'State of Play' Episode Guide
'State of Play' originally aired on BBC One from Tuesday 18th May 2003 to Tuesday 22nd June 2003. It comprised 6 episodes.
Episode 1
Air date: Tuesday 18th May 2003
Synopsis: A political suicide starts the media guessing. When Sonia Baker, a young political researcher, falls on the London Underground tracks and is killed, her high-profile boss Labor Member of Parliament Stephen Collins, is devastated. The press smells blood and questions are asked about the nature of his relationship with Sonia. The story is pursued by a leading newspaper, and Senior Reporter Cal McCaffrey, is put on the case - his long-standing friendship with Collins considered a bonus by the editor, Cameron Foster. McCaffrey is uncomfortable with pursuing what amounts to a domestic scandal, until his colleague Della discovers a surprising link between Sonia’s death and the murder of a black teenager named Kelvin Stagg that same morning. Someone clearly wanted Sonia dead. But why?
Ratings: 5.78m (UK)
Episode 2
Air date: Tuesday 25th May 2003
Synopsis: How do you get to the truth when everyone is lying? After the murder of Detective Inspector (DI) Brown, the Metropolitan Police puts the tough-minded Detective Chief Inspector (DCI) Bell on the investigation. He knows Della is withholding information and is determined to find out what she and Cal know. Meanwhile, Stephen Collins‘ story becomes more complicated when an anonymous fax reveals that his affair with Sonia was far from being superficial; Stephen was going to leave his wife Anne for her. The revelation is another headache for the party’s spin-doctor, Andrew Wilson, who is trying to keep Stephen’s reputation intact. It also gives Cal pause for thought-why did Stephen lie to him? When Anne leans on him for support and information, Cal finds it increasingly hard to steer a professional line. Worst still, the trust between him and Della disintegrates when she realizes her life is in danger.
Ratings: 4.58m (UK)
Episode 3
Air date: Tuesday 1st June 2003
Synopsis: Is the press above the rule of law, or does it have its own rules? Cal is released from jail by DCI Bell and colludes with him in a plan to smoke out the hit man. As Cal waits it out, his team pins the author of the anonymous letters to a pretty criminal named Dominic Foy. The discovery that he had a sexual history with Sonia leads the team to suspect that he is guilty. But is Stephen also hiding something form them? How did Sonia know she had the job in Stephen’s office one month before he interviewed her? Meanwhile, Cal’s personal and professional life gets hopelessly tangled when Anne Collins urges him to meet her at a hotel. Their passion is leading them towards love, but the costs of this are explosive.
Ratings: 5.55m (UK)
Episode 4
Air date: Tuesday 8th June 2003
Synopsis: Betrayal lies closer to home than Stephen expected. Cal and Anne’s affair prompts Stephen to instruct Andrew Wilson to spin the news around the press and ruin Cal’s reputation. His only supporter now is the Energy Minister, George Fergus, who wills him to succeed. Cal and his team corner Dominic Foy, who is edgy, obstructive and constantly changing his story. He is clearly running scared, but why? They discover a connection between Foy and a firm who lobby on behalf of the oil industry. Given that Stephen chairs the Energy Select Committee in the House of Commons, could there be a connection? Was Foy, Sonia’s secret lover, or employer? Only Stephen can help answer that question, but Stephen will not cooperate…until he makes a sickening discovery that could end his political career. Now he needs Cal.
Ratings: 5.28m (UK)
Episode 5
Air date: Tuesday 15th June 2003
Synopsis: Corporate conspiracies are brought to light. Stephen’s earnest defense over the hiring protocol of Sonia leads Cal to interrogate his obtuse assistant, Greer. She finally admits to being influenced by an unexpected source. When the UK’s largest oil company gets wind of where the newspaper’s investigation is heading, Cameron finds himself under pressure from his Board and makes a startling decision. Sensing that his team is close to snaring their prey, Cal invites Stephen to listen in to an interview with Dominic Foy, hoping that, with a few well-aimed questions, the increasingly paranoid Foy will crack. His hunch is correct. Foy’s confession is a goldmine, but it sends Stephen over the edge and Foy to casualty.
Ratings: 4.67m (UK)
Episode 6
Air date: Tuesday 22nd June 2003
Synopsis: As the truth finally emerges, Cal makes a shattering discovery. Stephen is obsessed with finding out who knew Sonia to be a plant, and who is protecting George Fergus. Cal and Cameron plan to print the story, in spite of the editor’s opposition. On the morning that Cameron’s explosive headlines hit the newsstands, Cal travels to Manchester to see Anne. He is disturbed to find her supportive of Stephen when he reveals that Sonia had been planted in his office. Meanwhile, spin-doctor Andrew Wilson goes into overdrive masterminding an approach to the crisis. But Stephen is single-minded now in his obsession: who in the Government knew that Sonia was a plant? And why are they protecting George Fergus? His anger at the scale of the deception leads him to Cal once more; he wants to bring George down at all costs. His love for Sonia demands it. When the paper’s executive editor puts the brakes on the story, Cal and Cameron hatch a plan to print it. With the stakes at the highest, their story takes one final, gut-wrenching turn.
Ratings: 5.27m (UK)
Episode 1
Air date: Tuesday 18th May 2003
Synopsis: A political suicide starts the media guessing. When Sonia Baker, a young political researcher, falls on the London Underground tracks and is killed, her high-profile boss Labor Member of Parliament Stephen Collins, is devastated. The press smells blood and questions are asked about the nature of his relationship with Sonia. The story is pursued by a leading newspaper, and Senior Reporter Cal McCaffrey, is put on the case - his long-standing friendship with Collins considered a bonus by the editor, Cameron Foster. McCaffrey is uncomfortable with pursuing what amounts to a domestic scandal, until his colleague Della discovers a surprising link between Sonia’s death and the murder of a black teenager named Kelvin Stagg that same morning. Someone clearly wanted Sonia dead. But why?
Ratings: 5.78m (UK)
Episode 2
Air date: Tuesday 25th May 2003
Synopsis: How do you get to the truth when everyone is lying? After the murder of Detective Inspector (DI) Brown, the Metropolitan Police puts the tough-minded Detective Chief Inspector (DCI) Bell on the investigation. He knows Della is withholding information and is determined to find out what she and Cal know. Meanwhile, Stephen Collins‘ story becomes more complicated when an anonymous fax reveals that his affair with Sonia was far from being superficial; Stephen was going to leave his wife Anne for her. The revelation is another headache for the party’s spin-doctor, Andrew Wilson, who is trying to keep Stephen’s reputation intact. It also gives Cal pause for thought-why did Stephen lie to him? When Anne leans on him for support and information, Cal finds it increasingly hard to steer a professional line. Worst still, the trust between him and Della disintegrates when she realizes her life is in danger.
Ratings: 4.58m (UK)
Episode 3
Air date: Tuesday 1st June 2003
Synopsis: Is the press above the rule of law, or does it have its own rules? Cal is released from jail by DCI Bell and colludes with him in a plan to smoke out the hit man. As Cal waits it out, his team pins the author of the anonymous letters to a pretty criminal named Dominic Foy. The discovery that he had a sexual history with Sonia leads the team to suspect that he is guilty. But is Stephen also hiding something form them? How did Sonia know she had the job in Stephen’s office one month before he interviewed her? Meanwhile, Cal’s personal and professional life gets hopelessly tangled when Anne Collins urges him to meet her at a hotel. Their passion is leading them towards love, but the costs of this are explosive.
Ratings: 5.55m (UK)
Episode 4
Air date: Tuesday 8th June 2003
Synopsis: Betrayal lies closer to home than Stephen expected. Cal and Anne’s affair prompts Stephen to instruct Andrew Wilson to spin the news around the press and ruin Cal’s reputation. His only supporter now is the Energy Minister, George Fergus, who wills him to succeed. Cal and his team corner Dominic Foy, who is edgy, obstructive and constantly changing his story. He is clearly running scared, but why? They discover a connection between Foy and a firm who lobby on behalf of the oil industry. Given that Stephen chairs the Energy Select Committee in the House of Commons, could there be a connection? Was Foy, Sonia’s secret lover, or employer? Only Stephen can help answer that question, but Stephen will not cooperate…until he makes a sickening discovery that could end his political career. Now he needs Cal.
Ratings: 5.28m (UK)
Episode 5
Air date: Tuesday 15th June 2003
Synopsis: Corporate conspiracies are brought to light. Stephen’s earnest defense over the hiring protocol of Sonia leads Cal to interrogate his obtuse assistant, Greer. She finally admits to being influenced by an unexpected source. When the UK’s largest oil company gets wind of where the newspaper’s investigation is heading, Cameron finds himself under pressure from his Board and makes a startling decision. Sensing that his team is close to snaring their prey, Cal invites Stephen to listen in to an interview with Dominic Foy, hoping that, with a few well-aimed questions, the increasingly paranoid Foy will crack. His hunch is correct. Foy’s confession is a goldmine, but it sends Stephen over the edge and Foy to casualty.
Ratings: 4.67m (UK)
Episode 6
Air date: Tuesday 22nd June 2003
Synopsis: As the truth finally emerges, Cal makes a shattering discovery. Stephen is obsessed with finding out who knew Sonia to be a plant, and who is protecting George Fergus. Cal and Cameron plan to print the story, in spite of the editor’s opposition. On the morning that Cameron’s explosive headlines hit the newsstands, Cal travels to Manchester to see Anne. He is disturbed to find her supportive of Stephen when he reveals that Sonia had been planted in his office. Meanwhile, spin-doctor Andrew Wilson goes into overdrive masterminding an approach to the crisis. But Stephen is single-minded now in his obsession: who in the Government knew that Sonia was a plant? And why are they protecting George Fergus? His anger at the scale of the deception leads him to Cal once more; he wants to bring George down at all costs. His love for Sonia demands it. When the paper’s executive editor puts the brakes on the story, Cal and Cameron hatch a plan to print it. With the stakes at the highest, their story takes one final, gut-wrenching turn.
Ratings: 5.27m (UK)
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