The Singing Detective (1986)
The Singing Detective is a BBC television serial written by Dennis Potter, which stars Michael Gambon, and was directed by Jon Amiel. The serial consists of six episodes: Skin, Heat, Lovely Days, Clues, Pitter Patter, and Who Done It. Mystery writer Philip E. Marlow is suffering writers' block and is hospitalised because his psoriatic arthropathy, a skin and joint disease, is at a chronic stage forming lesions and sores over his entire body, and partially cripples his hands and feet. Confined to a hospital bed, Marlow mentally rewrites his early detective novel The Singing Detective. (from wikipedia.org)
The Singing Detective: Episode 1 - Skin
Philip Marlow is in hospital with the skin complaint psoriasis; tormented with hallucinations about his past and future.
The Singing Detective: Episode 2 - Heat
Philip meets psychiatrist Doctor Gibbon, who has a copy of his detective novel. Binney takes a nightclub hostess to his flat, knowing she's a Russian agent.
The Singing Detective: Episode 3 - Lovely Days
Gibbon secretly consults Philip's ex-wife, Nicola. Philip finds the doctor reminds him of his old schoolteacher. A patient's death triggers more flashbacks for Philip of his mother making love.
The Singing Detective: Episode 4 - Clues
In the novel, police remove the body of a murdered woman called Lili from Hammersmith Bridge and Two Mysterious Men follow Marlow.
The Singing Detective: Episode 5 - Pitter Patter
Marlow pursues The Mysterious Men after they make an attempt on his life. In hospital, Philip then sees the Mysterious Men across the room, and asks Nicola about them.
The Singing Detective: Episode 6 - Who Done It
Fiction and reality appear to be merging for Philip as Doctor Gibbon tries to get him to reveal his hidden traumas.