Band of Gold (TV series)

Did You Know?

• The lane referred to in the production is Lumb Lane, a real street in Manningham, Bradford.
• Part of the filming took place in the West End area of Ashton-under-Lyne.
• John Burke novelised the first series' teleplays in Band of Gold: Ring of Lies and the second in Band of Gold: Chain of Power.

Synopsis

Gina Dickson, a young mother in Bradford, West Yorkshire, has kicked out her abusive husband Steve and is drowning in debt. With no job, no childcare for her three young daughters, and a loan shark named Mr. Moore demanding repayment, she crosses paths with Carol at their children's school. Carol, a prostitute, shows Gina how to work the Lane and introduces her to the world of pimps, clients, and police. Gina also meets Carol's circle: Rose, an older sex worker who controls the Lane; Tracy, a 15-year-old runaway addicted to drugs from her pimp; and Anita Braithwaite, who lets the women rent rooms in her flat for a cut of their earnings. In the first episode, Carol goes with Gina to a client's home and steals money from him. Gina then works the Lane solo and is killed by a serial killer, who goes on to murder other prostitutes in Bradford. Over the first series, Carol grows both curious and cautious about a middle-aged client named Curly, who has a stocking fetish. Anita struggles financially while her benefactor George Ferguson keeps her under his thumb. Tracy is assaulted and nearly dies at the hands of her pimp Dez, but recovers and returns to her parents. She cannot tolerate their rules: her father abused her, she doubts her mother believes her, and her sister resents her for leaving, which caused their parents to argue constantly. Tracy runs away again. Tracy and Rose head to London, where Tracy keeps street-walking and Rose tries to go straight by enrolling in college and meeting a man named Richard. When Richard rejects her, Rose drops out and goes back to Bradford without Tracy. The detective leading the murder case, DCI Newall, is secretly sleeping with Carol, who lets him use her to avoid arrest for prostitution. Carol has a breakdown after pouring boiling water on Curly, spends time in a psychiatric hospital, and then sets out to find Gina's killer, running into many false leads.

Cast

Cathy Tyson portrayed Carol Johnson across all three series. Barbara Dickson appeared as Anita Braithwaite in Series 1 and 2. Tony Doyle and David Schofield appeared as George Ferguson and DCI David Newhall, respectively, in Series 1 and 2. Rachel Davies played Joyce Webster in the same two series. Fiona Allen appeared as DI Erica Cooper in Series 3. Ruth Gemmell played Gina Dixon in Series 1. Ace Bhatti played Dez in Series 1 and 2. Lena Headey appeared as Colette in Series 2 and 3. The series also featured guest appearances from actors including Mark Addy, David Bradley, Sue Cleaver, Meera Syal, and Nicola Wheeler.