View source for Cracker (British TV series)

{{short description|British television crime drama series (1993–2006)}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox television 
| image              = Robcolcractit.png
| runtime            = 50 mins. <small>(Series 1–3)</small> <br> 120 mins. <small>(Specials)</small>
| creator            = [[Jimmy McGovern]]
| starring           = [[Robbie Coltrane]]<br>[[Geraldine Somerville]]<br>[[Christopher Eccleston]]<br>[[Ricky Tomlinson]]<br>[[Lorcan Cranitch]]<br>[[Barbara Flynn]]<br>[[Kieran O'Brien]]
| executive_producer = [[Sally Head]]
| producer           = Gub Neal<br>[[Paul Abbott]]<br>[[Hilary Bevan Jones]]<br>John Chapman
| company            = [[ITV Granada|Granada Television]]
| location           = [[Manchester]], England
| language           = English
| country            = United Kingdom
| network            = [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]
| first_aired        = {{start date|1993|9|27|df=y}}
| last_aired         = {{end date|2006|10|1|df=y}}
| num_series         = 3 <small>(+ 2 specials)</small>
| num_episodes       = 25
| list_episodes      = List of Cracker episodes
}}

'''''Cracker''''' is a British crime drama series produced by [[ITV Granada|Granada Television]] for [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]], created and principally written by [[Jimmy McGovern]]. Set in [[Manchester]], the series follows a [[criminal psychology|criminal psychologist]] (or "cracker"), Dr Edward "Fitz" Fitzgerald, played by [[Robbie Coltrane]], who works with the [[Greater Manchester Police]] (GMP) to help them solve crimes.

The show consists of three series, originally broadcast from 1993 to 1995. A 100-minute special set in [[British Hong Kong|Hong Kong]] followed in 1996 and another two-hour story in 2006. The show won the [[British Academy Television Award for Best Drama Series]] in 1995 and 1996, and Coltrane received the [[British Academy Television Award for Best Actor]] in three consecutive years (1994 to 1996).

==Overview==
Fitz is [[Irish Scottish people|Scottish of Irish origin]], [[alcoholic]], a [[chain smoker]], [[obese]], [[Sedentary lifestyle|sedentary]], [[problem gambling|addicted to gambling]], [[mania|manic]], foul-mouthed and [[sarcastic]], yet cerebral and brilliant. He is a genius in his speciality: [[criminal psychology]]. As Fitz confesses in "Brotherly Love": "I drink too much, I smoke too much, I gamble too much. I ''am'' too much."

Each case spanned several episodes and [[cliffhanger]]s were quite often used, but it was not until the end of the second series that a cliffhanger was employed to tie off the series. Some of the plotlines in the cases took as their starting point real events such as the [[Hillsborough disaster]], whilst others were purely fictional with only tangential ties to actual events.

Several different psychotic types were explored during the run of the show with increasingly complex psychological motivations that, as the series entered the middle of the second series, began to expand beyond the criminals being investigated to the regular cast members. As the series moved forward, the storylines became as much about the interactions of the regulars as they were about the crimes. In many later episodes the crimes often became background to intense, provocative explorations of the police officers' reactions to the crimes they investigated.

To emphasise how fine a line the police (and Fitz) walk in their close association with criminals, all three series featured several stories in which the police become victims of crime or themselves commit criminal acts such as murder, rape, obstruction of justice and assault and battery.

==Characters==
===Main cast===
*[[Robbie Coltrane]] as Dr Edward "Fitz" Fitzgerald. The character was named after the English poet and writer [[Edward FitzGerald (poet)|Edward FitzGerald]], according to series creator Jimmy McGovern.  Coltrane won three consecutive BAFTA awards for the role, a streak matched only by [[Michael Gambon]], [[Helen Mirren]] and [[Julie Walters]].
*[[Christopher Eccleston]] as DCI David Billborough
*[[Ricky Tomlinson]] as DCI Charlie Wise
*[[Geraldine Somerville]] as DS Jane "Panhandle" Penhaligon
*[[Lorcan Cranitch]] as DS Jimmy Beck
*[[Barbara Flynn]] as Judith Fitzgerald
*[[Kieran O'Brien]] as Mark Fitzgerald
*Tess Thomson as Katy Fitzgerald
*John Evans as James Fitzgerald
*[[Ian Mercer]] as DS George Giggs
*Colin Tierney as DC Bobby Harriman
*[[Robert Cavanah]] as DC Alan Temple
*Stan Finni as Sgt Smith
*[[Wil Johnson]] as PC/DC Michael Skelton
*[[Clive Russell]] as Danny Fitzgerald. Russell was cast at Coltrane's recommendation.
*[[Amelia Bullmore]] (Series 1.5, 1.6) and Isobel Middleton (Series 2.1, 2.3, 3.1) as Catriona Bilborough
*[[Edward Peel]] as the Chief Super

===Notable guest stars===
*[[Adrian Dunbar]] as Thomas Francis Kelly
*[[Nicholas Woodeson]] as Michael Hennessy
*[[Andrew Tiernan]] as Sean Kerrigan
*[[Susan Lynch]] as Tina Brien
*[[Christopher Fulford]] as Nigel Cassidy
*[[Robert Carlyle]] as Albie Kinsella
*[[Samantha Morton]] as Joanne Barnes
*[[Jim Carter (actor)|Jim Carter]] as Kenneth Trant
*[[Maureen O'Brien]] as Virginia Trant
*[[James Fleet]] as Michael Trant
*Cherith Mellor as Norma Trant
*Graham Aggrey as Floyd Malcolm
*[[Mark Lambert (Irish actor)|Mark Lambert]] as David Harvey
*[[Brid Brennan]] as Maggie Harvey
*[[John Simm]] as Bill Nash/Preece
*[[Liam Cunningham]] as Stuart Grady
*[[Paul Barber (actor)|Paul Barber]] as Ian McVerry
*[[Emily Joyce]] as Janice
*[[Barnaby Kay]] as Dennis Philby
*[[Anthony Flanagan]] as Kenny Archer

==Episodes==
{{main|List of Cracker episodes}}
{{:List of Cracker episodes}}

==Production==
The first two series were written by Jimmy McGovern, excepting the fifth serial, "The Big Crunch", which was contributed by [[Ted Whitehead]]. Claiming that he had "nothing more to write about”,<ref>[http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/09/29/1096401643089.html 'Head case'] ''SMH.com.au''; 30 September 2004</ref> McGovern originally planned to leave after the second series but was allowed to write the controversial rape storyline, "Men Should Weep", when he agreed to contribute a three-part story to the third series. Two of McGovern's stories, "To Say I Love You" and "Brotherly Love" (from the first and third series respectively), received [[Edgar Award]]s from the [[Mystery Writers of America]]. Each serial had a different director, with the exceptions of "To Be a Somebody" and "True Romance", both directed by [[Tim Fywell]].

[[Paul Abbott]], who had produced the second series, wrote the remainder of the episodes (including the feature-length special "White Ghost"). Abbott later went on to create several high-profile dramas, including ''[[Touching Evil]]'' (1997), ''[[State of Play (TV series)|State of Play]]'' (2003) and ''[[Shameless (British TV series)|Shameless]]'' (2004). Another crew member, [[Nicola Shindler]], who worked as [[script editor]] on the programme, later went on to found [[Red Production Company]].

Of the regular cast, only Coltrane and Tomlinson featured in "White Ghost" (retitled "Lucky White Ghost" for some overseas markets), which was set in Hong Kong. Although the series was still drawing large audiences after ''White Ghost'', Coltrane declined to return as Fitz unless McGovern returned to write the series.

''Cracker'' returned a decade after "White Ghost" in the 2006 special episode, "Nine Eleven", written by McGovern and directed by [[Antonia Bird]]. Coltrane, Flynn and O'Brien were the only actors to return in their previous roles. The new roles of DCI Walters, DS Saleh and DS McAllister were played by [[Richard Coyle]], Nisha Nayar and [[Rafe Spall]] respectively. The story involved Fitz returning to Manchester after several years of living in Australia with Judith and his son James (who had been born during the third series) to attend his daughter Katy's wedding. The murder of an American nightclub comedian sends the police to ask Fitz for his help.

===Locations===
The series was principally filmed in south Manchester, at locations including [[Didsbury]] (where Fitz lived at the fictitious address of "15 Charlotte Road"<ref>From the business card that Fitz presents to his stalker in the episode "True Romance".</ref>) and the police station at [[Longsight]]. The internals for the police station were filmed in the old ''[[Daily Mirror]]'' offices in central Manchester, now [[The Printworks (Manchester)|The Printworks]] retail complex. Other Manchester locations included [[Manchester Victoria station|Victoria Railway Station]], [[St Peter's Square, Manchester|St Peter's Square]], [[Old Trafford]], the [[Arndale Centres|Arndale Centre]], [[UMIST]], [[University of Salford]], the [[Ramada International|Ramada Hotel]], [[The Star and Garter, Manchester|The Star and Garter]] (interior and exterior for the "Best Boys" episode) and the [[Safeway (UK)|Safeway]] supermarket (now Morrisons) in [[Chorlton-cum-Hardy]].  The [[Hulme Crescents]] were also used for filming in the first two episodes of series one and the first episode of series two; during which time they were being demolished. The first episode involved several railway scenes which were filmed on the East Lancashire Railway in Bury (north Manchester) both on the trackside and inside the Carriage & Wagon Works, where working volunteers from the railway used crowbars to push the carriage springs up and down to suggest a moving train, while water was poured on the windows to suggest rain between black polythene sheets and the window to indicate darkness.

==Influences==
''Cracker'' storylines often begin by showing the crime being committed, a format popularised by ''[[Columbo]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://buffalonews.com/2006/10/26/cracker-comes-off-as-a-little-stale/|title='Cracker' comes off as a little stale|date=26 October 2006 |publisher=[[The Buffalo News]]|access-date=16 May 2020}}</ref> Both series feature a lead character who solves crimes while masking an intelligent, perceptive nature behind a slobbish exterior, a debt acknowledged by ''Cracker'' creator Jimmy McGovern;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://therapsheet.blogspot.com/2006/04/oh-im-just-another-cop-my-name-is.html|title=I'm Just Another Cop. My Name Is Columbo|last=Billingham|first=Mark|author-link=Mark Billingham|date=10 September 2007|website=The Rap Sheet|access-date=16 May 2020}}</ref> Fitz delivers his summing-up in "To Say I Love You" while doing a [[Peter Falk]] impression.<ref name=SayILove>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cracker-Say-Love-You-DVD/dp/B00008WQ8Q/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=cracker+to+say+i+love+you&qid=1583114260&s=dvd&sr=1-5|title=Cracker: To Say I Love You [DVD] [1993]|publisher=Amazon.co.uk|access-date=2 March 2020}}</ref>

The series' conception was also partly a reaction against the [[police procedural]] approach of fellow Granada crime serial ''[[Prime Suspect]]'', placing more emphasis on emotional and psychological truth than on correct police procedure. In an interview with the ''[[NME]]'', McGovern dismissed ''Prime Suspect'', noting that "Good TV writing has narrative simplicity and emotional complexity," and characterising the series as "A narratively complex story going up its own arse."<ref>{{Cite journal|first=Steven|last=Wells|author-link=Steven Wells|date=28 October 1995|title=Ratings-guzzling uber-TV show Cracker is back to peel away the scabs of post Hillsborough Britain|journal=[[NME]]|publisher=[[IPC Media]]}}</ref> Gub Neal, who produced the first series of ''Cracker'', is quoted as saying, "That we had adopted the right approach was confirmed for me when Jacky Malton, the senior woman police officer who advised on ''Prime Suspect'', said that although the way things happened in ''Cracker'' was sometimes highly improbable, the relationships between the police were in many ways much more credible than they had been in ''Prime Suspect''."<ref>{{harvnb|Crace|1994|pp=22–24}}</ref>

==Home media==
In the United States, all three series of ''Cracker'' were released through [[Home Box Office, Inc.#Home Video|HBO Home Video]] between 2003 and 2004, with the "White Ghost/Lucky White Ghost" special being included with series three. "A New Terror" and a complete series set were made available from [[Acorn DVD]] in 2007 and 2009, respectively.

In the United Kingdom, the series was never made available in the complete individual series forms, but rather in their separate story arcs from each series. All stories that make up the three series and the "White Ghost" special were released from [[BBC Studios Home Entertainment#Video Collection International|Cinema Club]] in 2003. All the episodes were re-released, as well as a new release for "A New Terror" (known simply as "Cracker" for the DVD release) and a complete collection set, were made available in 2006 from [[ITV Studios|ITV DVD]]. The complete series set was re-issued from ITV DVD in 2008.

In Australia, the series was initially released by [[Shock Records]] in 2007, who released series one, two and three individually, as well as a set comprising the two specials. The original complete series boxset from Shock contained all series, but excluded the specials, while a re-release of the boxset contained every episode, made available in 2008. [[Roadshow Entertainment]] re-released all three series and the two specials individually in 2012. [[Madman Entertainment]] acquired distribution rights to the series, and released a complete series boxset in 2024.

{| class="wikitable"
|+Standard sets
|-
! rowspan="2"|Title
! colspan="3"|Release date
|-
! [[DVD region code#1|Region 1]]
! [[DVD region code#2|Region 2]]
! [[DVD region code#4|Region 4]]
|-
| Series One
| align="center"|14 October 2003<ref>{{cite web| title=Cracker - The Complete 1st Season| url=https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/review/8172| website=dvdtalk.com| date=5 November 2003| access-date=9 May 2025}}</ref>
| {{N/a}}
| align="center"|23 October 2006<ref>{{cite web| title=Cracker: Series 1 [Region 4] | url= https://www.fishpond.com.au/Movies/Cracker-Series-1/9328511009840 | website=fishpond.com.au| access-date=9 May 2025}}</ref><br />5 July 2012 (re-issue)<ref>{{cite web| title= Cracker: Series 1 [Region 4] | url= https://www.fishpond.com.au/Movies/Cracker-Series-1-Barbara-Flynn/9397911275292 | website=fishpond.com.au| access-date=9 May 2025}}</ref>
|-
| Series Two
| align="center"|24 February 2004<ref>{{cite web| title=Cracker - The Complete Second Season| url=https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/review/10043| website=dvdtalk.com| date=26 March 2004| access-date=9 May 2025}}</ref>
| {{N/a}}
| align="center"|15 January 2007<ref>{{cite web| title= Cracker: Series 2 [Region 4] | url= https://www.fishpond.com.au/Movies/Cracker-Series-2-Barbara-Flynn/9397911275391 | website=fishpond.com.au| access-date=9 May 2025}}</ref><br />5 July 2012 (re-issue)<ref>{{cite web| title= Cracker: Series 2 [Region 4] | url= https://www.fishpond.com.au/Movies/Cracker-Series-2-Barbara-Flynn/9397911275391 | website=fishpond.com.au| access-date=9 May 2025}}</ref>
|-
| Series Three
| align="center"|20 April 2004<ref name="Series 3R1">{{cite web| title=Cracker - The Complete Third Season| url=https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/review/10764| website=dvdtalk.com| date=18 May 2004| access-date=9 May 2025}}</ref>
| {{N/a}}
| align="center"|2007<br />5 September 2012 (re-issue)<ref>{{cite web| title= Cracker Series 3 - [3 Discs] [Region 4] | url= https://www.fishpond.com.au/Movies/Cracker-Series-Three-Geraldine-Somerville/9397911304190 | website=fishpond.com.au| access-date=9 May 2025}}</ref>
|-
| The Mad Woman in the Attic
| {{N/a}}
| align="center"|12 May 2003<ref>{{cite web| title=Cracker: The Mad Woman in the Attic| url=https://www.musicmagpie.co.uk/store/products/cracker-the-mad-woman-in-the-attic-19| website=musicmagpie.co.uk| access-date=9 May 2025}}</ref><br />16 October 2006 (re-issue)<ref>{{cite web| title=Cracker: The Mad Woman in the Attic| url=https://www.musicmagpie.co.uk/store/products/cracker-the-mad-woman-in-the-attic-dv| website=musicmagpie.co.uk| access-date=9 May 2025}}</ref>
| {{N/a}}
|-
| To Say I Love You
| {{N/a}}
| align="center"|12 May 2003<ref>{{cite web| title=Cracker: To Say I Love You [DVD]| url=https://www.worldofbooks.com/en-gb/products/cracker-to-say-i-love-you-dvd-dvd-5014138295028| website=worldofbooks.com| access-date=10 May 2025}}</ref><br />16 October 2006 (re-issue)<ref>{{cite web| title=Cracker: To Say I Love You| url=https://www.musicmagpie.co.uk/store/products/cracker-to-say-i-love-you-dvd-1993-dvd| website=musicmagpie.co.uk| access-date=9 May 2025}}</ref>
| {{N/a}}
|-
| One Day a Lemming Will Fly
| {{N/a}}
| align="center"|12 May 2003<ref>{{cite web| title=Cracker: One Day a Lemming Will Fly| url=https://www.musicmagpie.co.uk/store/products/cracker-one-day-a-lemming-will-fly-dv| website=musicmagpie.co.uk| access-date=9 May 2025}}</ref><br />16 October 2006 (re-issue)<ref>{{cite web| title=Cracker: One Day a Lemming Will Fly| url= https://www.musicmagpie.co.uk/store/products/cracker-one-day-a-lemming-will-fly-dv | website=musicmagpie.co.uk| access-date=9 May 2025}}</ref>
| {{N/a}}
|-
| To Be a Somebody 
| {{N/a}}
| align="center"|12 May 2003<ref>{{cite web| title=Cracker: To Be a Somebody| url= https://www.musicmagpie.co.uk/store/products/cracker-to-be-a-somebody-dvd-1994 | website=musicmagpie.co.uk| access-date=9 May 2025}}</ref><br />16 October 2006 (re-issue)<ref>{{cite web| title=Cracker: To Be a Somebody| url= https://www.musicmagpie.co.uk/store/products/cracker-to-be-a-somebody-dvd-1994-dvd | website=musicmagpie.co.uk| access-date=9 May 2025}}</ref>
| {{N/a}}
|-
| The Big Crunch
| {{N/a}}
| align="center"|12 May 2003<ref>{{cite web| title=Cracker: The Big Crunch [DVD]| url=https://www.worldofbooks.com/en-gb/products/cracker-the-big-crunch-dvd-dvd-5014138295103| website=worldofbooks.com| access-date=10 May 2025}}</ref><br />16 October 2006 (re-issue)<ref>{{cite web| title=Cracker: The Big Crunch| url= https://www.musicmagpie.co.uk/store/products/cracker-the-big-crunch | website=musicmagpie.co.uk| access-date=9 May 2025}}</ref>
| {{N/a}}
|-
| Men Should Weep
| {{N/a}}
| align="center"|12 May 2003<ref name="avforums">{{cite web| title=New UK DVD releases!| url=https://www.avforums.com/threads/new-uk-dvd-releases.71948/| website=avforums.com| access-date=10 May 2025}}</ref><br />16 October 2006 (re-issue)<ref>{{cite web| title=Cracker: Men Should Weep| url= https://www.musicmagpie.co.uk/store/products/cracker-men-should-weep | website=musicmagpie.co.uk| access-date=9 May 2025}}</ref>
| {{N/a}}
|-
| Brotherly Love
| {{N/a}}
| align="center"|12 May 2003<ref>{{cite web| title=Cracker: Brotherly Love [DVD]| url=https://www.worldofbooks.com/en-gb/products/cracker-brotherly-love-dvd-dvd-5014138295073| website=worldofbooks.com| access-date=10 May 2025}}</ref><br />16 October 2006 (re-issue)<ref>{{cite web| title=Cracker: Brotherly Love| url= https://www.musicmagpie.co.uk/store/products/cracker-brotherly-love | website=musicmagpie.co.uk| access-date=9 May 2025}}</ref>
| {{N/a}}
|-
| Best Boys
| {{N/a}}
| align="center"|12 May 2003<ref>{{cite web| title=Cracker: Best Boys [DVD]| url=https://www.worldofbooks.com/en-gb/products/cracker-best-boys-dvd-dvd-5014138295080| website=worldofbooks.com| access-date=10 May 2025}}</ref><br />16 October 2006 (re-issue)<ref>{{cite web| title=Cracker: Best Boys [DVD]| url=https://www.worldofbooks.com/en-gb/products/cracker-best-boys-dvd-dvd-5037115221131| website=worldofbooks.com| access-date=10 May 2025}}</ref>
| {{N/a}}
|-
| True Romance
| {{N/a}}
| align="center"|12 May 2003<ref name="avforums" /><br />16 October 2006 (re-issue)<ref>{{cite web| title=Cracker: Brotherly Love| url= https://www.musicmagpie.co.uk/store/products/cracker-true-romance | website=musicmagpie.co.uk| access-date=9 May 2025}}</ref>
| {{N/a}}
|-
| White Ghost (Lucky White Ghost)
| align="center"|{{small|(Available with Series 3 DVD)}}<ref name="Series 3R1" />
| align="center"|12 May 2003<ref>{{cite web| title=Cracker: White Ghost| url= https://www.musicmagpie.co.uk/store/products/cracker-white-ghost-dvd-1996 | website=musicmagpie.co.uk| access-date=9 May 2025}}</ref><br />16 October 2006 (re-issue)<ref>{{cite web| title=Cracker: White Ghost| url= https://www.musicmagpie.co.uk/store/products/cracker-white-ghost | website=musicmagpie.co.uk| access-date=9 May 2025}}</ref>
| align="center" rowspan="2"|2 June 2007<br />(as one set)<ref name="Specials DVDR4">{{cite web| title= Cracker Movie Double - Nine Eleven / Lucky White Ghost [2 Discs] [Region 4] | url= https://www.fishpond.com.au/Movies/Cracker-Movie-Double-Nine-Eleven-Lucky-White-Ghost-Freda-Foh-Shen/9328511009888 | website=fishpond.com.au| access-date=9 May 2025}}</ref><br />7 November 2012<br />(as one set, re-issue)<ref>{{cite web| title= Cracker: Series 4 and 5 - [2 Discs] [Region 4] | url= https://www.fishpond.com.au/Movies/Cracker-Series-4-and-5-Robbie-Coltrane/9397911312898 | website=fishpond.com.au| access-date=9 May 2025}}</ref>{{efn|Released as "Series Four & Five" for Australian re-issue.}}
|-
| Nine Eleven (A New Terror){{efn|Simply released as "Cracker" in the UK.}}
| align="center"|28 August 2007<ref>{{cite web| title=Cracker: A New Terror| url=https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/review/30143| website=dvdtalk.com| date=30 August 2007| access-date=9 May 2025}}</ref>
| align="center"|9 October 2006<ref>{{cite web| title=Cracker: Cracker| url= https://www.musicmagpie.co.uk/store/products/cracker-cracker | website=musicmagpie.co.uk| access-date=9 May 2025}}</ref>
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|+Collection sets
|-
! rowspan="2"|Title
! colspan="3"|Release date
|-
! [[DVD region code#1|Region 1]]
! [[DVD region code#2|Region 2]]
! [[DVD region code#4|Region 4]]
|-
| The Complete Collection {{small|(10-disc set)}}
| align="center"|10 March 2009<ref>{{cite web| title=Cracker: The Complete Collection| url=https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/review/36525| website=dvdtalk.com| date=6 March 2009| access-date=9 May 2025}}</ref>
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
|-
| The Complete Collection {{small|(11-disc set)}}
| {{N/a}}
| align="center"|16 October 2006<ref>{{cite web| title= Cracker Complete Collection Box Set [DVD] | url= https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cracker-Complete-Collection-Box-Set/dp/B000H7JBKQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?crid=YW0WF63FH7C5&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.PWpvZ7Ke5iCW1zQ8KEKMEkMPOemEnK6ntFkkeE-rwvkqbABA8ZJJQVEuIomgq5efaqq20o56bJ6yRTweRtm_jjZNe9SbFeeQQ5jHali3qPzLeD_EhzqS4ebFm70xEZYB0CJjC61ErRUHYUW-Frv0uTA7UdFIb8-4jKYjfra9-OKMN88Nh9p37OuN8O4C40G5ybYPifkOsxG55vF2IY3qMA.nh95QI0uaD1o3G5tHX4v1Y3PwrPT3qcHPnYpxWs2jFI&dib_tag=se&keywords=cracker+dvd&qid=1746753588&sprefix=cracker+dvd%2Caps%2C85&sr=8-4 | website=amazon.co.uk| access-date=9 May 2025}}</ref>
| {{N/a}}
|-
| The Complete Collection (re-issue) {{small|(11-disc set)}}
| {{N/a}}
| align="center"|1 September 2008<ref>{{cite web| title= Cracker: The Complete Collection | url= https://www.musicmagpie.co.uk/store/products/cracker-complete-collection-dvd-1993 | website=musicmagpie.co.uk| access-date=9 May 2025}}</ref>
| {{N/a}}
|-
| The Complete Series {{small|(7-disc set)}}
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
| align="center"|2 June 2007<ref>{{cite web| title= Cracker - The Complete Series Boxset - [7 Discs] [Region 4] | url= https://www.fishpond.com.au/Movies/Cracker-Complete-Series-Box-Set/9328511009901 | website=fishpond.com.au| access-date=9 May 2025}}</ref>
|-
| Ultimate Collection {{small|(9-disc set)}}
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
| align="center"|2 August 2008<ref>{{cite web| title= Cracker: The Complete - Series [Region 4] | url=https://www.fishpond.com.au/Movies/Cracker-Complete-Series-Robbie-Coltrane/9328511013922 | website=fishpond.com.au| access-date=9 May 2025}}</ref>
|-
| The Complete Collection {{small|(11-disc set)}}
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
| align="center"|19 June 2024<ref>{{cite web| title= CRACKER [Region 4] THE COMPLETE COLLECTION  | url= https://www.fishpond.com.au/Movies/CRACKER/9337369041469 | website=fishpond.com.au| access-date=9 May 2025}}</ref>
|}

==Other versions==
In 1997, a short spoof episode, ''Prime Cracker'', was produced for the [[BBC]]'s biennial [[Red Nose Day]] charity [[telethon]] in aid of [[Comic Relief (charity)|Comic Relief]]. A crossover with ITV stablemate crime drama ''[[Prime Suspect]]'', the spoof starred Coltrane and ''Prime Suspect'' lead [[Helen Mirren]] as their characters from the respective series, sending up both shows.

In 1997, a [[Cracker (American TV series)|16-episode U.S. version of ''Cracker'']] — directed by Stephen Cragg and [[Michael Fields (director)|Michael Fields]] — was made, starring [[Robert Pastorelli]] in Coltrane's role. The original UK story lines were transferred to Los Angeles. The series finished after the first season. It was broadcast in the UK, retitled ''Fitz''.

==Notes==
{{noteslist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

*{{cite book|last=Crace|first=John|year=1994|title=Cracker: The Truth Behind The Fiction|publisher=Granada/Boxtree|isbn=0-7522-0974-4|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/crackertruthbehi0000crac}}
*{{cite book|last=Duguid|first=Mark|title=Cracker|series=BFI TV Classics|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan/BFI Publishing|location=Basingstoke|isbn=978-1-84457-263-2|year=2009}}

==External links==
{{wikiquote|Cracker}}
*{{itv.com|id=drama/copsandcrime/cracker|title=''Cracker''}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20071120012701/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/22343 ''Cracker''] at the [[British Film Institute]]
*{{Screenonline TV title|id=493212|title=Cracker}}
*{{IMDb title|id=0105977|title=Cracker (1993)}}
*{{IMDb title|id=0495027|title=Cracker (2006)}}
*{{Epguides|Cracker_UK}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100213105848/http://www.crackertv.co.uk/ The Unofficial Guide To Cracker]

{{Jimmy McGovern}}

{{BAFTA TV Award for Best Drama Series 1998–2009}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cracker (British TV series)}}
[[Category:Cracker (British TV series)| ]]
[[Category:1993 British television series debuts]]
[[Category:2006 British television series endings]]
[[Category:1990s British crime drama television series]]
[[Category:2000s British crime drama television series]]
[[Category:Edgar Award–winning works]]
[[Category:British English-language television shows]]
[[Category:ITV crime dramas]]
[[Category:Television shows about rape]]
[[Category:Television shows produced by Granada Television]]
[[Category:Television series by ITV Studios]]
[[Category:Television shows set in Manchester]]
[[Category:British crime television series]]