As the investigation proceeds, it takes its toll on the characters; Ripley (Morrissey), under suspicion of murder, finds his public and private life slowly unravelling as both his bullying nature and long-forgotten demons from his past return to haunt him, whilst Carlisle (Tennant), intent on proving Ripley is the murderer and planning to use Natalie (Parish) to get to him, finds himself genuinely falling in love with her instead.

In 2005, the series was nominated in the Best Drama Serial category at the British Academy Television Awards, eventually losing out to Channel 4's Sex Traffic.

In October 2007, American network CBS aired a series based on the same premise called Viva Laughlin, adapted by Bob Lowry and the creator of Blackpool, Peter Bowker, coproduced by BBC Worldwide, CBS Paramount Network Television, Sony Pictures Television, and Seed Productions; however, the series was cancelled after two episodes due to low ratings.

When the beautiful Kitty De-Luxe rocks up at the altar, having been ditched by her groom, Ripley finds himself falling in love for all the wrong reasons.

Coupled with his new found romance, Ripley finds himself caught up in a bidding war between a local sports agent and a car dealer, both desperate to get their hands on one of Patrick's prize possessions - the real Jules Rimet trophy, which seemingly disappeared after the 1962 World Cup.