Lovejoy

Lovejoy is a British TV comedy-drama series based on the picaresque novels by John Grant. The show, which ran to 71 episodes over 6 series, was originally shown on the BBC between 10 January 1986 and 4 December, 1994 although there was a five-year gap between the first and second series. It was adapted for television by Ian La Frenais.

The series concerns the adventures of the eponymous Lovejoy, played by Ian McShane, a likeable but roguish antiques dealer based in East Anglia. Within the trade, he has a reputation as a "divvie", a person with an almost supernatural powers for recognising exceptional items as well as distinguishing genuine antique from clever fakes or forgeries.