The Sweeney: Victims (ITV 14 Dec 1978, with Sheila Reid)

In Victims the Squad are hot on the trail of a villain called Jimmy Swann who has shot and badly injured a policeman. Swann’s girlfriend Eve Fisher tells Regan that the cop involved was himself crooked and was putting pressure on Swann. The team track him down to an abandoned factory where a siege quickly develops.

There is a very strong secondary plot involving Frank Haskins’ wife Doreen who has gone missing. Frank has no idea where she has gone but we know she has suffered some sort of breakdown after the death of her mother and has returned to the home where she and Frank were first married and has also been seen in the area acting strange, pushing a doll around in a pram.

Doreen was previously played in the episode Golden Fleece by Anne Stallybrass, here Sheila Reid takes on the role. Writer Lynda La Plante makes a guest appearance under her acting name of Lynda Marchal.

A melancholic episode as the show nears the end of it’s run. Frank is seriously considering putting his papers in and retiring. He’s convinced it’s Doreen’s hatred of the force that has tipped her over the edge. Regan shows his compassionate side and is the one who actually tracks Doreen down.

production details
UK / ITV – Thames / 1×50 minute episode / Broadcast Thursday 14 December 1978 at 9.00pm

Writer: Roger Marshall / Director: Ben Bolt

Series: The Sweeney Season 4 Episode 13

cast
John Thaw as Jack Regan
Dennis Waterman as George Carter
Garfield Morgan as Frank Haskins
Sheila Reid as Doreen Haskins
Peter Wight as Jimmy Park
Lynda Marchel as Eve Fisher
John Alkin as Daniels
Elizabeth Burger as Joan
George Innes as Willoughby
Gillian Rhind as W.P.C. Jackson
Benny Lee as Tommy Swann
John Biggerstaff as Mr Culley
Katie Allan as Sharon
Stuart Wilde as Richard Haskins