Season 8
Hustle is a British comedy-drama television series created by Tony Jordan which follows the exploits of a group of British con-artists who specialise in pulling off elaborate operations to dupe their victims.
The series aired in the UK on BBC One from 24 February, 2004 to 17 February, 2012. There are 48 hour-long episodes in eight seasons.
Hustle premiered in South Africa on SABC3 on 13 March 2006, at 21h00. The first three seasons aired on the channel before it lost the rights to the series. The series later aired on DStv's BBC Entertainment (formerly BBC Prime) channel. See "Seasons" below for seasonal broadcast dates and times by channel.
Season 8 has not yet aired in South Africa.
Season 8
The hustlers return with some new, ingenious and totally brilliant plans to teach the filthy rich a lesson and relieve them of some of their ill-gotten wealth.
In the Season 8 premiere:
The Hustle team is back, and making more money than ever now that the Olympics are in town, but a moment of random kindness from Albert draws them into an altogether darker con.
The mark is Dexter Gold, a fast-talking, smooth-dressing wide boy who runs a cash for gold exchange designed to part the old and vulnerable from their precious treasures in return for a pittance.
That is only half the story, though, and Dexter's cheeky chappie persona is really a front for his role as a middle-man for stolen gold bullion. He is a great mark, but Mickey has a warning; Dexter is ruthless, and they must be certain to come out of the con with no reprisals.
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.
But for once Ash is innocent and, though the absence of Eddie's breakfasts is taking its toll, there is no way he will own up to something he did not do. It is stalemate.
In order to part Dexter from his money, Ash and Mickey plan to pose as members of a renegade army unit and convince Dexter that they have a large stash of Colonel Gadaffi's stolen gold for sale. With balaclavas and firearms at the ready, Ash puts on an impressive display to hook Dexter.
But when Dexter suddenly introduces his buyer into the equation, the team look wrong-footed; can they convince Dexter and his buyer their gold is the real deal and, crucially, finish the con with Dexter unaware of their involvement?
And perhaps most pressing of all - will Eddie ever let them back into his bar?
About the Series
Hustle follows the exploits of a group of British con-artists who specialise in pulling off elaborate operations to dupe their victims.
They choose their targets carefully, always adhering to the first rule of the con: "You can't con an honest man." Each week they pull off a complicated scam with several twists.
Sometimes the cons end up in failure, while the episode concentrates on the characters coming to terms with the results of their actions.
Mickey is the group's leader, who comes up with the plans. Albert is a veteran con man who in his later years is a "roper," searching out suitable victims and introducing them to his cohorts.
Ash comes up with all the locations and equipment needed for the cons. Stacie steps in whenever she needs to use her feminine wiles.
The group is rounded off by Danny, a young amateur grifter who Mickey takes under his wing.
Hustle often features cutaway scenes displayed in a separate style from the main part of the show. The episodes often dwell on the psychological aspects of human behaviour and the art of deception based on this knowledge.
Seasons
Note: BBC Prime became BBC Entertainment in 2008
Season 1 (6 episodes)
Channel: SABC3 | Premiere: 13 Mar 2006 | Finale: 17 Apr 2006 | Mondays, 21h00
Channel: BBC Prime | Premiere: 5 Mar 2007 | Finale: 9 Apr 2007 | Mondays, 21h00
Season 2 (6 episodes)
Channel: SABC3 | Premiere: 24 Apr 2006 | Finale: 29 May 2006 | Mondays, 21h00
Channel: BBC Prime | Premiere: 16 Apr 2007 | Finale: 21 May 2007 | Mondays, 21h00
Season 3 (6 episodes)
Channel: SABC3 | Premiere: 23 Apr 2008 | Finale: 28 May 2008 | Wednesdays, 20h31
Channel: BBC Entertainment | Premiere: 10 Mar 2009 | Finale: 14 Apr 2009 | Tuesdays, 20h30
Season 4 (6 episodes)
Channel: BBC Entertainment | Premiere: 2 Nov 2009 | Finale: 7 Dec 2009 | Mondays, 21h30
Season 5 (6 episodes)
Channel: BBC Entertainment | Premiere: 8 Mar 2010 | Finale: 12 Apr 2010 | Mondays, 20h30
Season 6 (6 episodes)
Channel: BBC Entertainment | Premiere: 12 Jun 2011 | Finale: 17 Jul 2011 | Sundays, 20h00
Season 7 (6 episodes)
Channel: BBC Entertainment | Premiere: 16 Nov 2012 | Finale: 21 Dec 2012 | Fridays, 21h00