Lovejoy

Dubbed by some "The Antiques Rogue Show", Lovejoy was based on the novels of Jonathan Gash and concerned a slightly dodgy dealer in antiquities.

Lovejoy's patch is rural Essex and Suffolk, which he combs for underpriced treasures to sell on with a nice mark-up. Being what is known as a "divvie", he instinctively knows when an antique is rare and valuable. At his side are Tinker, his tweedy, beret-hatted old friend, and young gopher Eric Catchpole.

When Eric leaves to run his uncle's pub, he is replaced by Beth, another "trainee". Leather-jacketed Lovejoy (who lives in a picturesque country cottage and drives a battered Morris Minor affectionately named Miriam) enjoys the company of local aristocrat Lady Jane Felsham and, though flirtation is the name of the game, wedding bells never chime.

On Lady Jane's departure, in comes university-educated auctioneer Charlotte Cavendish, and she almost succeeds in getting the lovable wheeler-dealer to the altar in the very last episode of the series.