Cracker: To Be A Somebody

Year: 1994
Written by: Jimmy McGovern
Directed by: Tim Fywell
Starring: Robbie Coltrane, Barbara Flynn, Christopher Eccleston, Lorcan Cranitch, Geraldine Somerville, Kieran O'Brien, Ricky Tomlinson and Colin Tierney with Robert Carlyle.
Duration: 148'02m
Certificate: 18
DVD Availability Try amazon (region 1)/sendit.com (region 2)

Cast (credits order): Robert Carlyle (Albie), Tracy Gillman (Jill), Gemma Phoenix (Ruth), Robbie Coltrane (Fitz), Dave Bond (Factory Supervisor), Martin Pearson (Factory Worker), Badi Uzzaman (Shahid Ali), Kieran O'Brien (Mark), Barbara Flynn (Judith). Christopher Eccleston (Bilborough), Geraldine Somerville (Penhaligon), Lorcan Cranitch (Beck), Shango Baku (Gregson), Wilbert Johnson (Skelton), Colin Tierney (Harriman), Paul Copley (Pathologist), Kim Vithana (Razia Ali), Elaine Heywood (Mrs Ali), Tony Barton (Builder), Mike Kelly (Peter Lloyd), Marc Seymour (3rd Skinhead), Beth Goddard (Clare Moody), Rebbeca Clay (Counter Clerk), John Capps (1st Skinhead), Ken Christiansen (2nd Skinhead), Tess Thomson (Katie), John Pickles (Neighbour), Peter Clifford (Doctor), Rosa Roberts (Householder), Glyn Grain (Professor Nolan), Tricia Hitchcock (Mrs Nolan), Edward Peel (Chief Superintendent), Jon Huyton (Barman), Tony Peers (Man in Albie's Street), Frankie Jordan (1st Woman), Sandra Gough (2nd Woman), June Broughton (Woman Shopper), Isobel Middleton (Catriona Bilborough), Ryan Cooper (Baby Bilborough), Philip Childs (Radio Operator), Ricky Tomlinson (Wise), John Henshaw (Quarry Foreman), David Holt (Hospital Administrator), Johnny Leeze (1st Manchester Utd Fan), Luke Scott Edwards (2nd Manchester Utd Fan) and Kevin Quarmby (1st Steward).

Forensic Slides Courtesy of CRC Press INC; Sun Headline Courtesy of News Group Newspapers.

Full Crew: Bill Leather (Production Supervisor), Des Hughes (Production Manager), Ken Mair (Location Manager), Peter Shaw (1st Assistant Director), Helen Wood (Production Co-ordinator), Dorothy Friend (Continuity), Jude Harrison (2nd Assistant Director), Richard Brierley (Focus Puller), Bob Gregory/Peter Maghie (Grips), Mandy Moles (Clapper Loader), David Ratcliffe (Chargehand Electrician), Ali Tramontin (Steadicam), Peter Brayham (Stunt Co-ordinator), Phil Smith (Sound Mixer), Tony Cooper (Boom Operator), John Senior/John Rutherford (Dubbing Editors), Andrew Wyatt (Dubbing Mixer), David Butterworth (Art Director), Ron Pritchard (Production Buyer), Frank Massey (Chargehand ASM), Phil Buckley (Graphic Designer), Jean Kelly (Costume Designer), Helen King (Make-Up Supervisor), Debbie Shewell/Roxy Spencer (Script Editors), Craig McNeil (Production Executive), Gail Stevens/Andy Pryor (Casting), David Ferguson (Music Composer), Edward Mansell (Film Editor), Ivan Strasburg (Director of Photography), Stephen Fineren (Production Designer), Sally Head (Executive Producer) and Paul Abbott (Producer). A Granada Television Production.


Trivia: This story was originally screened in a three-episode format on 10/10, 17/10 and 24/10/1994.Though the changeover is scarcely noticeable for such a minor character, (I confess I hadn't noticed it until compiling the credits) Isobel Middleton replaces Amelia Bullmore as Bilborough's wife, Catriona in this story.

Images: Cracker: To Be A Somebody Image Page

Clip: Bilborough's death scene

Viewpoint:
"This is evidence… this is a dying man’s statement…"

This is the serial that cemented Christopher Eccleston in the British television audience’s consciousness, as well as elevating Cracker to major prominence and making Robert Carlyle’s name. For the first time a truly credible opponent is created in the series, and with Carlyle’s Liverpool-accented murderer killing DCI Bilborough, To Be A Somebody serves us with some unforgettable television.

With so much going on in the “A” plot, the “B” plot of domestic strife is played down somewhat, and the ill-at-ease almost-relationship between Fitz and Penhaligon is given little screentime. Upplayed is Lorcan Cranitch’s Jimmy Beck, for once showing compassion, and in that moment getting it entirely wrong. Having an established character murdered in so graphic a fashion (albeit still tastefully done, with the actual murder playing without sound) is a truly shocking moment of television, coupled with the infamous “bomb scene” later in the story. With Paul Abbott taking over from Gub Neal as producer (Hilary Bevan Jones would be saddled with the weak third season and one-off ’96 special) then things do seem a little more sensationalist than before. Having a drama inspired by the Hillsborough tragedy was bound to attract headlines, and this it duly did, as well as a Scottish BAFTA for Carlyle, shared for his work on this and Hamish MacBeth. Some of the minor characters there for comic relief – the assistant in the betting shop, the despondent barman and the skinheads in the toilet – are also drawn a little too broadly and veer towards cartoonish. The issue-based nature of the plot takes over a little too much at times, McGovern’s desire of sloganeering getting in the way of a fully-rounded story. As a result of all these problems, To Be A Somebody isn’t the best Cracker had to offer, despite being the most well remembered. But even here, the series is still first rate.