A&E Network

Lovejoy is a British TV comedy-drama series based on the picaresque novels by John Grant under the pen name Jonathan Gash. The show, which ran to 71 episodes over six series, was originally shown on the BBC between 10 January 1986 and 4 December, 1994 although there was a five-year gap between the first and second series. It was adapted for television by Ian La Frenais.

The series concerns the adventures of the eponymous Lovejoy, played by Ian McShane, a likeable but roguish antiques dealer based in East Anglia. Within the trade, he has a reputation as a “divvie”, a person with an almost supernatural powers for recognising exceptional items as well as distinguishing genuine antique from clever fakes or forgeries.