Sharpe (TV series)

At the beginning of the series, Richard Sharpe is a sergeant in the 95th Rifles serving in Portugal during the Peninsular War in 1809. When he single-handedly saves the life of General Sir Arthur Wellesley from three French cavalrymen, Wellesley gives Sharpe a battlefield commission, appointing him a lieutenant. Sharpe is placed in charge of a detachment of elite "chosen men" of the 95th Rifles. Patrick Harper eventually becomes his best friend and is promoted to sergeant and later sergeant major. Wellesley and his various spymasters, first Major Michael Hogan, followed by Major Nairn, Major Mungo Monroe and Major General Ross, find Sharpe to be an extremely capable and cunning officer and give him progressively more important tasks. Despite their backing, he has to fight against the strong prejudice of aristocrats (who often owe their army positions to money and social connections rather than to military skill) against an uncouth commoner raised from the ranks. He makes a number of dangerous enemies, such as French Major Pierre Ducos and Colonel Sir Henry Simmerson, and encounters one from his prior service in India, Sergeant Obadiah Hakeswill. Sharpe's successes gain him steady promotion, and by the end of the Napoleonic Wars, at the Battle of Waterloo, he is promoted to lieutenant-colonel, joining the Prince William of Orange’s staff at Wellington’s request. Along the way, Sharpe has a number of romances. He marries the Spanish guerrilla leader Teresa Moreno, with whom he has a daughter. Teresa is killed by Hakeswill. Sharpe then marries Jane Gibbons, who deserts him, squanders his money, and takes a lover. He finally settles down with Lucille Castineau, a Frenchwoman who dies some time after Napoleon's final defeat. (However, according to The Starbuck Chronicles, another series of Cornwell books, she outlives Sharpe.) ==Casting==

Initially, Paul McGann was cast in the title role; however, two weeks into filming of the first episode in Ukraine, McGann injured his knee playing football and was forced to withdraw. When production started again a month later, Sean Bean was given the role because he was the only suitable replacement available at short notice. (Cornwell was so impressed with Bean's portrayal of Sharpe that he dedicated the 12th book, ''Sharpe's Battle'', to him and said "When I write Sharpe these days, I hear Sean's voice."). Contrary to some claims, Cornwell never expressed objections to Bean's casting on grounds of his hair colour, and regarded him as 'perfect' for the role. The first actor cast was Daragh O'Malley as Harper. The character of Rifleman Harris, played by Jason Salkey, did not exist in the books and was created for the television series. The producers wanted a "clever one" and took inspiration from a real soldier who was illiterate but had dictated his own recollections of the war, which were published. Some actors have played multiple roles in the series. Peter-Hugo Daly portrayed first Sergeant Rodd in ''Sharpe's Gold and then Bickerstaff, another unruly sergeant who dislikes Sharpe. Julian Fellowes played Major Warren Dunnett in Sharpe's Rifles and also the Prince Regent in Sharpe's Regiment. Tony Haygarth was "Marshal" Pot-au-Feu in Sharpe's Enemy and Sir Willoughby Parfitt in Sharpe's Justice''. ==List of episodes==

The episodes are listed by first airing date. ==Cast and crew==

} Main cast members Supporting cast members ;Chosen men • John Tams as Rifleman (later Sergeant) Daniel Hagman (episodes 1–14) – killed in battle in ''Sharpe's Waterloo'' • Jason Salkey as Rifleman (later Sergeant) Harris (episodes 1–14) – killed in battle in ''Sharpe's Waterloo'', in the novel he is not at Waterloo and presumably survives • Lyndon Davies as Rifleman Ben Perkins (episodes 1–7) – stabbed by O'Rourke in ''Sharpe's Battle'' and dies in Harper's arms, in the novels he survives • Michael Mears as Rifleman Francis Cooper (episodes 1–6) – disappears after ''Sharpe's Gold due to a disagreement with the production team (although he returned to narrate the clip show Sharpe the Legend'') • Paul Trussell as Rifleman Isaiah Tongue (episodes 1–2) – disappears after ''Sharpe's Eagle and never returns, in novels he is killed in Sharpe's Gold'' ;Other supporting cast members Production team • Directed by Tom Clegg • Produced by • Written by ==Soundtrack==

Over the Hills & Far Away: The Music of Sharpe was released in 1996 as a companion to the television series by Virgin Records. The recording features performances by various artists, including British folk musicians John Tams (who played the supporting role of "Rifleman Daniel Hagman" in the series and wrote or arranged much of its music) and Kate Rusby, composer Dominic Muldowney, and The Band and Bugles of the Light Division, performing traditional songs along with selections of original music from the programmes. ==See also==