It has been a few years since I watched this British television series, however I remember it as a fun show to watch. I had seen every one of the A Touch of Frost episodes, and at the time, I was searching to see if David Jason (Jack Frost) had any other mystery shows I could watch. I was delighted to find Rough Diamond (2008) but wasn’t very happy to see that it only aired one year. (This is not a mystery show. It is more like Mission Impossible, only with thieves.)
The premise of Rough Diamond is this: Des (David Jason) is an “older” (thus the UK’s title Diamond Geezer) Mastermind thief who we first encounter in prison. He seems to have worked his way up the prison’s hierarchical ladder, as he is now in charge of taking around the tea cart. Of course, we hope that his prison time has rehabilitated him!
Upon his “release”, however, Des isn’t content with serving tea. He decides to go back to his old ways >>> since he truly never left them.
The production crew of Rough Diamond must have had great fun coming up with the different disguises Jason donned. David Jason is able to pull off all of the disguises with boyish glee.
I have to admit that this series is pretty zany. I mean, how realistic is it that a 60+ year old man would be able to lead his cohorts on the criminal escapades they go on? It is still a delightful show to me. Even if I had trouble buying that these older men were zipping around, pulling off dangerous capers with the precise punctuality they required, I had a good time watching them. (If television viewers can buy CSI’s and Law & Order’s 60 second DNA test results, then why can’t television viewers equally buy a sixty plus year old cat burglar?!?)
If you decide to watch this British import, suspend your belief, get comfortable, kick your shoes off, and enjoy David Jason >>> again!
P.S. It is available on Netflix.
Tessa~ says
ohhh fun…
so hope my library system has this.
🙂
tessa~
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Tessa, they might not, since it doesn’t seem to have been a huge hit. I’m such a David Jason fan that I’ve tried all of his series at one time or another.
PamB says
Thank you for letting us know about this DVD. I’ve watched my Murder She Wrote DVDs so many times so am looking forward to watching this when received from Amazon. Your blogs continue to ‘help’ me spend my money! Thanks and much appreciation for all the information you give us.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
PamB, I would definitely put this series on the back burner until you watch the Midsomer Murders shows. They may have those at your library.
PamB says
Thanks, Danna. I’ve requested some Midsomer Murder DVDs from the library. The library had several seasons plus individual shows.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
PamB, try to watch them in chronological sequence. That way you will be introduced to his family and the current sergeant.
Jackie J. Griffey says
Danna: Don’t worry your head about our Rough Diamond’s age – just remember Sean Connery (what a talented fellow he was and is, his whole career).
Jackie Griffey, fan and cozy mystery lover
Stash Empress says
This sounds like a series I would love! So much so, in fact, that when I went to Netflix to add it to my queue, I found it was already IN my queue! 😉
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Stash Empress, neat!
Marta says
Myself, being of double linguistic background, I have occasional jumps at British tv series.
At one time I discovered (several years ago) a lovable character of Inspector Morse, starring in what in fact is a loosely based canvas of great books by Colin Dexter (which I also – obviously – encourage anyone to read.,not cozy but fine detective work in sometimes cozy setting of Oxford, UK).
All of the sudden, last year, my husband told me that there is a prequel to this fantastic TV show, titled ‘Endeavour’. Highly recommended. Masterful actors’ play.
Apart from that – I could not forget about Midsomer Murders. Really, really great show. Try it (if you feel like cozy setting and looots of bodies is fine with you) and you won’t regret. There are so many episodes, that you will have what to watch for the next two months 🙂
And there is Sherlock – obviously 🙂 For which I await, impatiently for season 4.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Marta, you might want to take a look at the TV and Movie page on my site. I have lots of other British shows that you might enjoy (including Inspector Morse, Midsomer Murders, and the absolutely phenomenal Sherlock Holmes – starring Jeremy Brett, and the equally terrific Miss Marple – starring Joan Hickson. Those last two are the best British mystery shows (in my opinion) ever produced!)
Marta says
Oh DaNna, great reference 🙂 Thanks! I also love David Suchet in a role of Poirot 🙂 Basically, I was presented with several adventures of Sherlock Holmes when I was about 8 or 9 and later with Dame Agatha. Due to the fact that in the 1980s there was a slight difficulty with such (actually ANY) books in Poland, I started reading them in English and I couldn’t stop – still, cozy and mysteries generally are my favourites 🙂