Lovejoy another old treasure returns to our screens

He was the cheeky antiques dealer who made his legion of fans go weak at the knees.

Now Lovejoy the hit ’80s and ’90s show featuring Ian McShane as the roguish central character could be the latest in line for a nostalgic re-working.

Top writer Tony Jordan, the man behind BBC hits such as Hustle and Life on Mars, is developing a script for a new series following the escapades of the charmer the first in more than 20 years.

Last night, This Morning TV expert and Lovejoy fan Sharon Marshall predicted a new series could prove hugely successful.

She said: “Tony Jordan is a genius. If anyone can make this work it’s him.

“Sometimes it’s good to look back rather than just forward for inspiration.

“You please the old audience, win a new one and the two combined are a ratings hit.”

Actor Chris Jury, who played Eric Catchpole in the hit programme, told The Sunday Post he thinks the new series will be amazing.

He said: “With a writer with Tony’s track record, I imagine it will be brilliant.”

Lovejoy was memorably played by McShane between 1986 and 1994, with Dudley Sutton as his sidekick Tinker.

Jordan’s company Red Planet Pictures has said the new project is in its “very early days” with no broadcaster as yet attached.

The proposed new series would be the latest in a long line of TV remakes.

The success of the original Come Dancing inspired Strictly, while Opportunity Knocks was the forerunner of Britain’s Got Talent.

The BBC’s Still Open All Hours a spin-off of Ronnie Barker’s original Open All Hours has had huge

ratings success in its Sunday prime-time slot, drawing an average of 6.3 million viewers.

Professor Cary Cooper, a psychology expert from Lancaster University, said TV producers are increasingly tapping into viewers’ hunger for nostalgia.

“We always have the view that the past was more stable, more predictable, safer,” he said.

“In the past few years, we have gone through a massive economic crisis second only to the Great Depression and now the threat of terrorism is making people feel insecure. In times of insecurity, people tend to look at the past with rose-tinted specs. The people making these programmes are trying to create that same security and communicate it to a younger generation.”

The original Lovejoy, which ran for six series, also featured Downton Abbey actress Phyllis Logan.

The Scottish actress said she would return to the show “in a heartbeat”.

Lovejoy super-fans yesterday took to social media to share their delight at news of the expected remake.

Twitter user Steve Wilson said: “Lovejoy could be returning to our screens? Might actually watch TV if that comes back!”

Meanwhile, Ian Mannly wrote: “Mother WILL be pleased.”

Others were less enthusiastic. Andy Smyth said: “As one of the best things ever to have graced our televisions, this makes me incredibly nervous.”

Successful TV reboots

A whole host of shows have boomeranged back from the past. Here, we look at which were hits and which were misses…

Still Open All Hours: A Christmas 2013 spin-off of Open All Hours proved a ratings hit so a full series was commissioned.

Starsky & Hutch: Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson starred in a movie version of the ’70s cop show.

Dallas: At its peak in the ’80s with over 80m viewers but the remake was axed last year after a massive ratings drop.

The Avengers: A film based on the ’60s spy show was a flop.

Minder: A million viewers deserted the show after its first airing on Channel 5 with Shane Ritchie cast as Arthur Daley.

The A Team: Liam Neeson and friends gave it a good go in a big screen revamp of the ’80s hit.