Heartbeat fans are only now learning who sings iconic show’s theme tune decades later

Heartbeat fans have been left a little floored as they’ve only now discovered who sings its iconic theme tune. The ITV show was a firm favourite throughout the 1990s

When it comes to iconic theme tunes, it’s fair to say that Heartbeat’s musical offering is up there with some of the most memorable. Many of us recall cosying up on a Sunday evening, waiting for the song to play as we prepared for another long week ahead.

Indeed, even today, various viral videos circulate on social media, talking about its cultural significance, as it once officially marked the end of the weekend. If you grew up in the 1990s, it was the sign that homework had to be completed and you’d soon have to go back to school the following day, making it a song that evokes both nostalgia and perhaps a little dread.

However, even though the legendary ITV series hit our screens more than three decades ago, there are still some things people don’t know about Heartbeat. One such fact is who performed that oh so iconic theme tune.

If you were a fan of the show, the voice should have actually given it away. However, it seems many people didn’t pick up on the clue, and remain in the dark.

Even if you didn’t know who performed the track, it’s clear that many people still think of the theme tune fondly. In fact, several have admitted it still takes them way back to their school years.

On TikTok, one person said: “I still think I’ve got homework to do every time I hear this and I’ve not been at school for years.” Another added: “My husband still watches it EVERY day! He’s 32.”

A third replied: “I’d do anything to go back in time and hear that noise, and go to bed and be able to sleep for 12 hours.”

Meanwhile, a fourth commented: “Oh I was legit invested in Heartbeat. It got me through primary and secondary school Sundays and finished three years after I graduated.”

Someone else also spoke of how it took them back to their youth, noting: “I’m 26 and have my own house. I was on the phone to my mum and heard the Heartbeat song in the background, and still got the feeling of impeding doom.”

Who performed the theme tune?

Little you many know, the song was performed by Nick Berry, the retired actor and singer. Berry, famed for his role as PC Nick Rowan in Heartbeat from 1992 to 1998, also had a stint as Simon Wicks in EastEnders between 1985 and 1990.

He even scored a UK chart-topping single with “Every Loser Wins” back in 1986. But, here’s a lesser-known fact, he also performed the Heartbeat theme song, which was a rendition of Buddy Holly’s classic “Heartbeat”, in 1992. The cover soared to number two in the charts.

Berry was a fan favourite until he departed the show in 1998 to star in the BBC drama Harbour Lights, where he played harbourmaster Mike Nicholls across two seasons. The actor has been off our screens for a while, but remains a beloved figure from when Heartbeat first hit TV.

Despite the show wrapping up in 2010, there are those who lovingly recall their Sunday routines spent watching it. For many adults, just hearing the show’s iconic theme song can whisk them back to their younger days. It’s clear the tune stirs some powerful nostalgia for many.

For those who’d like to relive the memories, you’ll be glad to know that episodes of Heartbeat are still available to view on ITVX. If you fancy, you can take a trip down memory lane.