Spender is a BBC television drama set in Newcastle upon Tyne, created by Ian La Frenais and Jimmy Nail, who also starred. Martin McKeand produced the first two series, broadcast on BBC One in early 1991 and 1992. A third and final series was shown in early 1993, produced by Paul Raphael and Peter McAleese. A total of 20 episodes were produced, with one feature-length special, set and filmed in France.

Jimmy Nail (born 16 March 1954) is an English singer-songwriter, actor, film producer, and television writer. He is known for his role as Leonard "Oz" Osborne in the hit television show Auf Wiedersehen, Pet, his title role in Spender, and his 1992 number one single, "Ain't No Doubt"

Crocodile Shoes is a British 7-part television series made by the BBC and screened on BBC One in 1994.

The series was written by and starred Jimmy Nail as a factory worker who becomes a country and western singer. The show's eponymous theme tune "Crocodile Shoes" became a chart hit for Nail, as did the album of the same name.

A sequel, Crocodile Shoes II, followed in 1996 and the theme tune "Country Boy" was a hit for Nail too.

Paddy McAloon of Prefab Sprout supplied five original songs to the two series, all of them recorded by Jimmy Nail.

The series is currently being re-screened on UK channel, Drama, as of February 2016.

Published on Dec 1, 2013
The craggy faced Jimmy Nail hailed from Newcasle in the North East of England in 1954. After a spell singing in Nightclubs with his band King Crabs he became a television actor while still pursuing a singing career. In 1985 he reached number 3 in the UK charts with a cover version of 'Love Don't Live Here Anymore', and it would be 1992 before he again concentrated on music and 'Aint No Doubt' hit the top spot. Two years later and 'Crocadile Shoes' made it to position 2, and the following year a Countryand Western song 'Cowboy Dreams' crept into the top 20. Jimmy Nail had his own inimitable style and we should have heard more of this 'geordie' in the music circuit because he knew how to hold his audience and produce a great experience for all.