7 January (2016-01-07) – 25 February 2016 (2016-02-25)
Jericho is a British period drama television series created and written by Steve Thompson; it was directed by Paul Whittington.[1] The eight-part series premiered on ITV between 7 January and 25 February 2016. The series re-imagines the building of the Ribblehead Viaduct (renamed the Culverdale Viaduct) as a Western-inspired story.[2] It is set in the fictional town of Jericho, a shanty town in the Yorkshire Dales of England, which springs up around the construction of a railway viaduct in the 1870s.[3]
In April 2016 ITV confirmed that a second series of the show was not going to be commissioned.[4] The series was available for streaming video in the USA on Acorn TV, beginning 11 July 2016.[5]
Premise
The series focuses upon the shanty town of Jericho, home to a community that will live, thrive and die in the shadow of the viaduct they have been brought together to build.
Cast
Jessica Raine as Annie Quaintain, a widow with teenage children
Hans Matheson as Johnny Jackson, a navvy, later discovered to be John Blackwood
Scenes were shot around Huddersfield, specifically Golcar, at the Colne Valley Museum, and on the moors above Meltham and Marsden. The main setting for the shanty town was Rockingstone Quarry.[6] Wharncliffe Chase above Oughtibridge, north Sheffield, was another shanty town set and nearby locations were used.[7]
Episodes
No.
Title
Directed by
Written by
Original air date
UK viewers (millions)
1
"Episode 1"
Paul Whittington
Steve Thompson
7 January 2016 (2016-01-07)
4.74
Annie Quaintain is forced out of her home when her husband dies, leaving her penniless. She seeks work at the shanty town of Jericho together with her two teenage children. Opening a boarding house, she is befriended by Johnny Jackson, her first lodger. When the workings are sabotaged and men are killed, events take a turn for the worse for her son.
2
"Episode 2"
Paul Whittington
Steve Thompson
14 January 2016 (2016-01-14)
4.20
Railway detective Bamford searches for Red Killeen and takes lodgings at Annie Quaintain's which unsettles her son. Bamford finds a knife, leading him to suspect Killeen is dead, and discovers Coates may be behind the sabotage. Isabella finds she is unable to invest in the viaduct until she is married and makes an offer to Charles Blackwood. Bamford after meeting Coates reports to Blackwood that Killeen has fled on a ship from Liverpool.
3
"Episode 3"
Robert McKillop
Steve Thompson
21 January 2016 (2016-01-21)
3.86
Isabella and Charles Blackwood marry. Coates takes control of the sale of supplies to prevent hauliers profiteering, making enemies of hauliers who blockade the camp. One of the camp children dies of the strangling angel and Annie's daughter, Martha, falls foul of the same fever. Unable to break the blockade and fetch a doctor, Johnny Jackson takes her to Charles Blackwood's house. Johnny's real identity is exposed causing financial complications for Charles and Isabella.
4
"Episode 4"
Robert McKillop
Steve Thompson
28 January 2016 (2016-01-28)
3.65
Johnny is ostracised by the navvies and Charles refuses his offer that would save the project. Charles approaches a Methodist preacher as an investor. The pious Methodist insists the bar and prostitutes must go. When Annie discovers the preachers son had attacked a prostitute, she herself is threatened with arrest until Johnny intervenes.
5
"Episode 5"
Robert McKillop
Chris Dunlop
4 February 2016 (2016-02-04)
3.73
Charles cannot pay the wages and the men strike. He issues credit notes to be used in Jericho to buy goods and services. Johnny declares they are worthless and some men decide to rob Charle's house. Charles and Isabella are forced to listen to Johnny and mortgage the house and in return Johnny becomes a partner.
6
"Episode 6"
David Moore
Chris Dunlop
11 February 2016 (2016-02-11)
3.83
Charles needs to quarry stone and the only stone available is the burial site of the navvies killed at the workings. When the bodies are moved Red Killeen is discovered buried underneath the coffins. Coates finds evidence, the blanket Killeen is buried in, and is convinced Johnny is responsible. Charles discovers his wife has had an affair with Johnny before they married and a relationship that was thawing freezes again. Johnny, to protect the real culprit, flees Jericho but is brought back by Coates to face justice.
7
"Episode 7"
David Moore
Caroline Henry
18 February 2016 (2016-02-18)
3.70
Johnny is imprisoned by Coates who refuses to send for a magistrate as the navvies are goaded by one of their number to hang Johnny for the murder of Red Killeen. Coates arranges a hearing in the bar that he can manipulate to ensure Johnny's hanging despite knowing who the real killer is. Annie is cross examined and her daughter, Martha, denounces Johnny. Charles and Isabella head to the camp in time to hear the real killer confess.
8
"Episode 8"
David Moore
Steve Thompson
25 February 2016 (2016-02-25)
3.71
Johnny fires Coates. Intending to quarry their own stone a mine is constructed. During an inspection and subsequent cave-ins, Johnny, Charles, and Dagger are trapped. Coates has Davey Sharpe get gunpowder from the store using a key he had. The gunpowder effects a rescue but Charles is badly injured and Isabella needs Johnny's help to run the business. Annie is not happy but refuses Johnny's offer of marriage. Davey Sharpe asks Coates why he had a key to the gunpowder store. Later that evening as Davey walks to his wedding he is shot.
Reception
The series received mixed reviews from critics. The Guardian's Lucy Mangan, reviewing the first episode, remarked that the presentation was a bit too clean for the setting but praised the cast and ending.[8] Jasper Rees of The Telegraph commended the ambition of the creators, but found the first episode's drama to be 'busy' and the genre confused.[9] Andrew Billen of The Times gave it three stars being unimpressed by the show's characters.[10] Thea Lenarduzzi of The Independent, on the other hand, found the first episode to be gripping and full of excitement.[11]
