BBC’s last ever Hustle – or simply a huge con?

As
the hit BBC1 drama prepares for its eighth and final series, we’ve
worked out that Michael ‘Mickey Bricks’ Stone, Ash ‘Three Socks’ Morgan,
Albert Stroller and their associates have made greater than £14 million
from their rip-offs since they started in 2004.

Stroller (Robert Vaughn, pictured) and his pals including Mickey (Adrian Lester), Ash (Robert Glenister), Sean (Matt Di Angelo) and Emma (Kelly Adams) have up to now used 24 kinds of scam to enhance their bank balances.

But is the BBC now planning the largest, most elaborate, con of all?

Was the surprise news that Hustle is ending after eight years – despite rising viewing figures for every of the past four series – only a sleight of hand?

The official line from the BBC, and programme makers Kudos, is that it’s all over the world. The show’s creator Tony Jordan, who wrote the eighth series, says: ‘We believe it has run its course and the show reaches its conclusion with a very good final storyline – it’s a fitting end.

‘However the door is unquestionably still open. Hustle has proved very popular and there’s always the potential of it returning with a brand new cast someday. One appeal of Hustle is seeing people doing something they’re amazing at and – as a rule – are extremely successful at.’

It’s been hinted that the present crop of regulars may match to Hustle Heaven within the final episode.

Jaime Murray, one of many original stars is back as glamorous Stacie Monroe for the last ever con. ‘The overall episode involves the most important hustle they’ve ever undertaken,’ she says. ‘Problem is, it’s also rather dangerous.’

The final series of Hustle starts on BBC1 on Friday, January 13 at 9pm.