I know all the episodes but not in the right order and my mum was right, this is a great series about a roguish but lovable antique dealer, a role that Ian McShane was born to play.Apart from Lovejoy, my favourite has to be Eric...What a character and a hunk. The rest of the regular cast especially Phyllis Logan is excellent but sad to say that Charlie Gimbert was a butt-hole.This show is, as Cartman from South Park, would put it, the tits but it's still kinda totally cool. P.S: I hope Lovejoy appears on either Waking the Dead, Cold Case or New Tricks or even gets parodied on either the Simpsons, South Park or Family Guy soon.

This highly popular series filmed over 8 years is probably unique in the annals of television history. I think of it as a comedy-crime drama with a pinch of documentary when Lovejoy occasionally turns to camera and makes some personal remark as if talking to an invisible friend. The viewer feels involved and reassured that despite whatever else is happening in the plot, it's all make believe.Lovejoy, who likes to be called just 'Lovejoy', drop the Mr. - whose ever heard of 'Mr. Rembrandt' or 'Mr. Matisse' - is a Divi, an art expert but as the series develops is evidently an expect in many branches of the antique trade. He spent 4 years in prison which it is assumed he deserved because his business is clearly to make as much money as possible by any method he can, including manufacturing antiques by 'stressing' a modern piece and making it look much older. Despite this he genuinely loves and appreciates the real thing.He has two colleagues (Major) Tinker Dill who wears outrageous chequered suits and a distinctive black flat cap. 'Tink' also shares Lovejoy's love for real art & antiques and he is highly knowledgeable in both fields and the antique trade in general. Tinker is Lovejoy's 'barker' and in fairground parlance is the equivalent of the man who shouts 'Roll up, roll up, come and see ...' to attract an audience. I suppose he's Lovejoy's advertising agent.The other workmate is Eric Catchpole who loves motorcycles and works for Lovejoy as a kind of understudy. He is much less of expert than Lovejoy and Tinker and doesn't seem to share their love for antiquity. He does it to get money for women and motorcycles but not necessarily in that order.The third regular is Lady Jane Felsham who sponsors (provides the money) Lovejoy in many of his money-making schemes. She both admires Lovejoy and loves him but she never forgets he likes to use women for his own ends; a kind of lovable rogue; a 'bit of rough'.Lovejoy ought to be a millionaire with his talent but what money he 'earns' is soon lost. He seems to be constantly on the point of bankruptcy but Lady Jane is always on hand to bail him out.Other noteworthy characters are the less-than-honest antique traders, for example, Charlie Gimbert who drives a Rolls Royce and to whom, it is assumed, Lovejoy would like to aspire. Lots of money, a big house, a Roller and a harem of female acquaintances. But Lovejoy isn't the marrying kind. If he ever did, it would probably be for the money.

This particular series holds special memories for me as when the first episode came out, we had bought a caravan (static) in Burnham Market in Norfolk, where we had a marvellous time. I always thought that Lovejoy was filmed in Norfolk but I was wrong; it was mainly Suffolk and Essex. So on our jaunts around the antique shops of East Anglia, we had an affinity with the series. Happy days indeed! I have read some of the novels and Lovejoy is a real bum at times, actually hitting a woman but not brave enough to save a friend from a rifle butt to the head (book only; not in the series). But he does admit that he's a coward!! Great scenery and good scripts. I ration myself to 2 episodes per day. But could anyone ever live like Lovejoy? Constantly in debt, creditors forever chasing him, letting his friends down, upsetting his friends when they're trying to help him! Still, it makes for good honest entertainment and I would not have him any other way.The cast and crew enjoyed making the series and I certainly enjoy watching it - at anytime!

This TV series brings back fond memories of the late 80's, early 90's. Happen to have an interest in Antiques but this was completely unnecessary in order to enjoy the series. Lovejoy the Antiques dealer was an interesting combination of amateur Detective, righter of wrongs, incurable romantic/ womaniser (!), and occasional con-man which gave him a slightly dark edge - though he would generally only con other con-men or unsavoury wealthy types with so much money they would hardly notice it. This was a programme which at the time seemed to out-shine all others. The first series in 1986 was separated by a five year gap to 1991 for the second series. It only returned due to huge public demand in the UK. In the end six series were produced though some of the old characters had sadly disappeared by the last series. Why do I think Lovejoy was so good? Because it was refreshingly innocent - there was no 'body count' (well a very occasional murder), lots of good-natured banter between friends and very varied story-lines. Plus Lovejoy seemed to lead a rather enviable life, sometimes struggling financially, other times with a wind-fall but always surrounded by good friends and enjoying the hell out of life. And what country-side - the beautiful green fields and villages of England's East Anglia! There were 71 episodes to enjoy, and it does get repeated here and there - but only a few episodes have been released on VHS. Where Oh where are the DVD's??? If you haven't seen it yet and get a chance to see it - do so - it'll leave you with a feel-good factor you won't forget.