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» » New Tricks: Nuove tracce per vecchie volpi Congratulations (2003–2015)

Short summary

Luke Hanson has recently been released from jail after serving 8 years for setting a fire at his local school in which the caretaker had been severely injured. He was across the country committing another crime at the time and would like the team to reopen the case. This was Jack's last case before retiring to care for his wife, who was the victim of a hit and run driver. Supt. Pullman gets an offer of promotion that she is finding very hard to resist, but it would mean leaving the squad. A woman who claims to be his daughter approaches Gerry, and Brian rekindles an interest in war gaming. In the course of investigating the school fire, Jack learns the identity of the hit-and-run driver and decides to take action.

Emily Driscoll, who pretends to be the long-lost daughter of Gerry Standing (Dennis Waterman), was played by Hannah Waterman, Dennis Waterman's daughter in real life.

First appearance of Ricky and Luke Hanson (David Troughton and Joe Absolom)

First appearance of Emily Driscoll.

User reviews


  • comment
    • Author: Thordibandis
    Have always been a big fan of detective/mystery shows from a fairly young age, well since starting secondary school.

    'Inspector Morse', 'A Touch of Frost', 'Midsomer Murders' (in its prime), 'Law and Order', 'Inspector George Gently', 'Criminal Minds', 'Murder She Wrote', you name them to name a few. 'New Tricks' has also been a favourite from the start (despite not being the same without the original cast in recent years). Although it can be corny at times (in an endearing sort of way) it has always been perfect for helping me relax in the evenings. Something that was needed during all the hard times endured in school.

    "Congratulations" to me is the best episode of a largely great Season 3, a terrific end to the season and a perfect example of what 'New Tricks' is all about. It has a lot of classic 'New Tricks' humour, an intriguing case where things are more than it initially seems to be, fun team rapport and a riveting subplot with Jack that provides major development for the character and future events for the show.

    Visually, "Congratulations" looks lovely, with a brighter look but never garish and always slick and stylish. The music is a good fit and the theme song (sung with gusto by none other by Dennis Waterman himself) is one of the catchiest for any detective/mystery show and of any show in the past fifteen years or so.

    Writing is intelligent, thought-provoking and classy, while also being very funny and high up in the entertainment value. The story is fun, diverting and twisty. One feels sorry for Jack, the school fire case avoids being over-shadowed too much and is resolved satisfying (though the culprit was not a massive shock) and the cliffhanger ending is tense.

    It also does a great job introducing the viewer to one of the show's nastiest pieces of work in Ricky Hanson, a character that one dislikes intensely well before the big revelation and even more so afterwards. Gerry's subplot could have distracted but just about avoids that.

    A huge part of 'New Tricks' appeal is the chemistry between the four leads and their performances. The chemistry is so easy going and charming with a little tension.

    One of the show's biggest delights is Alun Armstrong, achieves a perfect balance of funny comic timing and touching pathos which was maintained all the way up to his final episode. It is also lovely here to see his role in the team and skills appreciated more all the time. James Bolam's Jack is the quietest, most sensible (mostly) and most composed of the team, with a tragic personal life that Bolam portrays very touchingly without any overwrought-ness.

    The only woman on the team, Amanda Redman more than holds her own in what is essentially the boss role of the four. Dennis Waterman brings some nice levity without unbalancing things.

    Kevin Whately and especially David Troughton make excellent guest appearances and Anthony Calf proves why he is deservedly one of the longest-serving cast members.

    Overall, terrific. 10/10 Bethany Cox
  • comment
    • Author: Mr.jeka
    Hannah Waterman, the real-life daughter of Dennis, is introduced in this episode playing a police officer claiming to be Gerry's daughter. This is the season 3 finale, and it's great to know New Tricks endured for nine more seasons.

    Here Jack confronts his nemesis Ricky Hanson, played by David Troughton (his father Patrick was the second Dr Who). I remember David as Dr Buzzard in the fine series A Very Peculiar Practice. Anyway, Jack is on the warpath to avenge his wife's murder, and the culprit was Ricky. Brian is on the warpath as he enthusiastically engages in war gaming. Unfortunately Brian is tempted to drink at the celebrations.

    The ending is a real cliffhanger, with Jack running amok big time.
  • comment
    • Author: Kale
    In 2001, Luke Hanson was charged with burning down his school, thanks to the evidence of the headmaster, Andrew Simson. Five years into his sentence, new evidence linking Hanson to a robbery which took place at the same time as the arson attack earns him early release. Free and allegedly reformed, Hanson now wants his case reinvestigated to find out who really was responsible for the fire, as the detective drama continues. He seeks out Halford to help right the wrongs of his past. Meanwhile, Gerry finds himself pursuing an investigation of a more personal nature.

    At a rebuilt Luscombe School, Hanson is welcomed by Simson as he gives a talk to pupils about life in prison. The two men appear to have made their peace.

    However, the team also has other matters to sort out. Jack has some unfinished business with Luke's father, Ricky Hanson and decides to rattle his cage suspecting he may well have framed his own son but Jack's pursuit of Hanson Snr reveals more than he bargained for. Meanwhile, DAC Strickland encourages Pullman to apply for promotion as Head of the Murder Squad – a job she would most certainly get. Not wanting to unsettle the team, she keeps news of the possible promotion to herself.

    Gerry gets a bit of a shock when a young woman, Emily Driscoll, arrives at his flat claiming to be his daughter. Shock soon turns to pride when Standing discovers that Emily also works for the police and the two share other similarities – she is a chip off the old block. But Brian persuades Gerry to show a little caution over Emily's claims and suggests he takes her DNA to prove he is her biological father. Sandra is appalled when she discovers that Gerry has been completely abusing the system for his own personal investigation but she has bigger worries on her mind – does she leave UCOS?
  • comment
    • Author: Obong
    The main plot of this particular episode is not significant. What IS significant is what happens to Jack. Regular viewers will know that Jack has a shrine to his late wife in the backyard. His wife will killed by a hit-run driver.

    WARNING - SPOILER AHEAD. -But is is possible to spoil a cliff-hanger series final episode that has already been shown?

    Later on, whilst questioning a man with whom Jack has "history", the man boasts to Jack that it was he who killed his wife. He throws this in Jack's face and mocks him. Jack is absolutely shattered.

    At the end of the episode, it appears that Jack has become deranged and has lost all self control. We see the man drop his keys. Another car starts up, we see it is Jack's. We see the man pick up his keys and look up in disbeliever as the car roars towards him. A collision seems certain. And that is the end of the series!
  • Episode cast overview, first billed only:
    Alun Armstrong Alun Armstrong - Brian Lane
    James Bolam James Bolam - Jack Halford
    Amanda Redman Amanda Redman - Det. Supt. Sandra Pullman
    Dennis Waterman Dennis Waterman - Gerry Standing
    Anthony Calf Anthony Calf - D.A.C. Strickland
    Susan Jameson Susan Jameson - Esther Lane
    Carolyn Allen Carolyn Allen - Carole
    Paula Jennings Paula Jennings - Paula Standing
    Joe Absolom Joe Absolom - Luke Hanson
    David Troughton David Troughton - Ricky Hanson
    Kevin Whately Kevin Whately - Andrew Simson
    Emily Corrie Emily Corrie - Lysette Perry
    Karl Johnson Karl Johnson - Gary Kendall
    Hannah Waterman Hannah Waterman - Emily Driscoll
    Michael Thomas Michael Thomas - Victor Pritchard
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