Grey Wyler

I remember in an episode of Heartbeat not too long bak, that they were watching the Apollo 11 landing on telly in the pub, so therefore we can date that episode as taking place in July 69.

A couple of episodes recently have had some seventies music, last nights had Won't Get Fooled Again by The Who. So can we safely presume that the show has now finally reached the 1970's?

davidb

the way some of the original charactors have aged it should be around 1985

winsfordtown

Back in 1998 when CEEFAX used to run a television question and answer section on it's pages and there was a long running argument about the date in which Heartbeat as was meant to be set. Eventually a viewer, who was an ardent fan, came up with a very credible solution based on information from Yorkshire TV how the series was at that point had reached 1969 and was looking forwarding seeing the characters develop in the 1970's.

cully

I agree. Whenever anything happened in the show to give away which year in the 60s it was supposed to be, it always seemed to be 1969!

CaptainWaggett

The last time I saw it was about 10 years ago and the storyline was about a tv shop getting in a stock of colour TVs in anticipation of demand. So 1969... But isn't the Royal meant to run parallel to Heartbeat? The only episode I've seen of that was the first one and it involved the hospital buying televisions for the wards so that the patients could watch thew new channel - BBC2.

So I assume it's set in 'the past'.

Chevyman

But the transmission also featured "On The Road Again" and "World In A Jug" by Canned Heat from 1968......The mind boggles

A Happy and Healthy New Year to all

"Don't tread on Greta Garbo, as you walk down the boulevard?"

Grey Wyler

Yes, it really seems pretty tired now. I think a good opportunity was missed, taking the show slowly through the decades would have been great fun.

Although i still watch it, it really is not as good as it was and probably should be quietly laid to rest.

Jackdaw

I worked it out as 1969, but don't worry about their station having a steam-hauled train service. (The last steam engines ran in service in 1968 but most local services had been dieselised well before that).
The punters won't notice, Darling.............

bhowells

Didnt the Australian soap The Sullivans run on for far longer than the duration of the Second World War.

Mark O

I recall the very first episode when Nick Berry was the main star, and as it was 60's based I thought 'right, that's my cuppa tea'!.........as I remember there were many of the extras walking about as Hippies so I assumed it was the Summer of love in 1967, but it seemed to shuttle back and forth throughout the decade with storylines about Railway line closures, etc;

I also recall an episode when Jason Durr was the main star and he was filling out some kind of Police log book with August 1968 as the written date, but as has been said it's time to enter the 1970's (along with the accompanying fashion sense!)

Mark

Dandy Forsdyke

Well the 70s didn't really start til about 1972/73, so...

Steve Crook

Or even later when you get as far from London as Yorkshire
It's the distance = time travel effect again

Steve

retroman

I recall an episode featuring Vernon Scripps a while back when he was reading the paper dated in 1969 in Bernie's garage. However the programme makers have clearly abandoned in recent seasons any attempt at logical continuity, and are I think content to stretch suspension of belief to an acceptance by anyone watching that Aidensfield and their folk are now stuck in 1969 in perpetuity!

"I've agreed with you from the first about the danger. But now I think you are utterly mistaken".

NathanC

The way I see it, Heartbeat - especially the earlier series - almost depicted the day to day lives of Nick and Kate Rowan, hence I don't think it would be too much of a stretch to suggest each series (Series 1-6 definitely) took place merely within weeks of each other, with a month or two perhaps between each series, particularly how there wasn't a serious crime like a murder every episode.

Nowadays, with specific dates like the moonlanding being mentioned, I think my theory has been laid to rest, but I'll still maintain each of the early series took place in a few weeks or so.