The Sweeney: Selected Target (ITV 6 Sep 1976, with Lee Montague)

In Selected Target prominent villain Kolly Kibber is out of prison after a long stretch, The Sweeney are very interested in him. Kibber himself is very interested in his former cell mate Titus Oates whom he believes grassed on a job he has planned.

On his way to talk to Oates at the hotel he is staying in, Jack is sidetracked by a chance assignation with an air hostess and then discovers Oates room trashed and Oates missing. Carter thinks Oates has been killed (and that in effect it’s Jack’s fault for not getting there in time) but Regan is 100% certain it’s a plot and that Kibber and Oates are working together.

Regan’s right of course and unusually Kibber and Oates are planning an elaborate bank transfer sting and get away scot free with a cool two million pounds.

Kolly Kibber is a character of sorts in Graham Greene’s Brighton Rock, it’s the name on the cards used by the journalist Hale – dropping them off for a competition (people who had one of the cards could approach him, identify him as Kolly Kibber and win a cash prize). Kibber is murdered in the story by Pinkie.

Meanwhile “Titus” Oates was a real life historical character who made up the infamous “Popish Plot” – a conspiracy by the Catholics to get rid of King Charles II.

Maureen Lipman had played Regan’s married girlfriend in the original pilot for the series.

production details
UK / ITV – Thames / 1×50 minute episode / Broadcast Monday 6 September 1976 at 9.00pm

Writer: Troy Kennedy Martin / Director: Tom Clegg

Series: The Sweeney Season 3 Episode 1

cast
John Thaw as Regan
Dennis Waterman as Carter
Lee Montague as Kolly Kibber
Ronald Fraser as Titus Oates
James Aubrey as Reynes
Peter Schofield as Boothroyd
Maureen Lipman as Mrs Smedley
Jonathan Elsom as Mr Bradshaw
Basil Dignam as Moberly
Deidre Costello as Gwen Kibber
Roger Hammond as Finch
Judy Matheson as Kibber’s girlfriend
Bill Treacher as Tom
Hugh Martin as Murray
Annie Lambert as Air hostess
Frederick Marks as Detective
Roger Putt as Prison officer
James Fagan as Receptionist
Mike Elles as Porter
David Barham as Toby Bradshaw
Tracy Strand as Annie Kibber