The Sweeney: I Want The Man (ITV 10 Nov 1975, with Russell Hunter)

In I Want the Man one of Regan’s snouts, Popeye, gives him some info on a recent jewellery blag. An exchange of the proceeds is taking place in a restaurant but The Sweeney only manage to small time villain Frankie Little. He will only reveal that the blag was to finance a bigger job.

Meanwhile Popeye has been kidnapped by the gang after they discover he has been talking.

Regan agrees to go easy on Little if he acts as inside man with the gang, he agrees but gang leader Maynard has his own plans for Little. Luckily Little has told his daughter that if he doesn’t come home she is to ring the Sweeneyand give them a heads up.

Quite a convoluted episode that comes together in a classic bit of Sweeney action as Regan and the boys catch Maynard’s gang right in the thick of it as they try to take out a van loaded with used notes en route to the incinerator.

Russell Hunter as the weak Popeye is almost unrecognisable in his super thick lensed glasses. Roy Kinnear does his weaselly turn extremely well as usual and the underrated Michael Coles is gang leader Maynard. Russell Hunter is Popeye and Michael Coles is Maynard.

production details
UK / ITV – Thames / 1×50 minute episode / Broadcast Monday 10 November 1975 at 9.00pm

Writer: Ray Jenkins / Director: Tom Clegg

Series: The Sweeney Season 1 Episode 11

cast
John Thaw as Regan
Dennis Waterman as Carter
Garfield Morgan as Haskins
Roy Kinnear as Frankie Little
Michael Coles as Maynard
Russell Hunter as Popeye
Elizabeth Cassidy as Sandy Little
Peter Halliday as Chief Inspector Gordon
Patsy Dermott as Christine
Henry Woolfe as Jimmy Dancer
Walter McGonagle as Bell
John Alkin as Daniels
John Gleason as Flying Squad Officer