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The Best Episodes of Heartbeat

Every episode of Heartbeat ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Heartbeat!

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Set during the 1960s in the fictional North Yorkshire village of Aidensfield, this enduringly popular series interweaves crime and medical storylines.

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    Heartbeat Season 2 Episode 2 - End of the Line
    10.0/10(1 votes)

    #1 - End of the Line

    S2:E2

    An elderly widower, a Mr. Miller from London comes and stays in the village and stays in a boarding house opposite the police house run by Mrs. ?. Milner however is not a well man and has to visit Kate at the surgery. Meanwhile Claude has been asked to do a barn clearance, and Nick buys the remains of an old MG off him for only £25. Claude dramatically underestimates its real value and is later annoyed by this, and complains to Blaketon. Milner it seems has an old grudge against Nick and he wants his revenge. It turns out that when Nick was down in the Met he arrested Milner's granddaughter after she stabbed her husband in self defence. Milner now wants to hurt Nick, the way Nick hurt him. He takes Kate as a hostage and is armed with a pistol. Kate manages to talk Milner round because she has to rush off to give a young girl a vital injection.

    Director:Bob Mahoney
    Writer:David Martín

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  2. Heartbeat Season 2 Episode 1 - Secrets
    4.0/10(3 votes)

    #2 - Secrets

    S2:E1

    A market traders van is hijacked and stolen on the moors. Nick starts to investigate and suspects Lord Ashfordly's son, who he later arrests for drink driving. Kate unintentionally starts a chicken pox epidemic when she starts a mother and baby group. Nick spots Claude wearing a brand new pair of boots several sizes too small which turns out to be part of market traders stolen stock. However, he doesn't think Claude is involved, but Blaketon disagrees. A local girl is pregnant and confides in Kate as to whom the father is. Nick later identifies the hijacker as Lord Ashfordly's new chauffeur, who also turns out to be the father of the local girl's baby.

    Director:Bob Mahoney
    Writer:Adele Rose

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  3. Heartbeat Season 2 Episode 3 - Manhunt
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #3 - Manhunt

    S2:E3

    Nick interrupts an armed robbery which is taking place at the Aidensfield's Arms and his hit over the head and ends up locked in the cellar with George and Claude. During the night Greengrass starts to drink himself silly and ends up giving Nick tip offs about offences that have been committed in the area recently. In the morning they are all found and rescued With a little help from Claude Nick suspects a known villain called Robinson who has a record for armed robberies and goes to visit his home, where is wife - Nell and her two daughters insist he has run of with another woman. But it emerges he in fact died from a heart attack during another recent robbery and was left on Nells doorstep and she and her daughter buried him on the moors some they could still came his National Assistance. As Nell is being questioned another robbery happens and it turns out Nell and her daughters carried on with the robberies. Meanwhile Nick shows up Claude by giving him recognition for all the crimes

    Director:Ken Horn
    Writer:David Lane

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  4. Heartbeat Season 2 Episode 4 - Bitter Harvest
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #4 - Bitter Harvest

    S2:E4

    Local farmer, Reg Manston notices one of his cows looks very ill and asks Nick to visit him. On Nick's arrival, Manston tells Nick that he suspects the animal may infected with the highly contagious disease known as Foot and Mouth. The local vet - Martin Thomas is called in performs test on Manston's herd. He phones the ministry of Agriculture while and sends the his tests away for confirmation of the disease. Meanwhile Nick as part of the regulations of the disease has to guard the farm entrance to check no one enters or leave the farm. The whole area becomes affected by the outbreak when it means that no social events can happen at the risk of the disease spreading, which annoys George whose bar is totally empty of customers. Meanwhile another farmer (and Manston's neighbour), Sam Carver is breaking the disease outbreak regulations by transporting his infected dead sheep to another area. In the meantime Manston's herd are shot and burned to prevent the disease from spreading. After

    Director:Ken Horn
    Writer:Jane Hollowood

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  5. Heartbeat Season 2 Episode 5 - Over the Hill
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #5 - Over the Hill

    S2:E5

    A black soldier called Ken Marston who is on exercises in the area has been getting bullied by his racist Sergeant - Sgt Nicholls. Nicholls follows Marston during the exercise and intends to shoot Ken as he's reported Nicholls to his superiors. However on top of a cliff face Nicholls and Kenget in a confrontation and Nicholls falls. Ken then goes on the run thinking he's killed him. Meanwhile Nick investigates a break in at a farm and suspects Claude is responsible. and is on the run after he thinks he has killed him. He starts to search for a childhood friend who lives in the area. He finds his friends wife and son, only to discover his friend is dead. Meanwhile Kate is treating his window whose son is seriously disturbed by his fathers death, may have to be taken into care. The widow blames Kate for this, believing that she contacted the authorities, when in fact it was Ferrenby. The situation is sorted out eventually, with the help of Alex and Kate and the boy is able to stay with h

    Director:Tim Dowd
    Writer:Johnny Byrne

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  6. Heartbeat Season 2 Episode 6 - Bang to Rights
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #6 - Bang to Rights

    S2:E6

    Rosie, the wife of local villain, Terry Tinniswood takes an overdose and Nick and Kate are left minding her children. Once she's recovered, Rosie tells Nick her husband is in jail for a crime he didn't commit. Nick finds evidence to support Rosie's claims that her husband was fitted up, possibly by Nick's predecessor in Aidensfield, Rowley Carsons who suddenly retired from the force. Blaketon warns Nick and tells him to leave it, insisting Carsons retired because he had Cancer. Nick who now believes that there was some sort of cover up persists with his investigation. Carsons turns up and confesses to fitting Tinniswood up by planting evidence in his truck. Meanwhile Phil is to marry his girlfriend who says she's pregnant. but he later finds that she has been seeing her ex-boyfriend who turns out to be the man who beat up Phil at his stag night.

    Director:Tim Dowd
    Writer:Brian Finch

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Heartbeat

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  7. Heartbeat Season 2 Episode 7 - A Talent for Deception
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #7 - A Talent for Deception

    S2:E7

    Nick and Kate fall out when an old boyfriend of hers turns up. Soon after his arrival he becomes the prime suspect in a hit-and-run incident and Nick is forced to tell him not to leave the area while it's investigated. Meanwhile a local bank informs the police of a woman acting suspiciously around the bank. Nick and Phil go to investigate, only to discover the woman is in fact the famous crime writer, Amanda Young doing research for her next novel. Meanwhile Phil, on behalf of his football team organizes a talent contest where Greengrass is running a book on who will win. The hit-and-run incident is then revealed to be down to one of Phil's rivals on the football field. And Claude sells some moor land to the MoD and treats himself to a big and flashy pink Chrysler Imperial car!

    Director:Terry Marcel
    Writer:Jonathan Critchley

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  8. Heartbeat Season 2 Episode 8 - Baby Blues
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #8 - Baby Blues

    S2:E8

    Kate is treating a woman who is driven to despair by her inability to conceive. The woman later has a row with her husband and storms off. A young couple called The Doubleday's baby then goes missing and the mother suspects her mother-in-law of the kidnapping and a manhunt is launched for the snatched baby. However Kate realises that her patient is probably responsible for taking the baby. The baby is eventually returned by some hippies who have moved into the area. Meanwhile Greengrass buys a racehorse and starts training it up and down Aidensfield's main street to the annoyance of Blaketon who tries to think of an offence to be able stop him, but can't!

    Director:Catherine Morshead
    Writer:Veronica Henry

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  9. Heartbeat Season 2 Episode 9 - Wall of Silence
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #9 - Wall of Silence

    S2:E9

    Lord Ashfordly's winter pheasant shoot is seriously disrupted when the entire contents of his game larder are stolen. There is an out break of petty thefts on Nick's patch and when he investigates, his enquiries make him believe that an incestuous relationship is the reason behind the thefts. Susan Rawlings, a teenage daughter of Lord Ashfordly's game keeper, is pregnant and steals money from Greengrass to pay for an illegal abortion. Unaware of this, her brother Chris stole the pheasants in order to raise cash for the same purpose. Susan has the abortion, but ends up in hospital. When Kate and Ferrenby find out, they go to see the woman responsible for doing it and warn her of the dangers involved. Chris it turns out is the father of his sister's unborn child.

    Director:Terry Marcel
    Writer:Jane Hollowood

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  10. Heartbeat Season 2 Episode 10 - Missing
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #10 - Missing

    S2:E10

    The fair arrives in Aidensfield to the annoyance of local caravan site owner, Edna Plummer. It turns out that her caravan site is used as a convenient meeting place by her criminal brother. He is about to receive some stolen works of art from amateur smuggler, Norman Currie, who is on his way back home from a trip to Holland with his family. Currie's son takes one of the paintings and swaps it for free rides at the fair. Workers at the fair sell the painting to Greengrass who tries to sell it to Ferrenby who realises its true value and tells Nick. Meanwhile two 5 year olds go missing but return unharmed. Kate discovers the children had a mysterious friend, who turns out to be a local man whose wife and child were recently killed in an accident.

    Director:Terry Marcel
    Writer:Adele Rose

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  11. Heartbeat Season 6 Episode 1 - Kids
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #11 - Kids

    S6:E1

    Derek Ramsey's loses his temper during a domestic row at home and storms off down the pub. He drinks heavily and Phil asks him to leave. But Derek ends up assaulting Phil, Nick and Alf. He is sentenced to 28 days, but as Phil and Alf are taking him to jail he escapes, much to Blaketon's disgust! Derek made the escape to get back to his girlfriend who is in danger. Greengrass is working as a lollipop man until an out break of pilfering occurs at the school, and he's told to leave. Claude is offended and angry at Nick because he thinks it was him who got him the sack, when really it was the Headmistress of the school who thought Claude was the guilty party.-Which of course he wasn't.

    Director:Tim Dowd
    Writer:Brian Finch

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  12. Heartbeat Season 6 Episode 2 - Old Colonials
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #12 - Old Colonials

    S6:E2

    Claude's nephew comes to visit but he brings his latest business partner who is American along with him. They ask Claude if they can use his place for storage. There are a few burglaries in the area including Ashfordly hall. Walter Gillis is trying to put Bill Ruane in the frame because he wants a chance to buy his stables. But it turns out that it was Walter himself who robbed Ashfordly hall, and it was the American who had done the two other burglaries. Claude is upset to find that the stolen goods had been hidden on his property. Nick asks Jo to dinner but is called out and Jo offers to baby-sit. Eileen comes home to find her curled up asleep on the sofa with Katie.

    Director:Ken Horn
    Writer:Ron Rose

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  13. Heartbeat Season 6 Episode 3 - Forget Me Not
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #13 - Forget Me Not

    S6:E3

    A frightened man who lives alone is being threatened. The man doing this thinks that he is the doctor who was convicted of medical negligence for causing the death of his little girl. But they've got the wrong man. Claude finds the man who is now tied up and one of the men he's with has a gun. Claude shows the police where he is and he's rescued. Jo is spending more time with Nick but is worried that Eileen disapproves. Unfortunately Nick is often called out whenever they are together.

    Director:James Hazeldine
    Writer:Jane Hollowood

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  14. Heartbeat Season 6 Episode 4 - A Long Shot
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #14 - A Long Shot

    S6:E4

    The father of a young boy had dreams of his son playing cricket professionally, but unfortunately he doesn't make the local team, Maggie realises it is because he can't see the ball so he needs glasses. The same boy is caught stealing and the next day he arrives at school with bruises. Jo suspects the worse but it turns out he got the bruises playing cricket. The boy feels he's let his dad down and runs away but ends up having an accident. Claude has ""borrowed"" one of Lord Ashfordly's prize horses to breed from, but as they're taking it back Claude spots the little boy lying on the road and takes him to hospital. Nick who has been looking for the missing horse suddenly twigs what's happened when he sees Claude in a horse box. - He says he'll forget it ever went missing if the horse is returned within two hours!

    Director:Tim Dowd
    Writer:David Lane

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  15. Heartbeat Season 6 Episode 5 - Something of Value
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #15 - Something of Value

    S6:E5

    Alf has a serious problem with his gambling debts and is forced to ask Nick about Kate's insurance for a loan. Nick isn't impressed at first but the next day he has a chat with Alf and they arrange a plan to sort it out without Blaketon finding out. The man Alf owes money to (Charlie) has been dealing in thousands of pounds worth of stolen wine, but when the wine is found Alf tells Charlie, that no one else knows where its hidden and he won't tell anyone, in exchange for his IOU's. Nick and Alf set the thieves up and they are caught. Jo asks Nick what he intends to do in the future, and hints that she wants him to go for promotion, Nick says he's happy with what he's doing now. Lord Ashfordly is making Claude act as a game keeper without pay, because he caught him poaching his game birds! He tells Nick: ""It takes a thief to catch a thief Rowan!""

    Director:Gwennan Sage
    Writer:Johnny Byrne

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  16. Heartbeat Season 6 Episode 6 - Frail Mortality
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #16 - Frail Mortality

    S6:E6

    The heads teacher's daughter who has been working as a house keeper for a sick man and his son, is knocked down in a hit and run accident. Maggie calls for help, but ends up becoming the main suspect. Obviously its not her, and Nick says he never suspected her, but Maggie's not so sure. The sick man can't remember anything of the night it happened because he blacked out, and is worried that he could have been responsible. But it turns out it was his son, who drove after the girl when she left that night (he had been her boyfriend) but panicked when he hit her. Nick reconsiders what Jo has said about promotion and asks Blaketon's advice about taking his sergeants exams.

    Director:Michael Cocker
    Writer:Keith Temple

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  17. Heartbeat Season 6 Episode 7 - Snapped
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #17 - Snapped

    S6:E7

    A fire breaks out at Webster's Hotel. Fortunately the fire is discovered in time and damages are limited to a work shop. The manager Ralph Webster is not satisfied that it was caused by faulty wiring and asks PC Rowan to look into it and especially Brian Rogers. When Webster sacks Rogers he gets drunk and threatens a taxi driver. Rogers even points a gun at PC Rowan, who has come to investigate, and barricades himself in his flat. Posh fashion photographer Jansson is scouting for locations and also wants to hire both Gina and Greengrass in addition to his regular

    Director:Gerry Mill
    Writer:Peter Gibbs

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  18. Heartbeat Season 6 Episode 8 - Catch Us If You Can
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #18 - Catch Us If You Can

    S6:E8

    Juke boxes are sold to all the local pubs, but the main supplier makes sure that they are the only ones to buy from. They do this by having two bikers smash up any other machines. Including the one in the Aidensfield Arms that Claude's mate had installed. Nick asks Gina to help with an under cover operation to catch the culprits. Alf goes to his would be son in law's stag night where all his drinks get spiked. He ends up spending the night in a cell because he can't go home to Mrs Ventress! There's still tension between Nick and Jo.

    Director:Tim Dowd
    Writer:Brian Finch

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  19. Heartbeat Season 6 Episode 9 - Giving the Game Away
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #19 - Giving the Game Away

    S6:E9

    Erol, a man Nick helped out when he was in trouble with the police in London comes to the area.. But when reports of trespassers, and theft come in Blaketon suspects Erol. Nick is annoyed because he thinks Blaketon's assumptions have been made on the fact that Erol is coloured, and takes exception to his attitude. But when more evidence is found Nick is forced to question Erol. Erol is asked to play in the Aidensfield cricket team, and he helps win them a match, but he knows someone from where he used to work is after him, so he makes a run for it but gets cornered. Luckily Nick and Phil arrive in time. Nick's mum is up for a visit, and Nick suspects something's wrong and won't believe her when she denies it. Ruby meets Jo and sets her and Nick up, they agree to give it another go.

    Director:Ken Horn
    Writer:Guy Meredith

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  20. Heartbeat Season 6 Episode 10 - The Championship
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #20 - The Championship

    S6:E10

    Nick gets roped into a quoits match and Claude shows him how to play! Nick meets Jo's parents for the first time, which doesn't go smoothly. Jo hasn't told them Nick has been married before or about Katie, Jo's dad isn't impressed at Nick's lack of ambition professionally, and they make it obvious they disapprove. A coach crash occurs on the moor and Phil is on board. Nick panics when he hears because he thinks Katie and Eileen are on the coach, but it turns out they went by car. One man is killed, and Nick has to tell his wife. Ruby tells Nick that there is something wrong. She says she's found someone who wants to move in with her, but he can be violent when he's in a temper, but she's lonely and wants the company. Nick tells her to get rid of him, and eventually that's what she decides to do.

    Director:Gerry Mill
    Writer:Jane Hollowood

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  21. Heartbeat Season 6 Episode 11 - Who Needs Enemies
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #21 - Who Needs Enemies

    S6:E11

    Greengrass is asked to put on a number of bets at the races for some rather unscrupulous characters. But before he gets the chance he ends up in hospital with a suspected appendix problem. Blaketon is afraid he'll have to retire and is tempted when Arnold, his friend offers him a job. A young boy has been assaulted and Nick suspects Arnold - Blaketon strongly disagrees. Nick investigates and finds evidence to suggest that Arnold could also be guilty of corruption. He ends up having an argument about it with Blaketon, who then storms out. Nick realises he's offended him and goes round to apologise. Meanwhile Blaketon has a chat with Arnold and realises Nick's right.

    Director:Graham Moore
    Writer:Brian Finch

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  22. Heartbeat Season 6 Episode 12 - Thanks to Alfred
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #22 - Thanks to Alfred

    S6:E12

    A wrestling match is the up coming event and everyone is excited about seeing the ‘Masked Marvel' in action. But he's staying with Claude, and Alfred takes exception to his mask and bites him in the leg. A local rugby player wrestles in his place - the Masked Marvel's manager is thrilled that no one noticed the difference with the mask on. He then realises there's no limit to the amount of times he can interchange players. The original ‘Masked Marvel' is upset about being replaced and decides to do something about it. He ends up coming out on top when he wrestles without the mask A mother leaves her children and husband to move in with another man, her son takes it very badly. Later she is found dead alongside a road, and suspicion falls on the husband.

    Director:Graham Wetherell
    Writer:Rob Gittins

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  23. Heartbeat Season 6 Episode 13 - Obsessions
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #23 - Obsessions

    S6:E13

    Nick rescues a young woman from a house fire. She soon becomes obsessed with Nick , phoning him at Jo's calling into the station, calling round at the police house and spending time with Katie. When Nick makes it clear he isn't interested, she first plants her bracelet in his uniform and tells Blaketon he's stolen it. She then causes trouble between Nick and Jo when she tries to convince Jo that he and she are having an affair. This makes Jo feel insecure, but Nick convinces Jo that the woman is just making trouble and tells her that he loves her. The woman sees Nick and Jo out one night and attempts to knock Jo down with her car, but she is stopped in time.

    Director:Tom Cotter
    Writer:Peter Gibbs

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  24. Heartbeat Season 6 Episode 14 - The Best Laid Plans
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #24 - The Best Laid Plans

    S6:E14

    Suzanna Temple-Richards moves back into the area after having served time for drugging her husband, but when a woman she knew in prison turns up asking her for money she begins to get worried, and events take a turn for the worst. The woman turns out to be an escaped prisoner who is planning to escape to Spain with her boyfriend. Luckily the police realise what's happening and Suzanna is found tied up in the boot of their car. Eileen finds it hard to accept Jo staying over at the Police House, Nick talks to her about it, and everything is sorted out, she says that she thinks Kate would have liked Jo.

    Director:Gwennan Sage
    Writer:Freda Kelsall

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  25. Heartbeat Season 6 Episode 15 - Bygones Be Bygones
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #25 - Bygones Be Bygones

    S6:E15

    Nick is suspicious of a financial advisor that comes to the area, he seems all too keen to advise people with their money matters including Jo's dad. Many of the locals including Maggie and Blaketon receive anonymous letters. Phil has the job of tracking down the type writer which they were written on - he finds it at Claude's house - but Claude's not guilty as he's had a letter himself, he's embarrassed by its content but shows it to Nick and swears him to secrecy! It turns out that it was a local widow's husband who was responsible.

    Director:Gerry Mill
    Writer:Peter Gibbs

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Best Episodes Summary

"End of the Line" is the best rated episode of "Heartbeat". It scored 10/10 based on 1 votes. Directed by Bob Mahoney and written by David Martín, it aired on 4/25/1993. This episode scored 6.0 points higher than the second highest rated, "Secrets".