The Sweeney: Country Boy (ITV 17 Nov 1975, with Robert Swan)

In Country Boy a team of villains have set in motion an elaborate job that involves setting off the alarms of as many as fifty different businesses at the same time as cover for the job they are really doing.

The episode is really about new boy David Keel, he’s the country boy of the title. He’s been seconded from Bristol because of his expert telecommunications knowledge. He’s applied to join the Met and possibly transition into the Sweeney.

There is a good bit of business when Regan and Keel go out for a drink, a girlfriend of Regan’s show up along with Keel’s wife Liz, she doesn’t let on she is married to David and Jack is very quick to try and chat her up.

Later when David is injured in the shoot out with the villains, she turns up with the ambulance team, naturally Jack is somewhat shocked to discover she is married to Keel.

Apart from the showdown at the end of the episode, not a huge amount happens but it’s very interesting to see the dynamic between Regan, Carter and Keel. He’s an educated, literature buff but clearly knows his stuff. Even if he does initially rile Regan by sitting in his seat in the squad car. Myra Frances plays Liz Keel, at this stage Jack doesn’t know she is married to David and is quick to try his luck.

production details
UK / ITV – Thames / 1×50 minute episode / Broadcast Monday 17 November 1975 at 9.00pm

Writer: Andrew Wilson / Director: James Goddard

Series: The Sweeney Season 2 Episode 12

cast
John Thaw as Regan
Dennis Waterman as Carter
Garfield Morgan as Haskins
Robert Swan as David Keel
Myra Frances as Liz Keel
Christine Shaw as Kathy Peters
Andonia Katsaros as Annie Clark
Leslie Schofield as Ian Ross
David Belcher as Inspector
Shaun Curry as Peters
Malcolm Kaye as Brian Slater
Alan Brown as Consultant
Roy Sampson as Constable
Bobby Collins as Young boy