List of New Tricks Episodes - Series 1 (2003/04)

The Metropolitan Police set up a new unit, UCOS, which stands for Unsolved Crime and Open Case Squad, to investigate previously unsolved crimes. Led by Detective Superintendent Sandra Pullman, the team is made up of retired policemen Jack Halford, Brian Lane and Gerry Standing. Their first case is to investigate the murder of a nightclub hostess. The man who was convicted of killing her is released on appeal after serving twenty years in prison, having always claimed his innocence. The renewed investigation eventually produces proof of his innocence, but also his guilt of a different murder. In the end the team finds proof that the man's wife killed the nightclub hostess out of jealousy.

When a series of guns are discovered in a diving operation, the team open the case of a murdered policewoman when it is revealed that one gun, amongst a series of replicas, is the weapon that was used to kill her. The team suspect that a stalker, who was seen in the area at the time, is responsible for the killing, but when DNA evidence reveals that the same gun was used in an armed robbery six months previously, a web of lies involving a faked robbery and a gang of money laundering thieves is exposed.

A fake painting is discovered in the Queen's art collection. The investigation swiftly reveals a trail of frauds and suspicious deaths. The team find out who originally forged the painting, but discover he died in 1978. They uncover a link between the forger and an art dealer who also died in 1978. They ultimately find out that a criminal who unknowingly bought one of the fake paintings is responsible for trying to kill the forger, killing the dealer and for forcing the Royal curator to steal the real painting to replace his forgery.

The murder outside a nuclear base in 1984 of Josh Livesey, a peace protester, is re-examined after Frank Fox, a fellow protester, is convicted of another killing. When Brian and Jack interview Fox, he fails to shed any new light on the situation, so Gerry and Sandra go in search of the other protesters who were present at the time. The team wonder if the murder could have been an assassination carried out by Special Branch. After discovering that one of the protesters was actually a mole for Special Branch, old secrets begin to unravel and the former protesters confront one another resulting in the identity of the murder among them being exposed.

Twenty years after his murder, the case of a ten-year-old child found dead on a golf course is re-opened. The only suspect at the time, Ken Roger, committed suicide at the age of 17 after he was imprisoned during questioning over the killing. The team first attempt to chase up the investigators from the original investigation – and one, Diane Loveless – claims that she believed in Roger's innocence. The team then carry out DNA evidence, only to discover that the saliva left by the murder did not belong to Roger, and that he killed himself despite the fact he was innocent. With fresh evidence, the team must uncover the 20-year-old secrets that kept the police from discovering the truth.

An old case, originally investigated by Brian during his time as a PC, resurfaces. The case, in which a young woman and her three-year-old child disappeared, was deemed a general missing persons case – however, upon investigation, Brian discovers that two similar disappearances occurred on the same date. The team believe that a man, Eric Grant, who came on to one of the women at a party, is responsible. And when the personal possessions of another of the missing women are found underneath his front room floor, the team believe they have finally found their man. However, the case takes an unexpected turn when one of the missing women is found to be alive, and living in Ireland – with the son of another of the missing women.

In an attempt to make contact with his late wife Mary, Jack goes to see a clairvoyant. During his séance, he is contacted by a 17-year-old girl, who was murdered in a shipping container in 1982. Jack then decides to re-open the case, as her killer was never brought to justice. Brian and Gerry suspect a medium who was involved in the original investigation, claiming he had information about the girl he discovered through the paranormal. When it is revealed the girl faked her abduction to get her parents attention, the team coach the medium into revealing just what happened.