EPISODE DESCRIPTONS

SERIES 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Xmas

SERIES 1
*Number in parentheses at end of program description is BBCWA library tape number.

1. THE FIREFLY CAGE - Lovejoy is intrigued by a mysterious girl who buys a Japanese firefly cage at auction and later shows him another cage carved out of coal. The coal cage bears a striking resemblance to something else, but what is it that it reminds him of? (1)

2. THE AXEMAN COMETH - Lovejoy buys a Welsh dresser with a valuable Arab wedding headdress hidden inside. Will it be Lovejoy or the Inland revenue or a criminal with an axe who get to keep the money? (2)

3. THE STING - Lovejoy schemes, seduces and steals his way toward a pair of rare porcelain figures that he must have. (3)

4. FRIENDS, ROMANS AND ENIMIES - Lovejoy pits his skills against skillful forger and trickster, James Bexon, in a case of ancient Roman coins and intrigue. (4)

5. THE JUDAS PAIR - The wife and brother of a man slain with one of a set of rare dueling pistols engage Lovejoy to find the murderer. For good reason, those Regency pistols are called The Judas Pair. (5)

6. TO SLEEP NO MORE - A forger, pursued by a mysterious priest, dies of a heart attack. The priest then tries to break into the dead man's house and Lovejoy is drawn into the mystery. (6)

7. THE REAL THING - Lovejoy cannot bear other people's art world crimes. He attempts to stop a con man and his two accomplices from bilking unsuspecting art connoisseurs. (7)

8. THE MARCH OF TIME - Lovejoy must determine whether some old love letters found in a clock are genuine, and therefore valuable, or fake. (8)

9. DEATH AND VENICE, PART 1 - Lovejoy travels to Venice to investigate the murder of a friend who had bought a Carpaccio painting Lovejoy believed to be a fake. Pretty soon, the murderer seems to be after Lovejoy. (9)

10. DEATH AND VENICE, PART 2 - The only way for Lovejoy to make headway in the Venetian mystery is to agree to work for twin sisters who introduce him to a secret forgers' workshop. (10)

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SERIES 2
1. JUST DESSERTS - No one frames Lovejoy and gets away with it! After his release from prison, Lovejoy sets out to exact revenge on the person who set him up. (11)

2. THE ITALIAN VENUS - A stingy landowner refuses to share the family inheritance with his poor brother, until Lovejoy shows the haughty aristocrat the error of his ways. (12)

3. BIN DIVING - Lovejoy has a knack of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. He goes to value the contents of an elderly widow's house, which is promptly burgled. Finding himself the prime suspect, Lovejoy sets about clearing his name. (13)

4. MONTEZUMA'S REVENGE - Lovejoy is asked by the manager of a rock band to sell an ancient, solid gold statue because he believes it to be the carrier of an Inca curse. (14)

5. WHO DARES, SINGS - Lovejoy's expert eye detects a dangerous flaw in the posh new restaurant he and Lady Jane decorate for Tinker's old army chum. (15)

6. ONE BORN EVERY MINUTE - Lovejoy finds himself in hot pursuit of an itinerant painter whose talent on the canvas is matched only by his prowess as a womanizer. (16)

7. NATIONAL WEALTH - The lavish country estates of England's elite are under siege by a cunning gang of French thieves. Lovejoy sends Eric and Tinker to follow the chief suspect, Major Sullivan. (17)

8. SUGAR AND SPICE - Lovejoy joins ex-wife Susie at daughter Vickie's school Speech Day. He faces a moral dilemma when a teenage girl asks him to sell a set of erotic drawings. (18)

9. RAISE THE HISPANIC - Things become quite uncivilized at a society wedding when the bridegroom is murdered. Lovejoy is deemed the best man to solve the crime. (19)

10. LILY'S PEARLS - When Lady Jane's husband takes on a shady new business partner, Lovejoy decides to do a little investigating. (20)

11. RIDING IN ROLLERS - A devious antiques dealer has swindled a beautiful American widow friend of Lovejoy out of $500,000 in fake art objects. That same swindler is set to scam $2 million from a Japanese bank manager. Lovejoy joins the fray. (Continued next week.) (21)

12. THE BLACK VIRGIN OF VLADIMIR - Lovejoy, his widow friend and a Japanese bank manager plot their revenge on the swindling Greek antiques dealer. Their bait is an extremely rare 14th century Russian icon. (22)

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SERIES 3
1. FRIENDS IN HIGH PLACES - Lovejoy returns from sabbatical in Spain and quickly finds himself in love and in trouble. His heart is stolen by Lady Jane's friend Victoria, whose gold ring involves him in a twisted tale of safecracking, kidnapping, betrayal and polo playing. (23)

2. OUT TO LUNCH - Lovejoy gives Eric the job of "emptying" the fabulous Dalrymple house, but Eric is conned. Lovejoy sells valuable paintings to a gallery owner, and is mortified when they are denounced as fakes. (24)

3. NO STRINGS - Lady Jane befriends members of the band "Hothouse Flowers". When the band gets ripped off by a promoter, one of the members offers to sell a valuable harp, but before Lovejoy can sell it, the harp mysteriously disappears. (25)

4. ANGEL TROUSERS - Lovejoy gets involved in a sinister plot involving Benito Mussolini's nose, a snooty fashion photographer and three drunken sailors. It all comes to a boil when he comes face to face with gun-toting Angelo Pantolini. (26)

5. BENIN BRONZE - Lovejoy comes under suspicion when a priceless African bronze goes missing. (27)

6. ERIC OF ARABIA - To sell his motorcycle, Eric tries to trick a buyer into believing it once belonged to Lawrence of Arabia. Meanwhile, swindlers try to fool Lovejoy into underestimating the value of an ancient Chinese terra cotta pig. (28)

7. SCOTCH ON THE ROCKS - Someone wants to get his greedy paws on Lovejoy's old Scottish sword--but why? Lovejoy investigates and discovers it holds the key to hidden treasure. But the treasure won't be easy to find-- it's buried beneath a supermarket. (29)

8. LOVEKNOTS - Lovejoy meets Harriet, a dotty old lady who buys a Berber rug for her dog at an auction, but only after a tussle with an Arab youth who also wants to buy it. When the boy steals the rug, the ever meddlesome Lovejoy wants to know why. (30)

9. SMOKE YOUR NOSE - Rev. Nettles tells Lovejoy that an ancient Roman mosaic lies beneath the land next to his church, but the land is slated for development that could bury the glory of Rome forever. Lovejoy races to thwart the developer's plans. (31)

10. KIDS - Lovejoy discovers that a cabinet minister's son has been selling fake art. Meanwhile, his daughter, Vicky, introduces Lovejoy to her new beau. Lovejoy later learns that the man is not a widower, as Vicky believes, and that he has a beautiful young daughter. (32)

11. MEMBERS ONLY - When an exclusive golf club asks Lovejoy to value its prized trophy cup, Lovejoy discovers it is a fake. The mystery deepens when Eric accidentally shoots a hole in the ceiling of Lovejoy's house, leading to the discovery of a suspiciously similar cup in the loft. (33)

12. HIGHLAND FLING, PART 1 - Lovejoy and Lady Jane travel to a fine old gothic house in Scotland and uncover a dastardly plot by a rival antiques dealer to hoodwink one of Lady Jane's friends. The mystery also brings Lovejoy and Lady Jane closer and closer to romance. (34)

13. HIGHLAND FLING, PART 2 - Lovejoy and Lady Jane travel to a fine old gothic house in Scotland and uncover a dastardly plot by a rival antiques dealer to hoodwink one of Lady Jane's friends. The mystery also brings Lovejoy and Lady Jane closer and closer to romance. (35)

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SERIES 4
1. THE NAPOLEONIC COMMODE - Lovejoy is evicted from his rented home because the owner, Frederick Arthur Haig Montgomery Ravell Reeve, a.k.a. "Freddy the Phone", owes back taxes. Lovejoy takes to the road and ends up with a valuable commode. (36)

2. THE RING - Lovejoy involves an unwitting Lady Jane in an illegal bidding ring to inflate the price of a painting that he has put up for auction. (37)

3. SECOND FIDDLE - Lovejoy is confused as to why a violin virtuoso has asked him to turn a real Stradivarius into a fake. (38)

4. THE COLOR OF MARY - A disgraced snooker ace wants Lovejoy to find him the billiard table belonging to Mary Queen of Scots. Charlie Gimbert makes an unwelcome return from abroad. (39)

5. FLY THE FLAG - While renovating Shotley Church, "Beau" Derek Whittaker makes a remarkable discovery. An old regimental flag from the American War of Independence is hidden behind one of the statues. (40)

6. DAINTY DISH - While seaside in Brighton, Lovejoy comes across a scam involving hundreds of porcelain plates. (41)

7. THE GALLOPING MAJOR - When looking in Frankie's scrap yard for a replacement back up indicator lamp for his pickup truck, Lovejoy is persuaded to buy an old cannon. (42)

8. GOD HELPS THOSE - After a series of antique shop thefts, Lovejoy uncovers a plot to steal his new lady friend's valuable salt cellars. (43)

9. THEY CALL ME MIDAS - Jim Leonard, Lovejoy's mentor, sets up a country house weekend for an elaborate con involving a fake Klimt. Lovejoy involves Eric, Tinker and Jane, but finds out too late that he is also a victim. (44)

10. IRISH STEW - Lovejoy and company go to Ireland, where they stumble upon an astonishingly valuable ancient book. (45)

11. THE JUDGEMENT OF SOLOMON - When Lovejoy is asked to sell some Judaica for a retired wing commander, he contacts the Solomons in London. The firm are immediately suspicious of the commander when they see his wonderful collection. (46)

12. TAKING THE PLEDGE - Lovejoy helps an old friend to get back a beautiful picture from the pawn broker's. Meanwhile, the man's estranged wife is also on the hunt.. (47)

13. LOVEJOY LOSES IT - After using his 'gift' for finding antiques on television, Lovejoy finds his conscience catching up with him when this sixth sense goes badly wrong. (48)

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SERIES 5
1. PIG IN A POKE - Lovejoy becomes involved in returning a stolen antique to its rightful owner. The police are on his tail, but Jane saves the day. (49)

2. WHO IS THE FAIREST OF THEM ALL - Lovejoy is worried by Jane's behavior until he realizes that her husband Alex is back. But Alex's return heralds the sale of Felsham Hall and Jane's departure. (50)

3. A GOING CONCERN - In running a scam at the vacant Felsham Hall, Lovejoy crosses swords with the glamorous Charlotte Cavendish. When the Hall is sold, Lovejoy rents the stables on the Felsham Estate for Lovejoy Antiques. (51)

4. THE KAKIEMON TIGER - Beth, an employment trainee, joins the Lovejoy team. Lovejoy is menaced by a London loan shark and "hijacks" a country house auction in order to pay his debts. (52)

5. THREE MEN AND A BRITTLE LADY - Charlotte's ex-boyfriend arrives from New York and asks her to live in Paris with him. Gimbert is conned into buying copies of an expensive Bow Lady and Cow-creamer, but Lovejoy catches the villain. (53)

6. DUCKLING AND DIVING - While Eric "holidays" on the Essex Marshes, helping out in his uncle's pub, Lovejoy is lumbered with the world's largest sideboard. In his attempts to sell it, Lovejoy uncovers a smuggling racket. (54)

7. STONES OF DESTINY - Lovejoy goes on the trail of a rare Celtic cross. His search takes him, and a suspicious Charlotte, to Wales. But other, more unscrupulous people want the cross as well. (55)

8. POETIC LICENSE - Charlotte asks Lovejoy to value the contents of a private Nursing Home. When attempts are made on Lovejoy's life Charlotte realizes that Lovejoy resembles a dead poet and begins to suspect who might be behind them. (56)

9. PEKING GUN - Gimbert asks Lovejoy to value a colonial widow's treasures. He notices an unusual Chinese cannon and asks for Charlotte's advice. The cannon turns out to have immense significance for a dangerous Chinese gang and Lovejoy and Charlotte end up fleeing for their lives. (57)

10. GOOSE BUMPS - Charlie Gimbert plays Lord of the Manor and asks Charlotte to play hostess at the annual Dog Show and Wildlife Auction at Felsham Hall. Lovejoy organizes a private auction between two collectors of china geese. (58)

11. SWINGS AND ROUNDABOUTS - The fair comes to town and Lovejoy calls on his old friend Boswell who owns the carousel, but is thinking of retirement. A history of burglaries is linked with the visits of Boswell's fair, and he is arrested when stolen candlesticks are found amongst his own. (59)

12. NEVER JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER - Lovejoy and Charlotte are in Cambridge at an Antiques Fair. Lovejoy is invited by two elderly sisters to value their belongings. Their brother refuses to sell the only valuable object they appear to own, a rare edition of the Bible. (60)

13. THE PRICE OF FISH - Lovejoy is invited to spend the weekend with Charlotte and her best friend in order to value a clock. Meanwhile, to thwart Gimbert's plans to convert Felsham Hall into a health spa, Tinker provides a twelfth-century charter and a flock of sheep. (61)

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SERIES 6
1. FAIR EXCHANGE - A bad check used as a bridging loan comes back to haunt Lovejoy. Charlotte believes Lovejoy has stolen a valuable 18th-century portrait from her and gives the police enough information to have him charged with aggravated burglary. (62)

2. DAY OF RECKONING - An old harboring a grudge against Lovejoy is released from Broadmoor, determined to exact revenge for an affair Lovejoy is supposed to have had with his wife. He kidnaps Charlotte and gives Lovejoy 24 hours to find her before he kills her. (63)

3. SOMEWHERE -- OVER THE RAINBOW? - Lovejoy and Tinker team up to stop an unscrupulous property developer from destroying the fabulous Art Deco hotel owned by Tinker's sister. And Tinker's "real" name is revealed at last. (64)

4. DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD - A tough businessman hires Lovejoy to recover a priceless 16th-century Samurai sword that has been stolen from his house. Lovejoy must compete with his old mentor to get hold of it. (65)

5. GUNS AND ROSES - Lovejoy runs afoul of the law and is arrested after one of his valuable antique shotguns is stolen and used in an armed robbery. (66)

6. THE LAST OF THE UZKOKS - Charlotte asks Lovejoy to establish the disputed ownership of a 17th-century communion chalice. (67)

7. BREAKING THE BROKER - Tinker is arrested for possessing erotic antiques. He tries to get himself off the hook by implicating Lovejoy in a robbery. Meanwhile, Lovejoy is on the verge of being hoodwinked by a wealthy pawnbroker. (68)

8. FRUIT OF THE DESERT - Lovejoy embarks on a risky scheme--putting himself in the clutches of a notorious loan shark. In doing so, he places his daughter's welfare at risk. (69)

9. HOLDING THE BABY - Lovejoy seeks the help of a Caribbean expert to locate a valuable 19th-century dresser. He buys it for a song although someone else knows of its existence. Meanwhile, Charlotte is left holding the baby, literally. (70)

10. LAST TANGO IN LAVENHAM - Lovejoy doesn't like changes in his life but he's about to encounter a number of them. Lady Jane makes a spectacular reappearance in his life just as he has decided it's time to settle down. Will he be forced to choose between her and Charlotte? Last ever episode. (71)

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CHRISTMAS SPECIALS
XMAS 1992 - THE PRAGUE SUN - The beautiful city of Prague is the Christmas backdrop for a tale of missing art treasures, secret police, hidden gems, a young Czech artist and her father, as Lovejoy journeys East in search of the famous 'Prague Sun'. Will Lovejoy solve the riddle in time to rescue Lady Jane and play Father Christmas at his local hospital?

XMAS 1993 - THE LOST COLONY - The fusty Lord Wakering is the owner of some treasure that once belonged to Sir Walter Raleigh. Lovejoy wants the Elizabethan baubles, but so does Mary-John Lovejoy, his sexy cousin from America.