Having completed his work on cop drama Spender, Jimmy Nail decided to make music an integral part of his new project in which a Geordie factory worker attempts to become a country and western singer.
Set in post-Industrial Newcastle Upon Tyne, Jed Shepperd (Nail) is a lathe operator in the dying twilight of the shipbuilding industry. At home, he writes, performs and records catchy country and western songs.
Jed’s sister sends one of his demo tapes to a major label for consideration (without his knowledge) and label executive Ade Lynn (James Wilby) likes what he hears.
Ade guides Jed through the seedy world of recording studios, record executives, and radio industry nepotism to eventual airplay and fame in a rags-to-riches a la The Coal Miner’s Daughter.
Both the series and its spin-off album were a huge success with the single spending 23 weeks on the charts.
A second series (Crocodile Shoes II aired in 1996 and followed Jed as he worked on his “difficult second album”.
Jed Shepperd
Jimmy Nail Ade Lynn
James Wilby Archie
Sammy Johnson Bobby
Mike Elliot Emma Shepperd
Melanie Hill Snotter
Vincenzo Pellegrino Omo
Jeffrey Knox Paul
Christopher Nichol Tony
Trevor Fox Big Chrissie
Paul Palance Ox
Oliver Haden Caroline Carrison
Alex Kingston George
Berwick Kaler Pep
John Bowler Sue Nbokei
Ginny Holder Danny
Peter Wingfield Alan Clarke
Christopher Fairbank Carmel Cantrell
Amy Madigan Rex Hall
Brian Capron Lou Benedetti
Burt Young Jock Campbell
Harry Jones WalterFines
Roy Pattison Max the Sax
Matt Devereaux DI Machin
Matthew Marsh Becky Shepperd
Hannah Tipple Warren Bowles
Robert Morgan Wendy
Elizabeth Carling Connors
Trevor Byfield Lucy Lynn
Sara Stewart
