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The Best Episodes of Heartbeat Season 12

Every episode of Heartbeat Season 12 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Heartbeat Season 12!

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

Genres:CrimeDramaComedy
Network:ITV1

Season 12 Ratings Summary

The best episode of "Heartbeat" season 12 is "Skeletons and Cupboards", rated 7.6/10 from 29 user votes. It was directed by Noreen Kershaw and written by John Flanagan, Andrew McCulloch. "Skeletons and Cupboards" aired on 10/6/2002 and is rated 0.3 point(s) higher than the second highest rated, "A Girl's Best Friend".

  • Skeletons and Cupboards
    7.6/10 29 votes

    #1 - Skeletons and Cupboards

    Season 12 Episode 1 - Aired 10/6/2002

    Ventress fears for his job and his sanity when Blaketon sees a man whom they certified dead fifteen years previously. Meanwhile, the villagers are sceptical when Vernon finds gainful employment Meanwhile Mike is worried about Tricia as she returns to work, but she is determined that she is ok.

    Director: Noreen Kershaw

    Writer: John Flanagan, Andrew McCulloch

  • A Girl's Best Friend
    7.9/10 29 votes

    #2 - A Girl's Best Friend

    Season 12 Episode 2 - Aired 10/13/2002

    Mike discovers that a couple's wealth has not brought them happiness. Vernon is concerned that his dabbling with hypnotism has sent David barking mad.

    Director: Albert Barber

    Writer: Gillian Richmond

  • A Dog's Life
    7.5/10 26 votes

    #3 - A Dog's Life

    Season 12 Episode 3 - Aired 10/20/2002

    Private drama is played out in public when Lord Ashfordly hosts the County Sheepdog Trials. But Bernie and David find it inconvenient when Vernon offers their services.

    Director: Gerry Mill

    Writer: Susan Wilkins

  • Where There's Muck
    7.8/10 25 votes

    #4 - Where There's Muck

    Season 12 Episode 4 - Aired 11/3/2002

    Ventress tries to stop a bankrupt farmer from taking revenge on the bank. When Vernon goes into the horseradish business he discovers that he can't stand the heat in the kitchen.

    Director: Judith Dine

    Writer: Douglas Watkinson

  • Harmony
    7.8/10 32 votes

    #5 - Harmony

    Season 12 Episode 5 - Aired 11/10/2002

    Merton's cousin, the famous singer-songwriter Deborah Vine, arrives in Aidensfield to find a secluded location in which to work.

    Director: Noreen Kershaw

    Writer: Peter Gibbs

  • No Man's Land
    7.7/10 26 votes

    #6 - No Man's Land

    Season 12 Episode 6 - Aired 11/17/2002

    Gina has a near miss with a local farmer defending his land against ramblers. Villagers are puzzled by Vernon's bizarre personality switch.

    Director: Paul Walker

    Writer: Peter Gibbs

  • Dirty Len
    7.6/10 27 votes

    #7 - Dirty Len

    Season 12 Episode 7 - Aired 11/24/2002

    Mike searches for a link between a dead farm worker and a spate of animal deaths. Alfred leaves David high and dry in Whitby. Meanwhile Tricia is upset, because of her patient dieing. She soon starts to feel guilty over the death of Len. She thought that it was tetanus but lad results come back with poison and she blames herself for not picking up on it. Even though there was nothing she could have done she still blames herself and feels that she was bad doctor.

    Director: Albert Barber

    Writer: Jane Hollowood

  • Growing Apart
    7.8/10 26 votes

    #8 - Growing Apart

    Season 12 Episode 8 - Aired 12/1/2002

    When Tricia gets involved in a domestic dispute, she can't stand the heat in the kitchen. Vernon attempts to take the horticulture industry to new heights.

    Director: Jonas Grimås

    Writer: Candy Denman

  • Many Splendoured Thing
    8.1/10 29 votes

    #9 - Many Splendoured Thing

    Season 12 Episode 9 - Aired 12/8/2002

    It is Christmas in Aidensfield and Lord Ashfordly decides to throw a ball to celebrate his marriage, but his elegant young bride is not what the locals expect. Vernon jeopardises Bernie's funeral business by finding a more festive use for the hearse. Tricia also gets the wrong end of the stick at the Christmas party. She thinks that Mike is proposing when he gives her a jewelry box, however it only contains a locket but she manages not to let him see her disappointment.

    Director: Roger Bamford

    Writer: Susan Wilkins

  • Horses for Courses
    7.9/10 35 votes

    #10 - Horses for Courses

    Season 12 Episode 10 - Aired 12/15/2002

    Mike is horrified when Tricia gets involved with a racehorse trainer, and Vernon has a surprise visit from a long-lost sibling.

    Director: Noreen Kershaw

    Writer: Andrew McCulloch

  • Sins of the Fathers
    7.6/10 27 votes

    #11 - Sins of the Fathers

    Season 12 Episode 11 - Aired 12/22/2002

    Mike is reacting badly to Tricia's death and has an altercation with an underage drinker in the pub. The boy hits him but is let off by the magistrate - who turns out to be his father.

    Director: Terry Dyddgen-Jones

    Writer: Brian Finch

  • Bread and Circuses
    7.5/10 26 votes

    #12 - Bread and Circuses

    Season 12 Episode 12 - Aired 12/29/2002

    Bellamy is smitten with Alice, the victim of a handbag snatch. Merton and the others are trying to track some valuable porcelain figures stolen in Whitby when a similar theft occurs at Mr Osbourne's.

    Director: Jonas Grimås

    Writer: Neil McKay

  • For Whom the Bell Tolls
    7.8/10 24 votes

    #13 - For Whom the Bell Tolls

    Season 12 Episode 13 - Aired 1/5/2003

    Lord Ashfordly is concerned about falling royalties from High Rigg Quarry and asks Blaketon to investigate. The police are concerned about a quantity of explosives which have gone missing from the quarry just before a visit by the defence minister.

    Director: Noreen Kershaw

    Writer: Peter Gibbs

  • Out of the Blue
    7.7/10 23 votes

    #14 - Out of the Blue

    Season 12 Episode 14 - Aired 1/12/2003

    Vernon and David are travelling in a tanker which overturns spilling its load. Vernon is taken to hospital with memory loss and David claims not to know what they were carrying. The police discover that the tanker has false number plates and its contents are contaminating the water supply.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The High Life
    7.7/10 23 votes

    #15 - The High Life

    Season 12 Episode 15 - Aired 3/9/2003

    A gang of mods cause havoc in the in the village and David is all set to join their gang. Jenny worries when a visit from her brother puts a strain on her relationship with Merton.

    Director: Bob Tomson

    Writer: Susan Wilkins

  • Hung for a Sheep
    7.7/10 29 votes

    #16 - Hung for a Sheep

    Season 12 Episode 16 - Aired 3/16/2003

    Ventress thinks the new PC, Steve Crane, is a bit too anxious to prove his worth. Vernon attempts to impress another new arrival, Dr Liz Merrick, with his community spirit.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Third Man
    7.5/10 24 votes

    #17 - The Third Man

    Season 12 Episode 17 - Aired 3/23/2003

    Mike takes on his first big CID job after getting a tip-off. Vernon persuades Dr Merrick that the surgery needs a face-lift.

    Director: Noreen Kershaw

    Writer: Candy Denman

  • Missing in Action
    7.4/10 23 votes

    #18 - Missing in Action

    Season 12 Episode 18 - Aired 3/30/2003

    Lesley wishes her father was still alive to give her away at the wedding. Bernie visits the chiropodist to have his bunions treated. Gina organises Lesley's hen night.

    Director: Jonas Grimås

    Writer: Peter Gibbs

  • Caped Crusaders
    8.0/10 25 votes

    #19 - Caped Crusaders

    Season 12 Episode 19 - Aired 4/6/2003

    Liz receives anonymous phone calls late at night, and Alec and Dean dress up as Batman and Robin.

    Director: Terry Dyddgen-Jones

    Writer: Brian Finch

  • Moving Target
    7.7/10 22 votes

    #20 - Moving Target

    Season 12 Episode 20 - Aired 4/13/2003

    The village is horrified when it seems there is a sniper on the loose, and Bellamy rethinks his priorities after a near miss with a bullet. DI Shiner makes Mike an offer it would be hard to refuse.

    Director: Bob Tomson

    Writer: Susan Wilkins

  • Lily of the Valley
    7.5/10 22 votes

    #21 - Lily of the Valley

    Season 12 Episode 21 - Aired 4/20/2003

    PC Crane and Dr Merrick worry about the welfare of an elderly farmer's widow. David helps Blaketon front a protest against a local quarry, but Vernon is working for the opposition.

    Director: Judith Dine

    Writer: Peter Gibbs

  • House Rules
    7.5/10 23 votes

    #22 - House Rules

    Season 12 Episode 22 - Aired 4/27/2003

    illagers are curious when a mystery woman comes to live with Steve Crane, and Vernon gets a lucky break when he ventures into the modern art market.

    Director: Gerry Mill

    Writer: John Flanagan, Andrew McCulloch

  • Mackerel Sky
    7.7/10 21 votes

    #23 - Mackerel Sky

    Season 12 Episode 23 - Aired 5/4/2003

    An ex-con uses Jenny to put pressure on Sgt Merton. A newly affluent Vernon organises a charity auction.

    Director: Jonas Grimås

    Writer: Neil McKay

  • Absent Friends
    7.5/10 23 votes

    #24 - Absent Friends

    Season 12 Episode 24 - Aired 5/11/2003

    When a farming couple go missing, Jenny and Liz are left minding the children. Vernon takes a reluctant Bernie on a country hotel mini-break.

    Director: Bob Tomson

    Writer: Jane Hollowood

  • Music of the Spheres
    7.6/10 27 votes

    #25 - Music of the Spheres

    Season 12 Episode 25 - Aired 5/18/2003

    Things get complicated for Steve when he falls for the beautiful daughter of a Polish violinist staying at Ashfordly Hall. Vernon is visited by two long-lost cousins claiming to have an irresistible business proposition.

    Director: Noreen Kershaw

    Writer: Susan Wilkins