Hubbry Logo
search
logo
WPC 56 avatar
WPC 56
WPC 56
current hub
W

WPC 56

logo
Community Hub0 Subscribers
Read side by side
WPC 56
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

WPC 56
Series title over a line up of policemen and one policewoman in silhouette
GenrePolice procedural
Created byDominique Moloney
Written byDominique Moloney
Ray Brooking
Starring
ComposerDebbie Wiseman
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series3
No. of episodes15
Production
Executive producerWill Trotter
ProducerMike Hobson
Production locationsBirmingham, West Midlands, England
CinematographyChris Preston
EditorLouise Pearson
Running time45 minutes
Production companyBBC Birmingham
Original release
NetworkBBC One
Release18 March 2013 (2013-03-18) –
13 March 2015 (2015-03-13)

WPC 56 is a British television police procedural series, created and partly written by Dominique Moloney and broadcast on BBC One. The stories feature the first woman police constables (WPC) to join the fictional Midlands Constabulary at Brinford Police Station in 1956.

Series one and two focus on Gina Dawson (Jennie Jacques) as she struggles to gain acceptance at a male-dominated police station and having to deal with the sexist attitudes that were commonplace at that time. The third series depicts the experiences of her successor at the station, Annie Taylor (Claudia Jessie).[1]

Each series is a set of five episodes that were first broadcast on five consecutive afternoons during March 2013, February 2014 and March 2015 respectively.

Synopses

[edit]

Series 1

[edit]

WPC 56 Gina Dawson lives at home with her parents, Joe and Brenda, in Brinford near Birmingham. This story is set in 1956, and revolves around the finding of the skeleton of a boy, a serial attacker of women and delving into the historical case of two missing boys. Dawson is appointed to be the first female police officer in Brinford police station where Chief Inspector Nelson gives her a small office, previously a storage room. She is told to stick to making tea, doing paperwork, dealing with children and women. She is told not to distract the men, who might seek to protect her in dangerous situations; they can deal with the important police work. She finds it hard to be taken seriously by her male colleagues and is shocked by the methods employed by Sergeant Fenton and the attitude of the rest of her fellow officers. She has a boyfriend, Frank Marshall.

Series 2

[edit]

The second series revolves around a councillor's dead body and his missing girlfriend Rebecca Jones. Detective Inspector Jack Burns leaves the police to look after his sick wife and his daughters. He is replaced by a Londoner, Detective Inspector Max Harper. Chief Inspector Nelson and desk Sergeant Pratt are replaced by Briggs and Swift. Police Constable Eddie Coulson is on honeymoon with Cathy Sinclair. His father, Chief Superintendent Coulson, has sexual designs on WPC Dawson. Sergeant Fenton has a daughter and is on friendly terms with the local brothel madam, Rosie Turner, and the crooked boxing promoter Lenny Powell. Cathy Sinclair is replaced by Susie Nightingale as the station secretary.

Series 3

[edit]

The third series revolves round the shooting of a retired brigadier and events at a secure hospital and the relationships of Chief Inspector Briggs, his wife Charlotte, homosexual Carl Saunders and Coulson's desire to take control of the station and undermine those that know of his past misdemeanours. WPC Gina Dawson, having been cleared of all blame in a shooting, moves to the Metropolitan Police. Coulson reneges on his promise to Chief Inspector Briggs that he will retire early after sexually molesting Dawson, and has been promoted to Assistant Chief Constable. WPC Annie Taylor, whose father is a retired Brinford police sergeant, replaces Dawson. She lives with her parents and knows how to handle her fellow officers. Sergeant Fenton returns to duty, after being shot, his confidence dented; which he tries to regain using Constable Perkins. Detective Inspector Harry Sawyer, a Jewish officer who is estranged from his mother, replaces DI Max Harper.

Cast

[edit]
Foreground:Gerard Horan, Jennie Jacques, Kieran Bew, Charlie De'Ath, John Light. Background:Justine Michelle, Chris Overton.

Main

[edit]

Supporting

[edit]

Episodes

[edit]

Series overview

[edit]
SeriesEpisodesOriginally released
First releasedLast released
1518 March 2013 (2013-03-18)22 March 2013 (2013-03-22)
2510 February 2014 (2014-02-10)14 February 2014 (2014-02-14)
359 March 2015 (2015-03-09)13 March 2015 (2015-03-13)

Series 1 (2013)

[edit]
No.
overall		No. in
series		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
11"Sink or Swim"Ian BarberDominique Moloney18 March 2013 (2013-03-18)
A man walking his dog finds a child’s skeleton in an abandoned mine. A Jamaican bus conductor, Donald Palmer, is arrested for assaulting Sylvia Stewart in Victoria Park on her way home from work. DI Burns sends Dawson to the library to look for newspaper back-issues with news about missing boys. Dawson finds a report on two boys who went missing thirty years earlier. Another woman is attacked in the park while Palmer is still locked-up.
22"Memories are Made of This"Ian BarberRay Brooking19 March 2013 (2013-03-19)
One of the mothers identifies an item found with the skeleton, confirming the identity to be her son William. The search for the other boy continues. The second victim is known to be a prostitute, so is not believed. Dawson visits her home to no avail but does take the rape as evidence that Palmer is innocent. She goes to a West Indian club seeking assistance. Just as she seems to be making progress, thanks to Cathy Sinclair's meddling, Fenton finds her there.
33"Great Pretenders"Ian BarberDominique Moloney20 March 2013 (2013-03-20)
DI Burns continues his investigation of the missing boys, as William is laid to rest, interviewing another suspect from the time. Fenton is a laughing stock when an informant misleads him about a planned bank robbery location, but he turns it to his advantage when he leads the capture of the gang at their hideout. A third woman is attacked in the park and Dawson goes to Palmer's trial to convince Sylvia Stewart to tell the truth. Fenton is furious with Dawson as the trial verdict is challenged. Burns's marriage is falling apart due to his wife's mental problems. Constable Coulson is stabbed breaking up a fight at a coffee bar where Dawson is present, along with her boyfriend and Desk Sergeant Pratt's son.
44"Nature of the Beast"Niall FraserRay Brooking21 March 2013 (2013-03-21)
All the resources of the station are turned to finding Coulson's attacker, and Fenton and Dawson work together and identify the attacker, Johnny Harris, a friend of Sgt. Pratt's son, who is in hiding. Burns has committed his wife to an asylum and his children are taken by his mother-in-law. Dawson consoles Burns over a drink in a pub overseen by Fenton who spreads malicious gossip throughout the station. The investigation into the missing boys continues and Burns's search uncovers a recently dead woman, who had a child aged six who died thirty years ago, who was living with her son of 37 who does not have a birth certificate. Fenton captures Coulson's attacker with help from Pratt's son. A fourth victim is found in the park – this one is dead.
55"Little Boy Lost"Niall FraserDominique Moloney22 March 2013 (2013-03-22)
The dead body in the park is another victim of the assailant, the first to be murdered. The Chief Superintendent – dissatisfied with Burns's progress – seconds Sergeant Fenton to the C.I.D. and take charge of the investigation. Under pressure from Chief Inspector Nelson, Fenton decides to use Dawson as a decoy to flush out the assailant which she readily agrees to despite Burns's objections. The plan works and Fenton arrests a suspect and in the confusion Dawson is left behind at the mercy of the real assailant and goes missing. Burns's detective work and Fenton's doggedness lead a two pronged search for Dawson that takes the case in a full circle.

Series 2 (2014)

[edit]
No.
overall		No. in
series		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
61"Cry, Cry, Cry"Niall FraserDominique Moloney10 February 2014 (2014-02-10)
A funfair in Brinsford is the centre of the search for a missing 15-year-old girl who is besotted with the son of the owner. The girl's brother, leader of a gang of teddy boys, become involved in a fight with the fairground workers with tragic consequences. Debt owing councillor Daniel Pembroke's dead body, found in a flat, is the first case for the new Detective Inspector and WPC Dawson remembers him and his missing girlfriend, Rebecca Jones, at the funfair.
72"Dead Man Dancing"Niall FraserRay Brooking11 February 2014 (2014-02-11)
Counterfeit ten shilling notes are circulating in Brinsford and Harper is ordered to make it a priority over the dead body. Petty thief, Linus Brody (Fenton's informant), steals a purse and it leads Harper and Fenton to the arrest of the woman passing the notes. Information from the woman leads to the capture of the counterfeiters. WPC Dawson is sent undercover into the Sapphire Club, a seedy members' club, where Rebecca Jones worked and meets gangster Lenny Powell, a crooked businessman, fight promoter and brothel owner. Boxer Mike Maddox refuses to take a dive and pays the consequences.
83"Eye of the Storm"Niall FraserDominique Moloney12 February 2014 (2014-02-12)
A police raid on a 'gay' pub brings trouble to Inspector Briggs who finds himself blackmailed. WPC Dawson's report of Coulson's propositioning of her to Briggs falls on deaf ears. Dawson continues undercover at the Sapphire Club falling for the club manager Chris Hutton. Harper finds Rebecca Jones at the railway station trying to escape from the brothel where she was being forced to work to pay her boyfriend's debts. Rosie Turner, brothel madam and love of Fenton, who aided her escape is visited by Powell, and Fenton's wife receives an unexpected gift to his horror.
94"That Old Devil Called Love"James LarkinRay Brooking13 February 2014 (2014-02-13)
Fenton's world is falling apart with the murder of Rosie Turner and witness Rebecca Jones in protective custody. Coulson goes too far in his sexual advances to Dawson, Unable to do anything she seeks comfort from Hutton at his nightclub. Susie Nightingale goes to a dating agency and falls foul of a confidence trickster. Harper links Powell to Turner's murder. Powell is charged and sees Dawson in the police station. In transit to prison Powell is sprung and heads for the nightclub and Hutton's part in the murders is revealed while Dawson sleeps in the next room.
105"The Harder They Fall"James LarkinDominique Moloney14 February 2014 (2014-02-14)
Fenton, suspended, conducts his own search for Powell using petty thief Brody to locate a passport forger and then to Powell and the truth about the murders, Rosie, and Powell's secret son Chris Hutton. Dawson's complaint against Coulson is backed up by constable Perkins but not to the outcome she expects. A final confrontation takes place at the safe house where Rebecca Jones is hiding when Dawson is followed by Hutton.

Series 3 (2015)

[edit]
No.
overall		No. in
series		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
111"A Different Beat"Lisa ClarkeDominique Moloney9 March 2015 (2015-03-09)
The Miss Birmingham 1956 beauty contest in aid of servicemen stirs up animosity between old soldiers and when nude photographs of one of the contestants, amongst others, turn up illegally sold in a local bookshop; WPC Annie Taylor is given the job of interviewing the girl. The investigation leads to the current Miss Birmingham being dated by Inspector Sawyer and his mother's boyfriend, the competition's host. A shooting takes place at a retired Brigadier's residence.
122"Walk the Line"Lisa ClarkeRay Brooking10 March 2015 (2015-03-10)
Brigadier Morris is discovered, by Taylor and Sawyer, tortured and shot to death and Sawyer suspects Lance Corporal William Shepherd after the incident at the beauty contest. Shepherd known to Taylor is arrested but unfit for question is committed to a psychiatric hospital straining her relationship with her father who served with Shepherd and the Brigadier. Fenton takes Perkins under his wing to show him how things are on the streets as they investigate stolen tins of salmon from an army warehouse. Shepherd escapes from the hospital and a nurse is attacked. Coulson follows Briggs and discovers his homosexual friend.
133"From the Shadows"Lisa ClarkeDominique Moloney11 March 2015 (2015-03-11)
Taylor asks her father for information about his fellow soldiers in the war. A date between Sergeant Swift and Susie Nightingale has to be rescued by Taylor and Perkins. Sawyer talks another nurse at the hospital into handing over the psychiatric record of Shepherd showing he was recommended for treatment called the "Petra project": when the real assailant of the nurse appears, Sawyer loses the man in the chase. Coulson enlists Fenton in his quest to uncover Briggs's secret leading to Fenton arresting Briggs and Saunders at the latter's flat for an act of gross indecency with another male person.
144"The Wayward Wind"David BeauchampRay Brooking12 March 2015 (2015-03-12)
With Inspector Briggs under arrest Coulson takes operational control of the police station. Perkins investigates theft of money from a café he frequents; with a waitress he likes suspected of the thefts. To discover the truth he tampers with evidence. Sawyer's investigations proceed and following the arrest of a new suspect, who had been a victim of German death camps involving medical experiments on twins by a doctor and nurse now working at the psychiatric hospital; placed there by the Brigadier after the war. Fenton is called to a flat and discovers Briggs, who had been goaded by Coulson and disowned by his wife, has killed himself.
155"Requiem"David BeauchampDominique Moloney13 March 2015 (2015-03-13)
Inspector Briggs's widow invites the officers to her husband's funeral; only WPC Taylor and Susie Nightingale agree to go. At the end of Briggs's funeral the officers, except Coulson and Fenton, turn up to pay their respects. The doctor and nurse have gone from the hospital; Taylor and Sawyer find a film hidden in the doctor's desk drawer of his experiments on patients. Interrogating their suspect they realize he has a twin brother and from the film Taylor recognizes the location as a place that her father had been photographed at. Raiding this location, a closed wartime training centre, they discover the doctor, his nurse Petra, Shepherd, and the twin brother.

Filming

[edit]

WPC 56 is a BBC Birmingham production filmed in and around Birmingham using period locations, including the Jewellery Quarter and the Black Country Living Museum.[2] The exterior of the police station is the Birmingham and Midland Institute on Margaret Street. The interiors are in a disused building on Vittoria Street.[3]

International broadcasts

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

WPC 56

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
WPC 56 is a British police procedural drama series created by Dominique Moloney and broadcast on BBC One from 2013 to 2015.[1][2] The programme centres on Gina Dawson, portrayed by Jennie Jacques, as the inaugural Woman Police Constable assigned to the fictional Brinford Constabulary in the West Midlands during 1956, navigating investigations into local crimes while confronting entrenched resistance from male colleagues accustomed to an all-male force.[1][3] Each of the three series comprises five episodes, depicting Dawson's professional trials, including assaults, disappearances, and departmental rivalries, set against the post-war social constraints of mid-1950s Britain.[4][5] Produced by BBC Birmingham, the series emphasises period authenticity in its portrayal of early female integration into policing, drawing from historical accounts of women officers limited to auxiliary roles like handling juvenile cases and traffic duties prior to broader reforms.[6] Key supporting characters include Sergeant Sidney Fenton (Charlie De'Ath) and Chief Constable Arthur Coulson (John Bowler), whose interactions highlight institutional hierarchies and interpersonal tensions within the station.[7] Filming occurred at locations around Birmingham, such as the Black Country Living Museum, to evoke the era's industrial landscape.[8] The show garnered a 7.3/10 rating on IMDb from over 1,300 user assessments, with viewers noting its effective recreation of 1950s customs, dialogue, and investigative procedures.[1]

Overview

Premise and Historical Context

WPC 56 is a British period crime drama series that centers on the experiences of the first female police constables recruited to the fictional Brinford Police Station in the West Midlands town of Brinford, set in 1956.[2] The narrative primarily follows WPC Gina Dawson in the first two series as she navigates the challenges of integrating into a male-dominated constabulary, confronting institutional sexism, chauvinism, and internal rivalries while performing police duties.[1] In the third series, the focus shifts to WPC Annie Taylor, who assumes a similar pioneering role at the same station, emphasizing the persistent barriers faced by women in law enforcement during this era.[9] Historically, Women Police Constables (WPCs) were first formally appointed in the United Kingdom under the Police Act of 1916, initially to address wartime needs such as patrolling and moral welfare duties, though their roles remained severely restricted thereafter.[10] By the 1950s, WPCs constituted a small fraction of police forces, numbering around 2,500 across English, Welsh, and Scottish constabularies by 1960 out of total forces exceeding 80,000 officers, or less than 5% nationally.[11] These officers were largely confined to specialized tasks involving women, children, and juveniles—such as taking statements from female victims, escorting female prisoners, and handling domestic or welfare cases—due to prevailing views that positioned them as complements to male officers rather than equivalents, with senior female leaders often reinforcing that women performed duties "by virtue of their sex" rather than seeking parity.[11][12] The series reflects these realities by portraying the causal dynamics of hierarchical resistance and operational limitations, including prohibitions on unescorted night patrols and lower pay scales for WPCs, which persisted amid broader institutional sexism that kept women in separate departments under female supervision until gradual reforms in the 1960s and full integration in the 1970s.[12][6] This depiction draws from documented petty departmental grudges and everyday prejudices that undermined female officers' authority, without which the marginalization of WPCs—evident in their exclusion from general patrol and investigative roles—cannot be fully understood.[1] Such constraints stemmed from entrenched cultural norms prioritizing male oversight, limiting WPCs' legal powers and career progression until legislative changes dismantled segregated structures.[12]

Series Format and Production Basics

WPC 56 is structured as a police procedural drama consisting of three series totaling 15 episodes, each approximately 45 minutes in duration.[4][13] The episodes aired in daytime slots on BBC One, beginning with the first series from 18 March to 22 March 2013 and concluding with the third series in March 2015.[14][15] This format features self-contained investigations resolved within episodes, interwoven with ongoing personal storylines among the characters at the fictional Brinford Constabulary in the West Midlands.[1] Created by Dominique Moloney, who also penned multiple episodes, the series was commissioned by BBC Birmingham as a daytime production emphasizing grounded, character-focused narratives over spectacle.[6][16] Set in 1956 amid Britain's post-war economic rebuilding and prevailing social norms, including gender roles in policing, the show prioritizes historical detail in depicting routine police work and interpersonal dynamics rather than sensationalized crime or action sequences.[17][18] Production reflected its modest daytime budget through location filming in and around Birmingham, including sites like the Black Country Living Museum, to evoke period authenticity.[8]

Cast and Characters

Main Characters and Casting

Jennie Jacques portrayed WPC Gina Dawson, the pioneering female constable introduced in the first two series (2013–2014), who joins Brinford Police Station after completing two years of probationary training at Divisional Headquarters in Birmingham. Returning to her West Midlands hometown, Dawson navigates institutional resistance and proves her determination within the force.[19][3] Claudia Jessie assumed the lead role as WPC Annie Taylor in the third series (2015), succeeding Dawson as the station's female officer and adapting to the challenges of 1950s policing with a distinct presence. Jessie's casting marked a transition in the series' central female character, emphasizing continuity in themes of gender integration while introducing new interpersonal dynamics at the station.[15] Charles De'Ath played Sergeant Sidney Fenton across all three series, serving as the desk sergeant who maintains operational oversight and reflects prevailing attitudes toward authority and discipline in the post-war police environment. Mark Healy depicted PC Graham Bell, a junior constable whose role adds youthful perspective and supports team interactions central to station leadership.[20][21]

Supporting and Recurring Roles

Sergeant Sidney Fenton, played by Charlie De'Ath, recurs across all three series in 15 episodes as a station sergeant exemplifying the era's rough-hewn policing culture. Characterized by corruption—including accepting bribes, coercing confessions through beatings, and tampering with evidence—Fenton also displays overt racism and homophobia, mirroring unfiltered 1950s prejudices within law enforcement.[22] His brusque camaraderie with fellow male officers underscores resistance to female integration, often manifesting in overt sexism toward WPCs like Gina Dawson.[23] Chief Superintendent Arthur Coulson, portrayed by John Bowler, provides recurring senior oversight at Brinford station, appearing in leadership capacities that navigate departmental politics and post-war resource constraints. Coulson's authoritative presence influences case resolutions, highlighting hierarchical tensions in a force adapting to modernization amid austerity.[7][20] Desk Sergeant John Swift, enacted by James Barriscale, handles frontline administrative and logistical roles, appearing recurrently to facilitate station operations and procedural workflows. These supporting officers collectively depict the male-dominated environment's blend of loyalty and friction, informing interpersonal dynamics without dominating investigative arcs.[24] Recurring community figures, such as local informants and petty criminals, populate episodes to illustrate class divides and economic strains of the 1950s Midlands, often clashing with station personnel over minor infractions tied to hardship. Antagonists in these roles underscore causal links between post-war deprivation and rising petty crime, serving ensemble support for case-driven narratives.[1]

Production

Development and Writing

WPC 56 was conceived by Dominique Moloney, who drew inspiration from the actual histories of women police constables serving in Britain during the 1950s, a period when female officers were newly integrated into regular forces but confined to limited duties such as handling cases involving women and children.[6] Moloney aimed to portray these pioneers realistically, highlighting their operational constraints within a patriarchal institution resistant to change, including restrictions on investigative authority and reliance on basic evidential methods amid nascent forensic practices like fingerprinting without advanced DNA analysis.[25] The BBC commissioned the series as an original daytime procedural, with its first episode airing on 18 March 2013, to explore procedural storytelling through a female protagonist navigating sexism and procedural hierarchies.[16] Moloney served as lead writer, scripting at least nine episodes across the three series to preserve thematic continuity, such as the clash between entrenched police traditions and incremental institutional reforms prompted by postwar societal shifts.[26] Scripts emphasized empirical hurdles of the era, including challenges in gathering admissible evidence under pre-modern legal standards and the interpersonal dynamics of male colleagues' grudges and skepticism toward female competence, without imposing anachronistic narratives of rapid empowerment.[27] This approach involved consultations with historical accounts to maintain fidelity to documented WPC roles, such as exclusion from frontline arrests until later policy evolutions, ensuring depictions aligned with verifiable records of limited autonomy rather than idealized progressivism.[6] No extensive rewrites were publicly documented, reflecting a streamlined process focused on authentic period realism over iterative overhauls.[25]

Filming and Technical Aspects

Principal photography for WPC 56 occurred primarily in Birmingham and the surrounding West Midlands region across its three series from 2013 to 2015, leveraging local period-appropriate sites to recreate 1950s Britain.[28][8] The Black Country Living Museum in Dudley served as a key location for exterior streetscapes, providing preserved 1950s-era buildings and infrastructure that enhanced historical authenticity without relying on constructed sets.[28][16] Additional venues included Chateau Impney in Droitwich for upscale interiors and an abandoned factory unit in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter for industrial scenes, alongside sites like Cannon Hill Park and Birmingham Town Hall.[8][29] Production emphasized practical location shooting and period props sourced from museums and archives to minimize digital intervention, aligning with the BBC Birmingham team's approach to gritty, era-specific realism on a daytime drama budget.[30] Vehicles such as Hillman Minx, Morris Minor, and Ford Consul models were imported to sites like the Black Country Living Museum, alongside restored buses from its collection, to populate scenes with accurate 1950s traffic.[31][32] Costume and prop departments drew from historical police artifacts for uniforms and equipment, addressing sourcing challenges inherent to limited budgets by prioritizing regional heritage resources over custom fabrication.[31] Cinematography, handled by BBC Birmingham's in-house crew, utilized natural lighting and handheld techniques in real interiors to convey the era's post-war austerity, avoiding heavy CGI in favor of on-location authenticity that captured the West Midlands' industrial texture.[30] This method, while logistically demanding due to weather and site availability, ensured visual fidelity to 1956 Brinford without post-production alterations, as confirmed in production reports.[16] Budget constraints necessitated efficient scheduling, with shoots often confined to weekdays and coordinated with local authorities to secure period vehicles and extras.[8]

Cast Transitions and Changes

Jennie Jacques, who portrayed WPC Gina Dawson in the first two series, departed after the conclusion of series 2 in 2014 due to scheduling conflicts with other productions, including her role in the History Channel series Vikings.[33] This exit aligned with the narrative's depiction of transient WPC roles in 1950s policing, where short-term postings were common amid evolving departmental needs.[34] Series 3, airing from March 9, 2015, introduced Claudia Jessie as WPC Annie Taylor, a new recruit at Brinford station, ensuring the central focus on a female constable persisted without disrupting the station's operational continuity.[15] Core male characters, such as Sergeant Sidney Fenton (Charlie De'Ath) and Chief Superintendent Arthur Coulson (John Bowler), remained anchors across all series, preserving institutional dynamics and avoiding narrative resets.[35] No reported labor disputes or on-set conflicts drove these shifts; changes stemmed primarily from actors' external commitments, a pattern observed in BBC daytime dramas with limited episode orders that prioritize flexibility over long-term contracts.[33] Such turnover mirrored historical realities of early women in UK policing, where recruitment and retention fluctuated with societal and policy adjustments post-World War II.[34]

Episode Guide

Series Overview

WPC 56 comprises three series, each consisting of five episodes broadcast between 2013 and 2015.[4] Episodes typically run for approximately 45 minutes, yielding a total runtime of about four hours per series.[13] The program centers on the experiences of female police constables in a 1950s West Midlands constabulary, emphasizing procedural investigations into everyday crimes such as thefts, assaults, and minor disturbances amid pervasive institutional sexism.[1] The narrative progresses thematically across the series: Series 1 depicts the initial struggles of Gina Dawson, the first woman police constable at Brinford station, as she navigates integration into a male-dominated environment.[36] Series 2 escalates to broader departmental tensions, incorporating issues like sexual harassment and internal conflicts while maintaining a focus on routine policing duties.[37] In Series 3, a new WPC, Annie Taylor, assumes the central role, confronting analogous professional and societal barriers in the evolving station dynamics.[15] Structurally, the series employs self-contained episodic formats for each case, with light serialization through ongoing character relationships and minor unresolved personal threads that conclude within the season, avoiding overarching cliffhangers.[1] This approach underscores the procedural nature of low-stakes 1950s policing without delving into high-profile sensationalism.[5]

Series 1 (2013)

Series 1 introduces Gina Dawson as the first Woman Police Constable at Brinford station in 1956, highlighting her challenges in a male-dominated force amid routine policing duties and interpersonal conflicts.[38] The five-episode run aired on BBC One starting 18 March 2013, broadcast as a daytime drama from Monday to Friday over one week.[16] Episodes center on Dawson's adaptation to restricted roles, where WPCs historically focused on welfare matters involving women and juveniles rather than criminal investigations, reflecting real 1950s practices that confined female officers to supportive functions.[1] This setup underscores tensions from sexism and station dynamics, including petty grudges among officers.[1] In the opener, "Sink or Swim," Dawson faces immediate hazing from colleagues on her debut shift, compounded by encounters with petty thieves, runaways, and neglected children, testing her determination to succeed despite skepticism toward her capabilities.[14] [39] Subsequent episodes escalate with investigations into assaults and disappearances, such as a child disappearance plot involving missing boys, which draws station resources and exposes rivalries in resource allocation and credit assignment.[40] These cases illustrate Dawson's push against jurisdictional limits, as she assists in pursuits typically reserved for male detectives, navigating welfare-oriented tasks like family interventions alongside emerging criminal probes.[1] The arc peaks in "Nature of the Beast," the fourth episode, where Dawson witnesses an attack on colleague Eddie Coulson, prompting her involvement in tracking the assailant amid a deepening mystery tied to the missing child; her contributions here affirm her investigative potential, setting a template for blending procedural elements with personal vindication against initial resistance.[41] [40] Overall, the series establishes core procedural rhythms through these standalone yet interconnected cases, emphasizing Dawson's gradual integration without resolving broader institutional biases.[42]

Series 2 (2014)

Series 2 of WPC 56 consists of five episodes broadcast daily from 10 to 14 February 2014 on BBC One, continuing the narrative in the fictional Brinford police station during 1956.[43] The season escalates tensions from the previous series by introducing investigations into serious crimes such as a local councilor's murder and a missing girlfriend, alongside a proliferation of counterfeit currency, which draw the team into broader probes of institutional misconduct.[44] Returning characters face heightened personal risks, including Sergeant Fenton's deepening involvement in corrupt activities that ultimately come under scrutiny, reflecting documented challenges of graft and internal distrust within mid-20th-century British policing amid post-war societal strains.[45] [46] Gina Dawson encounters intensified barriers to professional advancement, compounded by pervasive sexism and her entanglement in high-stakes assignments that test her resolve against superior officers' improprieties, such as Inspector Coulson's increasingly threatening advances.[45] Interpersonal conflicts deepen, with grudges among colleagues exacerbating morale issues akin to those reported in 1950s police forces, where readjustment to peacetime duties and rigid hierarchies fostered resentment and lapses in discipline.[1] [47] Family secrets emerge as pivotal elements in several cases, intertwining personal histories with criminal inquiries and forcing characters like Dawson to navigate ethical dilemmas within a male-dominated environment skeptical of female efficacy.[44] The season concludes on a note of lingering peril, with exposed corruptions and unresolved antagonisms setting the stage for leadership shifts in subsequent episodes, while underscoring the precarious position of reform-minded officers in an era of entrenched traditions.[45]
EpisodeTitleAir DateKey Plot Focus
1Cry, Cry, Cry10 February 2014Initiation of a murder investigation involving a councilor, pulling the station into complex local ties.[43]
2Dead Man Dancing11 February 2014Probe into counterfeit notes escalates risks for Gina in undercover work.[48] [43]
3Eye of the Storm12 February 2014Intensifying departmental strains amid ongoing cases.[43]
4That Old Devil Called Love13 February 2014Exposure of Fenton's corruption and Coulson's menacing pursuit of Gina.[45]
5The Harder They Fall14 February 2014Climactic confrontations leaving threats unresolved.[49]

Series 3 (2015)

The third and final series of WPC 56 introduced WPC Annie Taylor as the new lead character at Brinford police station, marking a shift from the previous protagonist's established presence and emphasizing adaptation to personnel changes within the force.[50] Aired on BBC One from 9 to 13 March 2015 in weekday afternoon slots at 2:15 pm, the five-episode run centered on Annie's integration, portrayed by Claudia Jessie, whose background as an outsider prompted scrutiny of station routines and interpersonal tensions.[51] Her investigations into cases like predatory attacks on beauty contest participants and suspicious discoveries at boarding houses highlighted procedural disruptions and personal conflicts, including rifts with family and accusations implicating colleagues.[50] [52] Gender dynamics remained a core theme, with Annie navigating sexism and limited authority reflective of 1950s realities, where female officers were typically segregated into specialized units handling juveniles, welfare, and female suspects rather than general frontline or violent crime duties.[11] This portrayal grounded evolving roles—such as Annie's push for involvement in murder inquiries—against historical constraints, including rhetorical distinctions that women were not "substitute men" and operational barriers persisting until partial integrations in the 1960s and fuller reforms post-1975 Sex Discrimination Act.[53] [11] The series avoided romanticizing progress, instead depicting persistent chauvinism alongside incremental challenges to norms, without altering core period limitations like exclusion from night shifts or patrol autonomy.[11] Episodes unfolded as self-contained cases with interconnected station arcs: "A Different Beat" (9 March) tracked Annie's pursuit of a contestant stalker amid beauty contest unrest; "Walk the Line" (10 March) examined a murder probe straining her paternal ties; "From the Shadows" (11 March) delved into lurking threats; "The Wayward Wind" (12 March) involved professional dilemmas over an accused colleague and boarding house revelations; and "Requiem" (13 March) resolved lingering threads.[51] [54] Unlike prior series, the narrative prioritized transitional instability over continuity, culminating in closure for key characters and the station without unresolved suspense.[52]

Broadcast and Release

Domestic Broadcast in the UK

Series 1 of WPC 56 premiered on BBC One on 18 March 2013, with episodes airing on consecutive weekdays at 2:15 pm.[14] The five-episode run concluded on 22 March 2013, occupying the broadcaster's daytime slot typically reserved for drama serials.[55] This format repeated for Series 2, which aired from 24 to 28 February 2014, and Series 3 from 9 to 13 March 2015, maintaining the weekday afternoon timing without reported scheduling conflicts or preemptions.[5] Produced by BBC Birmingham as part of BBC Studios' regional output, the series aligned with the corporation's commitments to devolved production, reflecting its West Midlands setting and contributing to quotas for content originating outside London. Episodes became available on BBC iPlayer immediately following linear broadcast, enabling catch-up viewing for up to 30 days and supporting the daytime audience's flexible consumption patterns.[2] The consistent afternoon placement catered to viewers at home during work hours, including homemakers and retirees, consistent with BBC One's strategy for accessible, low-stakes programming in that window.[38]

International Distribution

WPC 56 premiered in the United States on PBS affiliate stations beginning November 1, 2014, with subsequent series airing on public television networks.[23] Series 3 followed in 2015 on similar outlets.[56] The series aired in Finland on Yle TV1 starting September 28, 2015.[57] In Russia, episodes were broadcast on TV Tsentr. It became available in Australia via 7plus for catch-up viewing and had a DVD release on February 23, 2018.[58] Canadian audiences accessed it through streaming platforms including Apple TV.[59] Home media distribution occurred via BBC Worldwide DVDs, though region encoding limited playback in areas like North America without compatible players.[60] Streaming expanded access on services such as Amazon Prime Video in the US and Acorn TV in regions including the US, Canada, and Australia.[61] No international remakes or adaptations were produced, reflecting the program's niche appeal as a British period drama.

Reception and Legacy

Critical Reviews

WPC 56 received generally favorable professional reviews for its authentic depiction of 1950s policing challenges, particularly the institutional sexism faced by its protagonist, Gina Dawson, without romanticizing the era. Critics highlighted the series' willingness to confront period-specific prejudices, including overt chauvinism and racism within the Brinford Constabulary, portraying male officers' resistance as rooted in cultural norms rather than caricature.[62][63] The production's attention to historical details, such as uniforms, props, and dialogue, was commended for grounding the narrative in realism, avoiding the nostalgic gloss common in other period dramas.[1] Aggregate user ratings on platforms like IMDb reflect this approval, with an overall score of 7.3 out of 10 based on over 1,300 evaluations, often citing strong performances, especially from lead actress Jennie Jacques, and effective storytelling in procedural episodes.[1] Reviewers from outlets like Video Librarian noted the core theme of sexism—Dawson's relegation to clerical tasks amid condescension—as a compelling lens for exploring gender barriers, while episodes addressing racism, such as interracial tensions or discriminatory practices, added depth without preachiness.[62] However, some critiques pointed to flaws in narrative consistency, including predictable plot structures typical of daytime procedurals and disruptions from cast changes across seasons, such as the departure of key actors like John Hannah's Inspector Burns, which altered interpersonal dynamics and momentum.[35] Pacing issues in later episodes were occasionally flagged, with formulaic resolutions undermining the potential for deeper character exploration amid the era's social constraints.[64] Conservative-leaning commentary appreciated the non-vilifying treatment of male colleagues, depicting their sexism as a product of time-bound attitudes rather than inherent malice, fostering nuanced workplace tensions. In contrast, progressive reviewers argued the series fell short in empowering Dawson's agency, occasionally reverting to damsel-in-distress tropes despite her resilience.[63]

Audience Response and Viewership

WPC 56 achieved steady viewership in its BBC One daytime slot, with the first series averaging 1.7 million viewers and a 22% audience share across episodes broadcast from March to April 2013.[17] Subsequent series maintained comparable figures suitable for the format, contributing to renewals through 2015 despite not reaching primetime blockbuster levels, reflecting a loyal but niche daytime audience.[65] Fan feedback, as aggregated on platforms like IMDb where the series holds a 7.3/10 rating from over 1,300 user reviews, frequently praised the character-driven narratives and meticulous 1950s period details, including authentic costumes, vehicles, and station sets that immersed viewers in the era's policing challenges.[1] Viewers appreciated the focus on interpersonal dynamics and procedural realism amid sexism and post-war tensions, often highlighting standout performances by leads like Jennie Jacques as Gina Dawson.[64] Critiques from audiences centered on the 45-minute episode length, which some felt resulted in rushed resolutions or lingering subplots across series, limiting deeper exploration of ongoing storylines such as personal grudges or investigations.[64] Online discussions in forums and comments sections noted approval for the series' restraint in portraying 1950s social norms, avoiding overt modern moral framing in favor of character actions driving conflicts, which contrasted with trends in contemporaneous period dramas.[66] This approach fostered repeat viewings among enthusiasts of understated historical fiction, though broader appeal remained confined by the scheduling.[65]

Historical Representation and Debates

WPC 56 demonstrates fidelity to the historical constraints on women police constables in 1950s Britain, where female officers were typically restricted to handling cases involving women, children, and juveniles, rather than general patrol or investigative duties assigned to male constables.[6] Production efforts included authentic period uniforms, such as the tailored skirts and hats standard for WPCs, and vehicles like Austin A55 police cars common in Midlands forces during the era.[37] These elements draw from empirical records of post-war recruitment drives, which expanded women's roles modestly amid labor shortages but maintained segregation until the 1970s integration.[12] Women comprised less than 5% of police personnel in the early 1950s, often serving in auxiliary capacities without firearms or independent authority.[11] Critics and historians commend the series for grounding its narrative in real limitations, such as WPCs' exclusion from criminal investigation departments until later decades, as exemplified by pioneering figures like Gwen Crockford, who faced extended barriers to detective roles despite her 1950s entry.[67] However, some observers argue that depictions of overt workplace harassment amplify casual sexism beyond routine accounts, prioritizing narrative tension over the era's documented professional resilience among female officers.[68] Historical testimonies confirm sexist attitudes, including resistance to women's patrols, but emphasize functional hierarchies rather than constant antagonism.[6] Debates surrounding the series' representation highlight divergent interpretations of 1950s social dynamics. Right-leaning perspectives, such as those valuing institutional stability, praise its unromanticized view of hierarchical policing that maintained low crime rates through traditional enforcement, with female roles complementing rather than disrupting male-led operations.[63] Left-leaning analyses applaud character arcs toward empowerment, yet evidence indicates slower real-world progress: full operational parity was not achieved until 1974, and women reached only 6% of forces by 1975, underscoring dramatized integration as aspirational rather than contemporaneous.[11][6] These portrayals risk underemphasizing the period's relative social cohesion, including community trust in police absent modern alienations, while overemphasizing individual victimhood amid broader empirical stability in family and civic structures.[63]

References

  1. WPC 56 (TV Series 2013–2015) - IMDb
  2. WPC 56 - BBC One
  3. WPC 56 - Acorn TV
  4. WPC 56 (TV Series 2013–2015) - Episode list - IMDb
  5. WPC 56 - Episode guide - BBC One
  6. WPC 56: Women in policing in the 1950s - BBC
  7. WPC 56 (TV Series 2013–2015) - Full cast & crew - IMDb
  8. BBC1's WPC 56: All you need to know about the new series filmed ...
  9. WPC 56 | btvfloc
  10. Key milestones for women in policing | News and insights
  11. Gender and policing in the UK: historical perspectives on 50 years of ...
  12. History of Women in Policing - Greater Manchester Police Museum
  13. WPC 56 - TheTVDB.com
  14. WPC 56, Series 1, Sink or Swim - BBC
  15. the new woman on the beat in WPC 56 - BBC
  16. WPC 56 – Series One - btvfloc
  17. Hit daytime crime drama WPC 56 to return to BBC One for second ...
  18. Birmingham steps back in time for new TV crime series - Business Live
  19. WPC 56, Series 1 - WPC Gina Dawson - BBC One
  20. WPC 56, Series 1 - Characters - BBC
  21. WPC 56 | Cast and Crew - Rotten Tomatoes
  22. Sergeant Sidney Fenton - WPC 56, Series 1 - BBC
  23. WPC 56: UK Detective Drama Makes US Debut on Local Public TV ...
  24. WPC 56 (TV Series 2013-2015) - Cast & Crew - TMDB
  25. Dominique Moloney | United Agents
  26. Dominique Moloney — The Movie Database (TMDB)
  27. "WPC 56" Little Boy Lost (TV Episode 2013) - IMDb
  28. WPC 56 (TV Series 2013–2015) - Filming & production - IMDb
  29. TV programmes made in Birmingham: WPC 56
  30. BBC drama: WPC 56 back on the beat - Midlands Today
  31. Beeb back in Birmingham with 1950s cop drama WPC 56
  32. On Set with WPC56 – Series Three | btvfloc - WordPress.com
  33. WPC56 Series 3 – FAQs - btvfloc - WordPress.com
  34. Birmingham actress Claudia Jessie is the new WPC 56 in 1950s ...
  35. WPC 56 returns, but changes are coming… - btvfloc - WordPress.com
  36. Season 1 – WPC 56 - Rotten Tomatoes
  37. TV COPS: 'WPC 56' and 'The Line of Duty'
  38. WPC 56, Series 1 - BBC
  39. WPC 56 - Episode Guide | TVmaze
  40. WPC 56, Series 1, Nature of the Beast - BBC
  41. "WPC 56" Nature of the Beast (TV Episode 2013) - IMDb
  42. BBC One - WPC 56, Series 1 - Episode guide
  43. WPC 56 (TV Series 2013–2015) - Episode list - IMDb
  44. WPC 56 Season 2 Streaming: Watch & Stream Online via Amazon ...
  45. WPC 56, Series 2, That Old Devil Called Love - BBC
  46. https://journals.openedition.org/chs/541
  47. STRESS IN POST-WAR BRITAIN: AN INTRODUCTION - NCBI - NIH
  48. WPC 56: Season 2, Episode 2 - Rotten Tomatoes
  49. WPC 56, Series 2 - Episode guide - BBC One
  50. WPC 56, Series 3, A Different Beat - BBC
  51. WPC 56, Series 3 - Episode guide - BBC One
  52. "WPC 56" The Wayward Wind (TV Episode 2015) - IMDb
  53. Women in Policing History | BAWP
  54. WPC 56 (TV Series 2013–2015) - Episode list - IMDb
  55. WPC 56 (a Titles & Air Dates Guide) - Epguides.com
  56. WPC 56: Series 3 of Daytime Drama Premieres in the US on Public ...
  57. WPC 56 (TV Series 2013–2015) - Release info - IMDb
  58. Watch WPC 56 Online: Free Streaming & Catch Up TV in Australia
  59. ‎WPC 56 - Apple TV
  60. WPC 56: Complete Series 1-3 - Amazon.com
  61. WPC 56 Season 2 Streaming: Watch & Stream Online via Amazon ...
  62. WPC 56: Series One | Dominique Moloney - Video Librarian
  63. Police drama WPC 56 revisits the not-so-good old days
  64. WPC 56 (TV Series 2013–2015) - User reviews - IMDb
  65. CHRISTOPHER STEVENS reviews Red Rock (BBC1) - Daily Mail
  66. TV blog - WPC 56: Women in policing in the 1950s - Comments - BBC
  67. “The Incredible Story of 1950s Policewoman Gwen Crockford – One ...
  68. Wpc 56 - Digital Spy Forum
User Avatar
No comments yet.