The BEST episodes of Heartbeat season 13

Every episode of Heartbeat season 13, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Heartbeat season 13!

Heartbeat is based on the Constable books by Nicholas Rhea, set in the fictional 1960s Yorkshire town of Aidensfield. The first seasons focus on the lives of London policeman Nick Rowan, who moves to the village with his doctor wife Kate. Nick's police colleagues feature in the series, under the leadership of the crusty but kindhearted Sergeant Blaketon. Blaketon's nemesis is Claude Jeremiah Greengrass, poacher and occasional small-time fence. Greengrass is a regular patron of the Aidensfield Arms hotel, run by George Ward and his pretty niece Gina. It's here at the pub that we see much of the day-to-day social interaction in the series.

Last Updated: 9/27/2024Network: ITV1Status: Ended
star
10.00
2 votes

#1 - The Holiday's Over

Season 13 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/19/2003

Merton and Jenny return early from honeymoon. The police are called out when people coming home from holidays discover they have been burgled. Vernon's aspirations rise higher.

Watch Now:Amazon
star
10.00
3 votes

#2 - A Call to Arms

Season 13 - Episode 22 - Aired 5/16/2004

When Harry Hawkswell, a retired policeman and former colleague of Alf Ventress, turns up in the village he manages to put everyone's backs up by making himself a little too much at home at the police station. Meanwhile, Vernon is in a state of panic as he awaits a visit from the Inland Revenue, and Liz Merrick is confused by Ben Norton's behaviour.

Directors: Judith Dine
Watch Now:Amazon
star
10.00
2 votes

#3 - Strangers on a Train

Season 13 - Episode 21 - Aired 5/9/2004

David has a near miss when a man is thrown from a train and rolls down the embankment into the road and the path of his oncoming car. Merton's subsequent investigation turns up a lad called Tommy fleeing the scene of the crime, and a thieving auctioneer about to make off with some valuable antiques. Meanwhile, Vernon decides to open up a donkey sanctuary and Ventress takes up a civilian administration post at the police station.

Directors: Pip Short
Watch Now:Amazon
star
10.00
3 votes

#4 - Swan Song

Season 13 - Episode 20 - Aired 5/2/2004

Alf Ventress is stunned to learn that a change in working regulations means that he will have to retire from the force. Meanwhile, Merton and his team go in search of a phantom sheep shearer, and romance is in the air as Blaketon acquires an admirer and Gina is asked out on a date by hunky Australian Kevin Kelly.

Directors: Declan O’Dwyer
Watch Now:Amazon
star
10.00
3 votes

#5 - Difficult Times

Season 13 - Episode 18 - Aired 4/18/2004

Dennis Merton is called to Ranby Hall to investigate the sudden death of racing driver Jack Maclean from a massive insulin overdose while he was under the care of Liz Merrick and Dennis's wife, Jenny. Meanwhile Vernon bumps into an old friend who offers him a gilt-edged business opportunity which leads him into serious trouble.

Directors: Gerry Mill
Writer: Neil McKay
Watch Now:Amazon
star
10.00
2 votes

#6 - No Hard Feelings

Season 13 - Episode 17 - Aired 4/11/2004

Crane and Merton have their hands full when a sniper strikes during a clay-pigeon shoot, and Bellamy's fiery temper only serves to make matters worse. Elsewhere, Vernon decides to venture into the bed-and-breakfast market - but his cooking skills leave a lot to be desired.

Directors: Judith Dine
Watch Now:Amazon
star
10.00
2 votes

#7 - One Thing Leads to Another

Season 13 - Episode 16 - Aired 4/4/2004

After a petty thief is hurt in a car crash, Crane discovers that Merton's wife Jenny is involved in one of his shady schemes. Meanwhile, Liz is given a surprising offer when she tries to help a sick man regain his job, and David, Bernie and Vernon enter the Ashfordly Gazette poetry competion.

Directors: Andrew Morgan
Writer: Candy Denman
Watch Now:Amazon
star
10.00
2 votes

#8 - Mountains and Molehills

Season 13 - Episode 11 - Aired 2/29/2004

Steve finds himself in trouble when a maid at Ashfordly Hall takes more than a shine to him. David invents a novel way to rid the estate of moles, and makes a new friend in the process.

Watch Now:Amazon
star
10.00
1 votes

#9 - Down to Earth

Season 13 - Episode 10 - Aired 2/22/2004

The police have to intervene when a woman complains about a neighbouring farmer's dead cow, and Vernon gets a nasty surprise when he hatches a plan for a compost business.

Watch Now:Amazon
star
10.00
2 votes

#10 - State of Mind

Season 13 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/9/2003

An elderly man appears to be losing his mind, but Steve and Liz are determined to prove that he doesn't need to go into a home. Vernon is frustrated when he's called to jury service, leaving David with an impossible work schedule to juggle.

Watch Now:Amazon
star
10.00
1 votes

#11 - Brought to Book

Season 13 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/2/2003

Steve tries his hand at community policing when he takes a group of troublesome lads on an outward bound course. Vernon tries to get involved with Eastern mysticism when a visiting guru needs premises for a meditation course.

Watch Now:Amazon
star
10.00
2 votes

#12 - A Family Affair

Season 13 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/12/2003

Police hunting down a bogus water board official find themselves investigating a suspicious death. Blaketon seeks to rectify a miscarriage of justice by reinstating a pre-war darts tournament.

Watch Now:Amazon
star
10.00
2 votes

#13 - The Dear Departed

Season 13 - Episode 12 - Aired 3/7/2004

A recently widowed woman arrives in Aidensfield wanting to bury her late husband in the family grave, but the dead man's brother refuses to co-operate because of an old feud. Vernon and David pay a visit, hoping to persuade him otherwise - only to find themselves held at gunpoint - and when it emerges the coffin is full of money and the deceased is alive and well, a shocking case of fraud is uncovered. Meanwhile, Oscar is among the locals under suspicion when a widely disliked, hardened criminal returns to the village - and soon ends up murdered.

Directors: Andrew Morgan
Writer: Brian Finch
Watch Now:Amazon
star
9.67
3 votes

#14 - Nowhere Man

Season 13 - Episode 19 - Aired 4/25/2004

Steve Crane must fathom a mystery surrounding the arrival in Ashfordly of a man with no memory and blood-stained clothes. Meanwhile Vernon turns the tables on the two businessmen who tried to con him, and Jenny is furious with Dennis when he stands her up yet again.

Directors: Matt Bloom (II)
Writer: Peter Mills
Watch Now:Amazon
star
9.33
3 votes

#15 - Dangerous Whispers

Season 13 - Episode 13 - Aired 3/14/2004

Gina Ward makes a surprise return to Aidensfield and Bellamy encounters a key informant who might come in useful - but finds himself in trouble when the man disappears before he can offer a tip-off about an imminent armed robbery. Meanwhile, Vernon acquires a bargain miniature railway which he hopes will impress the new estate manager, and it emerges Dr Liz Merrick may have feelings for Lord Ashfordly's recently appointed land agent.

Watch Now:Amazon
star
9.33
3 votes

#16 - Scent of a Kill

Season 13 - Episode 14 - Aired 3/21/2004

Dr. Merrick faces a testing time when a terrified hospital patient claims her husband is trying to kill her, but Merton seems reluctant to get involved, while Vernon picks up a bargain all-purpose pest-control solution, enlisting David's help in his eradication mission. Gina's cousin Diane arrives to help her and Phil with the wedding preparations - much to the delight of PC Crane, who's instantly smitten.

Directors: Gerry Mill
Writer: Peter Gibbs
Watch Now:Amazon
star
9.00
3 votes

#17 - Daniel

Season 13 - Episode 15 - Aired 3/28/2004

Gina goes into premature labour after she attempts to break up a fight between two men in the pub. At the hospital Blaketon recognises one of the two men from the pub brawl, Robert Flint, who was also involved in a major drugs case several years before for which he was never charged. Merton is determined to nail Flint this time around and impress the Division in the process.

Watch Now:Amazon
star
8.25
4 votes

#18 - Mother's Little Helpers

Season 13 - Episode 3 - Aired 9/21/2003

Liz Merrick faces a trying time after one of her patients misses an appointment to discuss medication, and subsequently ends up charged with drink-driving, Vernon discovers money can't buy him happiness as he gets lonely in his new home - little suspecting excitement is just around the corner when his pal David is kidnapped and held for ransom. Elsewhere, Merton is delighted that Jenny has agreed to marry him and Bellamy is shocked to find out Gina is carrying his baby.

star
8.00
3 votes

#19 - Speed

Season 13 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/7/2003

Sgt Merton finds himself under pressure when a group of youths commit a number of serious offences in the area - and are suspected of drug-dealing when Liz Merrick hands in amphetamines found stashed in a local boy's bedroom. She refuses to reveal who passed on the drugs to her due to patient confidentiality rules, but Merton heads for the surgery regardless, pretending to see Jenny, who promptly calls off the wedding when she discovers her fiance used the visit to sneak a look at the patient list.

star
8.00
4 votes

#20 - Dog Days

Season 13 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/14/2003

Police are baffled when there seem to be too many motives behind an arson attack on a warehouse. David is not impressed by Vernon's new found wealth and Bernie regrets getting involved with his latest bright idea.

star
8.00
3 votes

#21 - Fool for Love

Season 13 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/5/2003

Nick uncovers a secret past when a local woman is plagued by a mystery stalker. Greengrass tries to ingratiate himself with a wealthy young Australian couple in the Aidensfield area to trace their family history.

star
7.25
4 votes

#22 - Muck and Brass

Season 13 - Episode 23 - Aired 5/23/2004

Merton and his team set out to find the saboteur behind a series of rigged accidents in the lead-up to the Aidensfield Hill Climb, an annual race for motor cars. Meanwhile, Liz Merrick grows concerned about a man sleeping rough who she suspects may be suffering from asbestos poisoning, and Vernon finds - then loses - a fortune.

Directors: Noreen Kershaw
Writer: Duncan Gould
star
6.75
4 votes

#23 - Double Trouble

Season 13 - Episode 24 - Aired 5/30/2004

A large sum of money is reported stolen and the subsequent investigation leads to surprising revelations. Meanwhile, Ventress and Blaketon team up to locate a pair of twins, and Jenny becomes increasingly frustrated at the amount of time Dennis spends at work.

Directors: Gerry Mill
Writer: Johnny Byrne
star
5.50
2 votes

#24 - Waifs and Strays

Season 13 - Episode 7 - Aired 10/26/2003

Three farm children are left orphaned, leaving Steve to help the oldest child fight a custody battle. Vernon opens a campsite, but it is David who is left to entertain the campers.

star
4.00
3 votes

#25 - Little Angel

Season 13 - Episode 25 - Aired 6/6/2004

When a little girl goes missing, Blaketon joins the frantic search. Meanwhile Steve and Bellamy are confronted by a precarious situation. The Aidensfield Arms is hit by a rat infestation but Vernon proposes a fool-proof rodent removal plan.

Directors: Jonas Grimas