-04-18)
The Two famallies are moved to a safe house in london. Jackie discovers a secret from Collins past. Howie fears that his marriage could be on the erge of ending and Brook goes to extreme measures to contact her boyfriend. Meanwhile, DS Gary Tate's past of gambling debts make him the perfect man to locate Howie and Collin for Sweeny and Hatton.
11	"Episode 3"	April 25, 2007 (2007-04-25)
Both Collin & Howies marriages are falling apart whilst Collin manages to win Jackie back, Pauline makes a heartbreaking decision that will change the two famillies for good. Meanwhile, Sweenys heavies Hatton and Scully put preassure on Gary Tate, but will he endanger the lives of people in his care.
12	"Episode 4"	May 2, 2007 (2007-05-02)
Collin & Howie becomes traffic wardens and Howie gains a new admirer. Jackie is unable to have sex with Collin because she cannot forget about his ex wife. Meanwhile, Pauline begins an affair with DS Gary Tate and tells Howie that there marriage is over. Leaving her divided from the rest of the family.
13	"Episode 5"	May 9, 2007 (2007-05-09)
Collin and a depressed Howie launch a gardening business. Collin lets slip to Howie that Pauline may have a new man. Howie heads off to confront her mystery man with disasterouse consequences. Meanwhile, Jackie is left holding the baby whilst Pauline spends the day in Gary Tate's hotel room.
14	"Episode 6"	May 16, 2007 (2007-05-16)
Collin & Howie are being held hostage by Hatton and Scully, they also capture Gary Tate who they order to kill Howie and Collin. Scott Sweeny comes face to face with his enemies, sparking off a chain of events with a shocking conclusion. Meanwhile, Jackie and Pauline continue to clash over Pauline's affair with Gary Tate and Jackie discovers she is pregnate.
15	"Clash of the Santas"	Sunday December 21, 2008 (2008-12-21)

External links

• 'Northern Lights' at the Internet Movie Database
• Northern Lights at The Robson Green Web Site
• Review of Clash of the Santas, Leicester Mercury