ITV's Heartbeat in pictures

Just out of sight, a villain is making off with their car radio. Classic Heartbeat, with Nick Berry and Niamh Cusack as Nick and Kate Rowan, a young married couple arriving in a small Yorkshire village from London. With such plot lines are hit ITV returnable series born Photograph: ITV/Rex Features

'No, it's not been raining, I really did style my hair like this.' Nick Berry gives it some blue steel in a 1992 episode of the police drama Photograph: ITV/Rex Features

Duffy - the early years. Of course not, it's Gina Ward as played by Tricia Penrose. Gina didn't have it easy, but neither did her on-off lover Phil Bellamy, who suffered a tragic shotgun accident. Such is life in a sleepy Yorkshire village in the 1960s Photograph: ITV/Rex Features

Having sung Every Loser Wins in EastEnders, notching up the second biggest selling single of 1986, Nick Berry went on to sing the theme tune to Heartbeat. He appeared in the show from 1992 to 1998, when he jumped ship for BBC1's Harbour Lights. Now that really was criminal Photograph: ITV/Rex Features

The sheep has hit the fan! The chap with his arms in the air is long-running cast member Derek Fowlds (Oscar Blaketon), fondly remembered as Bernard Woolley in Yes, Minister and even more fondly remembered, by a certain generation, as Mr Derek in The Basil Brush Show. Boom boom! You're nicked Photograph: ITV/Rex Features

It's lovable rogue Claude Greengrass, played by Bill Maynard, and Alfred the dog. Just imagine the scrapes these two got into. I'll have to, in fact, because I never watched it. Maynard reprised the character in the first series of Heartbeat spin-off, The Royal Photograph: ITV/Rex Features

Ker-boom! A scene from the episode in which Alfred the dog scoffed Claude's lifetime supply of baked beans - with terrible consequences. No animals were harmed in the making of this episode Photograph: ITV/Rex Features

Nick Rowan (Nick Berry) checks Oscar Blaketon (Derek Fowlds) for dandruff. No need to inspect old Greengrass, we can see it from here. Of course not. Looks like he's been in another scrape again. Oh, Claude! Photograph: ITV/Rex Features

Jason Durr joined the show as PC Mike Bradley in 1997. In an eerily similar plotline to the original one featuring Nick Berry, PC Bradley arrived in the Yorkshire village having worked for the Met Police in London. He is pictured with wife Jackie Bradley (Fiona Dolman). It didn't last, though - they split after she had an affair - and Mike nearly married again before the object of his affection was killed in a horse riding accident. They call him Lucky Mike Photograph: ITV/Rex Features

Not an undercover policeman chasing a lead - that's a rather too literal interpretation - but lovable buffoon David Stockwell, played by David Lonsdale. He first appeared as an occasional character in 1993, becoming a regular cast member three years later Photograph: Rex Features/Rex Features

'Is this some kind of bust?' 'Yes ma'am, very impressive.' It's Steven Blakeley as PC Geoff Younger. In one episode his father was hospitalised for incurable alcoholism-related dementia Photograph: ITV/Rex Features

Royle Family star Ralf Little is one of a number of guest stars to appear in Heartbeat over the years, including Charlotte Church, Geraldine Newman, Gary Barlow, David Dickinson, Lulu, Alan Price, George Cole, Ray Illingworth, Brian Close, Roy Dotrice, Ralf Little, Dickie Bird, Jon Culshaw and Daniel Craig. James Bond was in Heartbeat? Photograph: ITV/Rex Features

Jonathan Kerrigan starred as PC (later Sgt) Robert Walker between 2004 and 2007. He married Dr Helen Trent after she separated from her husband, only for the doctor to die weeks later. This sort of thing happens on Heartbeat. Here he consoles the victim of an appalling-looking crime Photograph: ITV/Rex Features

It's PC Geoff Younger again, played by Steven Blakeley. He is the sort of copper for whom the phrase 'heart of gold' was invented. Not an especially bright spark though. Here he is on the lookout for a stolen green and yellow 'BP' petrol sign. Now where can it be, where can it be? Photograph: ITV/ITV

Sgt Rachel Dawson, played by Clare Wille, arrived in Heartbeat territory from Middlesbrough where - shock horror - she had an affair with PC Rob Walker. You remember, the chap who married the doctor who died a couple of weeks later. She also had an affair with PC Joe Mason. Is there any time for police work? Photograph: ITV/ITV

'Look at my guns!' 'No, look at my guns!' Paul Grigson (Luke Broughton) and Mick (Blair McDonough) prove the maxim: if you want to get ahead in Heartbeat, get a vest Photograph: ITV/Rex Features

Not a scene from Midsomer Murders, where gun-wielding vicars are commonplace - but Joseph McFadden as PC Joe Mason. Joe, it says here, is a policeman 'who sets his own rules, tackling crime in an idiosyncratic way that doesn't always sit well with those around him'. That's what they said about Jack Bauer Photograph: ITV/Rex Features

Nikki Sanderson, who plays Dawn Bellamy, joined the Heartbeat cast last year. Apparently PC Younger has taken a shine to her. You can do better than that, Dawn Photograph: ITV/Rex Features

Every cloud has a silver lining. Your car gets nicked, your house gets broken into, or someone starts shoving threatening letters through your door. But guess what? Joe McFadden turns up to solve the crime! Woo-hoo! Thank you, PC Joe Mason. Cup of tea, love? Photograph: ITV/Rex Features