Fraud Squad (ITV 1969-1970, Patrick O’Connell, Joanna Van Gyseghem)

Crime drama series detailing the cases of Detective Inspector Gamble and Detective Sergeant Vicky Hicks working for the Fraud Squad in the Midlands. Gamble is very much his own man, all too often doing things his own way, much to the frustration of his boss Superintendent Proud.

Gamble’s sidekick Vicky is often little more than a glorified secretary for too much of the time but as the series goes on she does more of a chance to shine.

Season two was filmed in colour but like so many ITV shows of that era it now mostly only exists in black and white. Two episodes, episodes 3 and 4, survive in colour.

production details
UK / ITV – ATV / 26×50 minute episodes / Broadcast 20 May 1969 – 12 December 1970

Creator: Ivor Jay / Police Advisor: A.V. Overall / Producers: Robert D. Cardona, Nicholas Palmer

cast
PATRICK O’CONNELL as D.I. Gamble
JOANNA VAN GYSEGHEM as D.S. Vicky Hicks
RALPH NOSSEK as Supt Proud

THE EPISODES
SEASON ONE 20 May – 12 August 1969
1. TURBOT ON ICE (20 May 69)
2. BROTHER SIMPLE (27 May 69)
3. LAST EXIT TO LIECHTENSTEIN (3 Jun 69)
4. RUN FOR YOUR MONEY (10 Jun 69)
5. ALL CLEAN AND PAID FOR (17 Jun 69)
6. OVER A BARREL (24 Jun 69)
7. WHERE’S GEORGE (1 Jul 69)
8. THE FRONT MAN (8 Jul 69)
9. THE BIGGEST BORROWER OF ALL (15 Jul 69)
10. PROS AND CONS (22 Jul 69)
11. COLD AS CHARITY (29 Jul 69)
12. TWO KINDS OF CRASH (5 Aug 69)
13. ANYBODY HERE SEEN KELLY? (12 Aug 69)

SEASON TWO 19 September – 12 December 1970
1. THE MARTIN KESSEL FILE (19 Sep 70)
2. THE WHITE ABYSS (26 Sep 70)
3. TO PAY PAUL (3 Oct 70)
4. DOUBLE DEAL (10 Oct 70)
5. THE HARLAND AFFAIR (17 Oct 70)
6. INQUEST (24 Oct 70)
7. PEOPLE CAN GO TOO FAR (31 Oct 70)
8. REMISSION – NEGATIVE (7 Nov 70)
9. WHIZZ KID (14 Nov 70)
10. THE GREAT BLANKET FACTORY SWINDLE (21 Nov 70)
11. THE HOT-MONEY MAN (28 Nov 70)
12. GOLDEN ISLAND (5 Dec 70)
13. THE PRICE OF A COPPER (12 Dec 70)