Opening Screen

Covington Cross was a short-lived American TV show that premiered on ABC on August 25, 1992. It also aired in the UK, and was dubbed for showing in France. It was a joint American/British show, in that it was filmed and produced in England by an American production company. The series follows the daily intrigues of Sir Thomas Grey, a widower, and his sons and daughter. His children are Armus (the eldest), Richard (the serious son), Cedric (the free spirit), and his daughter Elanore (the strong-willed one). There was also a son William who appeared in the pilot episode, but vanished afterwards. This was explained away by stating that he was called to head off and fight in the crusades. Also figuring into Sir Thomas's life is his love interest, Lady Elizabeth. The show takes its name from the name of the Sir Thomas's castle, Covington Cross. While not entirely a sitcom nor an out and out drama, the show had a lighthearted feel to it. This was not by any means a terribly accurate portraying of life in the Middle Ages, nor was it meant to be. The Greys each week would face a new dilemma that would test their honor and wits to overcome. Many of these dilemmas were concocted by Sir Thomas's evil neighbor, Baron John Mullens. Occasionally, the show's story setting and format have been likened to a medieval version of the classic American TV western Bonanza. This comes from the format of a widower with three sons, who has considerable wealth and influence in his community and is seen as a man of honor living on a sizable estate. Image File history File links Covingtoncross. ... Image File history File links Covingtoncross. ... The American Broadcasting Company (ABC) operates television and radio networks in the United States and is also shown on basic cable in Canada. ... is the 237th day of the year (238th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the medieval crusades. ... A sitcom or situation comedy is a genre of comedy performance originally devised for radio but today typically found on television. ... The Bonanza logo was superimposed upon a map of a wild west frontier area. ...

The Great Hall at Penshurst Place, circa 1915

The 14th century great hall at Penshurst Place showing the screens passage, from Ancestral Homes of Noted Americans by Anne Hollingsworth Wharton (1915). ... The 14th century great hall at Penshurst Place showing the screens passage, from Ancestral Homes of Noted Americans by Anne Hollingsworth Wharton (1915). ...

Reasons for Cancellation

Thirteen episodes were produced for the show, but only seven aired in the US. The show fell victim to postponement by ABC for several weeks after the first episode, and then again was pre-empted when Ross Perot bought the show's timeslot to air his live political commercials for his candidacy in the 1992 US presidential campaign. It was also, for the time, a fairly expensive show to produce. Overseas production costs and much of the filming was done in and around actual castles in England. The series was filmed on location at Allington Castle for the exterior scenes and shots of Covington Cross and Penshurst Place in Kent was used for the interior scenes. Henry Ross Perot (born June 27, 1930) is an American businessman from Texas, who is best known for seeking the office of President of the United States in 1992 and 1996. ... Allington Castle is a stone built moated castle in Allington, just north of Maidstone, Kent. ... The Great Hall at Penshurst Place, circa 1915 Penshurst Place is an historic building near Tonbridge in Kent, 32 miles (50 km) to the south east of London, England. ...

Cast

The Greys (l to r)- Cedric, Eleanor, Sir Thomas, Armus, Richard

• Sir Thomas Grey - Nigel Terry
• Lady Elizabeth - Cherie Lunghi
• Armus Grey - Tim Killick
• Richard Grey - Jonathan Firth
• Cedric Grey - Glenn Quinn
• Eleanor Grey - Ione Skye
• Baron John Mullens - James Faulkner
• Friar - Paul Brooke
• Alexandra Mullens (semi-regular) - Laura Howard
• King Edward (semi-regular) - Miles Anderson

The show was created by Gil Grant Image File history File links Covcross_cast. ... Image File history File links Covcross_cast. ... Nigel Terry as King Arthur in Excalibur Nigel Terry (born August 15, 1945 in Bristol, England) is a British stage and film actor probably best known by movie audiences for his portayal of King Arthur in John Boormans Excalibur. ... Cherie Lunghi (born April 4, 1952 in London) is an actress. ... Tim Killick (born Boston (UK) 1958) is an English television actor. ... Jonathan Firth as Stephanus and Inika Leigh Wright as Hedone in Pompeii: The Last Day. ... Glenn Quinn (Irish: Gleann Ó Cuinn) (May 28, 1970 - December 3, 2002) was an Irish actor in television and film. ... Ione Skye Leitch (born September 4, 1971 in Hertfordshire, England) is an actress. ... James Faulkner (born 18 July 1948 in London, England) is an actor. ... A recent publicity image of actress Laura Howard. ... A British actor, formerly in Family Affairs, now appearing in ITVs Ultimate Force as Colonel Aiden Dempsey (Series 1-). He was awarded the 1982 London Critics Circle Drama Theatre Award for Best Supporting Actor of 1981 for his performances in The Twin Rivals and The Witch of Edmonton. He... Gil Grant is a writer and producer who was worked on television shows such as 24 and NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service. ...

Episodes & Original Airdates

• 1.) Pilot - August 25, 1992
• 2.) Armus Returns - September 19,1992
• 3.) Outlaws - September 26,1992
• 4.) Cedric Hits The Road - October 3,1992
• 5.) The Hero - October 10, 1992
• 6.) Blinded Passions - October 24, 1992
• 7.) The Persecution - October 31, 1992
• 8.) Eviction - unaired
• 9.) The Trial - unaired
• 10.) The Plague - unaired
• 11.) Revenge - unaired
• 12.) Celebration - unaired
• 13.) Brothers - unaired

Interesting Facts

• Nigel Terry & Cherie Lunghi also appeared as love interests in the 1981 film Excalibur, portraying King Arthur and Guinevere.
• The cross pendent that James Faulkner (Baron Mullens) wears on the show is the same prop that Kevin Costner wore in his film 'Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves'
• Jonathan Firth would go on to star in another medieval film, the 2003 Luther is a biopic about Martin Luther and the events leading to the protestant reformation.
• Several episodes that were unaired in English aired in French.

For other uses, see Excalibur (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see King Arthur (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Guinevere (disambiguation). ... Kevin Michael Costner (born January 18, 1955) is an American film actor, director and producer. ... Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves was a 1991 film directed by Kevin Reynolds. ... Jonathan Firth as Stephanus and Inika Leigh Wright as Hedone in Pompeii: The Last Day. ... Luther is a 2003 biopic about the life of Martin Luther (1483-1546). ... A biographical film or biopic is a film about a particular person or group of people, based on events that actually happened. ... Martin Luther (November 10, 1483 – February 18, 1546) was a German monk,[1] priest, professor, theologian, and church reformer. ... “Reformation” redirects here. ...

External links

• Jump The Shark - Covington Cross
• Internet Movie Database - Covington Cross
• TV.com - Covington Cross
• Lizjen.net - A Fansite