The Sweeney (1975)

Running Time: 60 minutes (approx)

Production Year: 1975

Production Country: UK

This hard-hitting, 1970s detective drama series focused on two disenchanted members of the Flying Squad: gritty, no-nonsense, corner-cutting, rule-bending Detective Inspector Jack Regan (played magnificently by John Thaw), ably assisted by Detective Sergeant George Carter (Dennis Waterman). With its hard-edged realism, colourful language, strong plots, car chases and ferocious action, the show set new standards for TV detective drama and was highly influential (an obvious recent candidate being the pastiche Life on Mars). It had a solid run, stetching for more than 50 episodes and four series from 1975 to 1978. Although it was definitely beginning to flag towards the end, the early episodes were utterly cracking and are well worth watching.

The series, which also spawned two movies, became the highest-earning foreign export for Euston Films. In Germany it is known as af Die Fuecshe (The Fox). Apart from the main characters (always watchable), there's some fascinating actors to spot. Look out for John Hurt, George Cole, Bill Treacher and June Brown (EastEnders' Arthur Fowler and Dot Cotton), Diana Dors, Brian Blessed, Maureen Lipman, Roy Kinnear, Karl Howman, Ray Winstone, Hywel Bennett and Warren Mitchell. And in a late (and not especially noteworthy) episode in the fourth series, Morecambe and Wise appear, a return compliment for when Thaw and Waterman were the guests on the comedy duo's show.

Main Cast

Image for John ThawJohn ThawDet. Insp. Jack Regan
Dennis WatermanDet. Sgt. George Carter
Garfield MorganDet. Chief Insp. Frank Haskins
John AlkinDS Tom Daniels
Martin ReadDC Jimmy Thorpe
Morris PerryDet. Chief Supt. Maynon
John FlanaganDS Matt Mathews
Stephanie TurnerAlison Carter
Jennifer ThanischSusie Regan
Benjamin WhitrowDet. Chief Supt. Braithwaite
Peggy BullockOld Lady, The Old Lady
Stephen BentEddie Hibberd, Scouler
Nick BrimbleDet. Con. Gerry Burtonshaw
Roger DavidsonMajor Chapman
Eric DodsonMr. de Courcy, Mr. Dodds
Richard HamptonBarnes, Hilary Elkin
Colin DouglasCommander
Denis DeMarneFred
George SweeneyTim Cook
Tony SteedmanAndrew Barkis, John Masterson
Stuart WilsonDI Ken Knowles, Jimmy Knox
James WarriorDet. Con. Jellyneck
David CaseyJackson
Douglas AndersonFaith Healer
Colin CampbellDet. Insp. Terry Potter
Frank CodaQuirk's Snout
Joss AcklandAlan Ember
Keith BellEddie Swan
John Christopher AllenThe Vicar
Peter ArmitageJacko
Tony AnholtMark Colebrook
Timothy CarltonJustin
Terry CowlingKesey
Terry BaleMinicab Operator
Steven BarnesDr. Marland
Peter GodfreyWally Vince
Roger BrierleyPsychiatrist
Roger BoothAshcroft
Richard AdamsRay
Raymond AdamsonMr. Tolman
Naomi ChanceMiss Fay Mayhew
Paul AngelisBarney Prince
Michael BeintDubbin
Miles AndersonHawkins
John BarrardChauffeur
John BardonDoc Boyd
Janet AmsdenBetty Edwards
Elizabeth BegleyMrs. Riley
James BreeSaxby
Alun ArmstrongPeter Jenner
Donald BurtonGrey
Caroline BlakistonHildegarde
Del BakerSid
Dave AtkinsMarriot
Iain BlairPrison Officer
James BoothVic Labbett
Hywel BennettSteven Castle
Damaris HaymanMrs. Cowley
John ForgehamDennis Rawlins
John J. CarneyEric

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Comments

  • Use www.gravatar.com to create an Avatar for your e-mail address and use it on many supported sites June 23rd - 2:03amTim Fearis said...

    You only showed The Sweeney episode "Hard Men" (Series 4 - Ep 2) once - on Saturday, which I missed as it was on in the afternoon, and yet I saw "Drag Act2 this evening (Series 4 - Ep 3) and yet it is on twice more on Monday morning.

    Grateful if you could show "Drag Act2 again - or at least ensure that all episodes are repeated more than once.

    Tim Fearis

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