The Show:
Where The Heart Is is one of the most popular dramas that is shown in the UK and has been a continuous hit in the ratings for ITV since 1997. Where The Heart Is follows a group of district nurses from the small Yorkshire village of Skirthwaite, including their loves and dilemmas as they go about their rounds. Things are never straightforward in Skirthwaite though, as we soon find out through friends and family dying, giving birth and generally being there for each other. OK, so it's not like a lot of dramas where there is a lot of murder and intrigue, but instead what we get is a drama that people can connect with on a more personal level as the trials and tribulations that the nurses face are the type that most people will have to deal with at some point in their lives. Starring Pam Ferris (Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban, Paradise Heights) and Sarah Lancashire (Clocking Off, Cherished, Coronation Street), Where The Heart is has repeatedly pulled in ten million viewers and has been nominated for many awards including National Television Awards. With the first series having six episodes (with another ten being shown on TV a few months later - Series 2), Wher The Heart Is is an enjoyable drama you can sit and watch with your family on a Sunday evening, preferably before or after Heartbeat. I will now go into a little more detail about the episodes included in this first series, with the first three episodes on disc one, and the final three on disc two:
Skelthwaite - When a middle aged man shows up at his parents home, he finds he has arrived too late as his Mother has just died. He decides to make grave allegations against district nurse Peggy Snow (Pam Ferris) and she lands in deep trouble. Ruth Goddard (Sarah Lancashire) gives birth to a baby boy Alfie and Peggy must also confront her son Stephen about a bra she has found under the quilt in her bed. Originally aired 6th April 1997.
Things Fall Apart - Peggy comes to a surprising conclusion when she decides she must investigate what lie's behind a young boy's behavioral problems. Schoolteacher Wendy Atkins is also surprised when Peggy returns her underwear to her. Originally aired 13th April 1997.
Summoned By Bells - Alfie is abducted in after a bizarre incident in a nursing home leaving his mother Ruth in hysterics. Stephen is in turmoil when he finds out that teacher Wendy Atkins is leaving Skelthwaite and never coming back and Vic makes a new friend. Originally aired 20th April 1997.
A Place In The World - When Ruth goes to a conference in Scarborough she bumps into an old flame who still remembers her and has never forgotton his feelings for her. Peggy has fun giving a speech whilst her son Stephen goes away. Originally aired 27th April 1997.
King Walter - Walter's flat catches fire causing a crisis and Ruth and Simon row over her commitment to work. Peggy and Stephen reach a long overdue understanding and Walter discovers it his because of his friends in Skelthwaite he is still alive. Originally aired 4th May 1997.
Dream - The Skelthwaite Scorpions start to prepare to do battle for the honour of the town, whilst Peggy and Ruth discover a strange secret when they visit a pig farmers wife. In the mean time, Stephen awaits for a letter in which he will find out if he can finally leave Skelthwaite behind. Originally aired 11th May 1997.
The DVD:
Video:
Network have provided a reasonable transfer for the show, in the OAR of 4:3. The transfer is generally good which is what you would expect from a relatively recent television show, however the colours sometimes appear to be slightly off, most noticeably the skin tones. Either that, or they filmed this somewhere extremely hot and they got a funny coloured sunburn. Other than this however, the picture is good. No subtitles are included.
Audio:
The original English track in 2.0 Stereo is provided and it was good for the majority, though there did seem to be a small bit of background hiss. Other than that though, it was your average stereo track. Nothing exciting.
Extras:
None.
