Crime drama series Dixon of Dock Green featured an ageing Jack Warner as Constable George Dixon (later to be a sergeant earning his stripes on 19 September 1964) working in the East End of London.
Created by Ted Willis the character of Dixon had first been seen in the 1949 film The Blue Lamp. Dixon met his death in that film at the hands of young Dirk Bogarde, however Willis revived the character for a play and then the BBC series.
Dixon was widowed with a daughter (played initially by Billie Whitelaw and later by Jeannette Hutchinson) and the series focused more on the everyday life in the police station and petty crime rather than the hard hitting stuff other cop shows concentrated on.
Other regulars on the series included PC Andy Crawford (Peter Byrne), Sgt Flint (Arthur Rigby) and Sgt Grace Millard (Moira Mannion). With over 300 episodes to its credit by the time the show finished in 1976 Dixon was solid family viewing, even if it had begun to seem a little dated by then what with Regan and Carter of The Sweeney bringing a new realism to TV Cops.
By the time of the series finish after 21 years on the air Jack Warner was 85, definitely the oldest cop on the box. His role on the show by this stage mainly consisted of his opening and closing homilies and a couple of scenes in the station.
Cast: JACK WARNER as George Dixon; PETER BYRNE as Andy Crawford; BILLIE WHITELAW as Mary Dixon/Crawford(1); JEANNETTE HUTCHINSON as Mary(2); GEOFFREY ADAMS as PC ‘Laudy’ Lauderdale; ARTHUR RIGBY as Desk Segt Flint; NEIL WILSON as PC ‘Tubb’ Barrell; MOIRA MANNION as Sgt Grace Millard
Creator: Ted Willis / Theme Music: An Ordinary Copper composed by Jeff Darnell / Harmonica Solo by Tommy Riley
UK / BBC-1 / 367×50 minute episodes / 1955-76
