The WORST episodes of Hustle

Every episode of Hustle ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of Hustle!

From the makers of Spooks and acclaimed writer Tony Jordan comes a slick and stylish new drama. An action-packed blend of humour and intrigue, following the fortunes of a gang of expert cons on the loose in London. They are specialists in the way of the grifter and all are keen to liberate cash from the amoral and undeserving. From faking film sets and expensive paintings to double-crossing the duplicitous head of a bank's security system... THE CON IS ON.

Last Updated: 3/1/2024Network: BBC OneStatus: Ended
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Tiger Troubles
star
7.26
381 votes

#1 - Tiger Troubles

Season 6 - Episode 3 - Aired 1/18/2010

Albert is in Chinatown to close a deal with Phil and his brother-in-law, Charlie. However, Czech Charlie is a notorious hard-man and not one to ever consider conning, so when Phil collapses and dies, Albert decides to cut his losses and leave the con. But Charlie isn't pulling out. He wants his brother's cash by the end of the week or else! Can the team con half a million to save Albert's bacon?

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Return of the Prodigal
star
7.45
533 votes

#2 - Return of the Prodigal

Season 5 - Episode 1 - Aired 1/8/2009

Legendary con artist Mickey Bricks is back and the con is on, in more ways than one... After a close brush with the law in Australia, Mickey returns to a changed London to sting a new breed of avaricious marks. Albert, currently detained at her Majesty's pleasure, already has one lined up: a callous young businesswoman, Sara Naismith, and her assistant Aaron. Posing as city traders, Mickey and Ash offer her the chance to join an insider dealing scam. But when the con starts to unravel, has Mickey met his match, or has someone been playing them all?

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Fall of Railton FC
star
7.48
473 votes

#3 - The Fall of Railton FC

Season 7 - Episode 5 - Aired 2/11/2011

When Ash finds out that the local football club where he grew up has gone bust and closed down, he suggests the Hustle gang should tackle the greed that has taken over the great game. Of course, the team stand to make loads of cash in the process! When Ash has an accident and develops a rare condition that means he can't lie, it looks like it won't just be the con that's over but Ash's days as a grifter as well. Can Mickey, Albert, Sean and Emma convince the seemingly untouchable Coleman to score an own goal, or will they be shown a red card?

Directors: Colin Teague
Writer: Chris Lang
Watch Now:Amazon
Picasso Finger Painting
star
7.67
459 votes

#4 - Picasso Finger Painting

Season 8 - Episode 2 - Aired 1/20/2012

Mickey has been taken prisoner by notorious gangster and international art collector Petre Sava, who wrongly believes the gang were behind the theft of his stolen Picasso. Now Ash and the others face a race against time to locate the missing painting and return it before Mickey becomes Sava's next victim.

Directors: Adrian Lester
Writer: Tony Jordan
Watch Now:Amazon
The Father of Jewels
star
7.68
430 votes

#5 - The Father of Jewels

Season 6 - Episode 4 - Aired 1/25/2010

The gang are just about to close a deal worth 50,000; that is, until Sean is distracted by someone with whom he has a score to settle. He lets the mark walk off with the money while he pursues this man. Emma is shocked to discover that the man is none other than Rex Kennedy, Sean and Emma's dad, who walked out on them 25 years ago.

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Signing Up to Wealth
star
7.69
596 votes

#6 - Signing Up to Wealth

Season 4 - Episode 2 - Aired 4/25/2007

Back on their home turf, the gang set about getting back to business as usual - playing the long con. Porn czar Dickie Brennan has his eye set on owning a prize-winning horse and his ruthless ways make him confident that he'll get what he wants. Of course, the Hustle crew are more than willing to lend a hand, even though they know nothing about horses. Meanwhile, Danny is focused on finding a new grifter to complete the team and begins interviews. Billy Bond isn't giving up on getting noticed and will stop at nothing to join the gang even though Danny has his heart set on a pretty lady member.

Directors: Lee MacIntosh
Writer: Tony Jordan
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Politics
star
7.69
494 votes

#7 - Politics

Season 5 - Episode 5 - Aired 2/5/2009

Caught out while posing as lawyers, the team promises to save a community centre under threat. Mickey becomes interested in the youth club's plight when it is threatened with demolition. When he discovers that corrupt MP Rhona Christie is involved, he sends Sean into the murky world of politics to investigate, much to Sean's annoyance. Sean is even more annoyed when he catches Mickey and Emma in an intimate embrace. Can the team find a way to expose the deceitful MP and survive their week in politics?

Directors: Martin Hutchings
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Curiosity Killed the Kat
star
7.69
458 votes

#8 - Curiosity Killed the Kat

Season 8 - Episode 3 - Aired 1/27/2012

The law catches up with the crafty Hustle conmen when corrupt police officer DI Fisk is bribed into bringing them down. Unaware of Fisk’s watchful eye, the gang moves in on their latest mark, Linda Runcorn, the crooked CEO of an online hotel and restaurant guide. Meanwhile, Fisk arrests Sean’s ex-girlfriend, pickpocket Kat, on false charges, blackmailing her to spy on the team so he can catch them. Left with no choice, Kat persuades Sean to let her join the con. Things get heavier when Fisk demands that Kat plant cocaine in Emma’s bag, resulting in Emma’s arrest. With Emma in prison and the grifters under surveillance, there seems little way the Hustle gang can escape unscathed...

Directors: Roger Goldby
Writer: Ryan Craig
Watch Now:Amazon
Lest Ye Be Judged
star
7.71
451 votes

#9 - Lest Ye Be Judged

Season 5 - Episode 3 - Aired 1/22/2009

Albert is up for parole, and the Grifters decide to con greedy judge Anthony Kent to raise money for his coming home party. Kent was rumoured to have been involved in a gold bullion robbery, but never got his share. Mickey and Emma reignite the case to convince him they know where it is buried, while Ash gives Sean some vital training on a casino con. But with the team unaware Albert is in trouble, will he be waiting for them when they collect him at the prison gates?

Directors: Julian Simpson
Writer: Fintan Ryan
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Old Sparks Come New
star
7.72
523 votes

#10 - Old Sparks Come New

Season 7 - Episode 2 - Aired 1/14/2011

When Emma finds out that ex-boyfriend Joe Ryan is facing eviction, the team find themselves travelling to Birmingham to take on Georgina Althorp, owner of an unscrupulous moneylending firm. Mickey and the gang set about the ambitious task of selling Georgina a castle and a title - but will she bite? Meanwhile, it seems love is blossoming once more for Emma; are they about to lose one of the team for good?

Directors: John McKay
Writer: Chris Lang
Watch Now:Amazon
The Thieving Mistake
star
7.72
430 votes

#11 - The Thieving Mistake

Season 6 - Episode 2 - Aired 1/11/2010

While at the airport seeing Albert off on a trip, the team encounters `Liability' Finch, a hapless friend of Ash who is in hot water with a customs officer and a Russian art collector as a result of a bungled painting theft. Despite being ordered by Mickey to lie low and avoid trouble, Sean sets out to help Finch, with disastrous consequences.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Conning the Artists
star
7.75
456 votes

#12 - Conning the Artists

Season 4 - Episode 5 - Aired 5/16/2007

Eddie's bar is the "Hustle" crew's hangout and the place to go when celebrating the success of a recent con. Unfortunately, their most recent celebration comes to a grinding halt when they are taken hostage. A man claiming that the gang dishonored his family has come to seek revenge and this time it's not about money - it's personal. Can the grifters negotiate their way out, or have they gone too far and must pay the ultimate sacrifice?

Directors: Stefan Schwartz
Writer: Nick Fisher
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Ding Dong That's My Song
star
7.78
537 votes

#13 - Ding Dong That's My Song

Season 8 - Episode 5 - Aired 2/10/2012

Albert decides to return to an old haunt and soon discovers that it's been pulled down by ruthless property tycoon, Dale Ridley. He ends up recruiting the rest of the team to deliver a special form of retribution.

Directors: Alrick Riley
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Road Less Travelled
star
7.81
521 votes

#14 - The Road Less Travelled

Season 5 - Episode 6 - Aired 2/12/2009

The team hope to con upper-class twit Alfie Baron, but all is not as it seems. Alfie is the plant of aggrieved former mark Carlton Wood, who is determined to get his own back. Seeing a straightforward con, Ash convinces Mickey that Sean is ready to play the inside, and the team set about gathering all their savings as they plan to take Alfie for millions. As Sean lays down a one million pound convincer, their largest ever, could this be the end for the team?

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
A Bollywood Dream
star
7.82
663 votes

#15 - A Bollywood Dream

Season 3 - Episode 4 - Aired 3/31/2006

One of Albert's long time concierge contacts, Harold, asks Albert to target a man who's caused a lot of suffering in the Asian community - Kulvinda Samar, a greedy sweatshop owner and ardent fan of Bollywood films. The gang agree to use a classic movie-investor con on Samar - given it's Bollywood they'll have a lot to learn, but as ever, they're determined to make it perfect.

Directors: Colm McCarthy
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Conned Out of Luck
star
7.83
380 votes

#16 - Conned Out of Luck

Season 6 - Episode 5 - Aired 2/1/2010

The gang are left in shock as the unthinkable happens - Mickey is conned! Some lowlife rips him off by selling him a useless mobile phone online. According to the age-old laws of grifting, when a grifter is conned he's guaranteed a run of bad luck. What will the gang do if Mickey loses his mojo? They head to Eddie's to drown their sorrows, only to find it heaving with customers. It seems Lady Luck has switched her allegiance and the chums need to do something to restore the balance.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
As One Flew Out of the Cuckoo's Nest, One Flew In
star
7.85
664 votes

#17 - As One Flew Out of the Cuckoo's Nest, One Flew In

Season 4 - Episode 1 - Aired 4/18/2007

The Hustle crew are back, but they are short a man - Mickey Stone. Mickey is off in Australia to pull off a major con and Danny uses this opportunity to prove to everyone that he's capable of being the new boss. Of course Danny's never been shy about taking on a challenge and for his first time as leader, Danny and the gang are off to Los Angeles. The con? To sell the Hollywood sign to a Texan...

Directors: Alrick Riley
Writer: Tony Jordan
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Picture Perfect
star
7.88
713 votes

#18 - Picture Perfect

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 3/9/2004

Mickey Bricks and his team of con artists decide to dabble in the world of art this week, when they set up an elaborate scam to swindle a greedy gallery owner, by faking an early Mondrian painting.

Directors: Bharat Nalluri
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
New Recruits
star
7.89
534 votes

#19 - New Recruits

Season 5 - Episode 2 - Aired 1/15/2009

With a new crew in place, Mickey decides to con intellectual property experts Carlton and Harry, whose ruthless business practices have led to a suicide. Posing as a hot new PR company, Mickey and Emma sell the pair a gimmick to promote the 'Spider's Web', a security device for precious works of art. Naturally the con artists have a hidden agenda, but when rookie grifter Sean messes up a simple task, will Mickey regret taking on someone so green to play the long cons?

Directors: James Strong
Writer: Tony Jordan
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Getting Even
star
7.92
556 votes

#20 - Getting Even

Season 4 - Episode 3 - Aired 5/2/2007

Eddie is getting the squeeze and it's up to the "Hustle" gang to set things straight. Although not an official grifter, Eddie is more than a bartender, he's a member of the crew. So when his father is held ransom by the owner of his Father's nursing home - it's personal.

Directors: Lee MacIntosh
Writer: Tony Jordan
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Gold Finger
star
7.92
553 votes

#21 - Gold Finger

Season 8 - Episode 1 - Aired 1/13/2012

The first episode sees the grifters take on gold dealer Dexter Gold. Famous for parting the elderly from their precious treasures in return for a pittance and trading stolen gold at profitable prices, the gang is eager to give this fraudster a taste of his own medicine. Meanwhile, Eddie finally has enough of the gang's childish behaviour when he finds that someone has defaced his precious photo of Liverpool legend Ian Rush. Failing to see the funny side, and certain that the culprit is West Ham supporter Ash, Eddie bans the team from the bar until he owns up.

Directors: Alrick Riley
Writer: Tony Jordan
Watch Now:Amazon
Diamond Seeker
star
7.93
492 votes

#22 - Diamond Seeker

Season 5 - Episode 4 - Aired 1/29/2009

When a deal goes wrong and the team are left with a priceless diamond, they are forced to take on their most dangerous mark to date. Mickey thinks they can keep the necklace if Emma is willing to trick Toby Baxter, the rich recluse who had it stolen to order. The team put everything in place to back up the fabricated story, but has Emma agreed to the risky plan for the wrong reasons? And if so, will Baxter see through her lies?

Directors: Julian Simpson
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Eat Yourself Slender
star
7.95
535 votes

#23 - Eat Yourself Slender

Season 8 - Episode 4 - Aired 2/3/2012

After one of the teams friends called Carol suffers a heart attack, the gang find out that she's been the victim of a sham diet plan run by American Dr Dean Deville and his wife, Dana. Mickey comes up with a weight-loss scam to sell them a a new miraculous diet pill, but knows they'll first need to gain their trust.

Directors: Roger Goldby
Writer: Chris Lang
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Con Is On
star
7.97
1065 votes

#24 - The Con Is On

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 2/24/2004

Long con expert Mickey reunites his old team with the promise of one last score. The target is a greedy businessman tempted by the chance to make a fast buck on the stock market. The operation goes like clockwork, but is there one thing Mickey's missed?

Directors: Bharat Nalluri
Writer: Tony Jordan
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Faking It
star
7.98
861 votes

#25 - Faking It

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 3/2/2004

Danny makes a big mistake and blows a con, which makes Mickey question if Danny is right for his crew. Albert is viciously beaten after cheating in a card game and the team decide to wreak revenge the only way that they know how - by playing the long con. The stakes are higher than normal with Albert out of the picture. Can they pull off the con, or will the Mark, a ruthless and violent person, cause even more harm?

Directors: Bharat Nalluri
Writer: Tony Jordan
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV