Something of a precursor to The Sweeney but with less location filming New Scotland Yard offered up a surprisingly realistic view of the investigations of two detectives working from police headquarters in London.
John Woodvine, who never got enough lead roles, plays Detective Chief Superintendent John Kingdom and John Carlisle plays Detective Inspector later busted down to Sergeant Alan Ward and together the pair tackle all manner of usually violent crime from murder to blackmail to extortion.
When the series returned for a fourth and final season Kingdom and Ward were gone, replaced by Detective Chief Superintendent Clay and Detective Sergeant Dexter, this season was a much shorter run of just 7 episodes too. Michael Turner, who plays Clay had previous appeared in season two episode Papa Charlie as a different DCS.
Writers on the series included such luminaries as Robert Banks Stewart, P.J. Hammond, Tony Hoare, Victor Pemberton and Peter Wildeblood. Meanwhile guest stars included the likes of Bob Hoskins, Bryan Marshall, Mel Martin, Windsor Davies, Kenneth Cranham, Alun Armstrong, Jacqueline Pearce, Sharon Duce, Rudolph Walker, James Hazledine, Margaret Nolan, Sam Kydd and Tony Selby to name just a few.
The theme tune is rather groovy too, there is no credit given for the composer but it is like a more upbeat brassy cousin of the Man At The Top theme.
production details
UK / ITV Network – London Weekend Television / 46×60 minute episodes / Broadcast from 22 April 1972 – 25 May 1974
Creator: Alun Falconer / Script Editor: Basil Dawson / Series Consultant: Ex-Detective Choief Supt. Frank Williams / Executive Producer: Rex Firkin / Producer: Jack Williams
cast
JOHN WOODVINE as Detective Chief Superintendent John Kingdom (seasons 1-3)
JOHN CARLISLE as Detective Sergeant Alan Ward (seasons 1-3)
MICHAEL TURNER as Detective Chief Superintendent Clay (season 4)
CLIVE FRANCIS as Detective Sergeant Dexter (season 4)
THE EPISODES
SEASON ONE – 24 April – 15 July 1972
1. POINT OF IMPACT (22 April 1972)
2. THE COME BACK (29 April 1972)
3. MEMORY OF A GAUNTLET (6 May 1972)
4. THE PALAIS ROMEO (13 May 1972)
5. HARD CONTRACT (20 May 1972)
6. SHOCK TACTICS (27 May 1972)
7. THE WRONG ‘UN (3 June 1972)
8. FIRE IN A HONEY POT (10 June 1972)
9. PERFECT IN EVERY WAY (17 June 1972)
10. THE BANKER (24 June 1972)
11. ASK NO QUESTIONS (1 July 1972)
12. REUNION (8 July 1972)
13. AND WHEN YOU’RE WRONG (15 July 1972)
SEASON TWO – 13 October 1972 – 12 January 1973
This second season was broadcast on Friday nights at 9.00pm but some regions (including Yorkshire, Anglia and Granada) opted out and broadcast the series on Saturdays at 8.30pm.
1. NOTHING TO LIVE FOR (13 Oct 1972)
2. A CASE OF PREJUDICE (20 Oct 1972)
3. A GATHERING OF DUST (27 Oct 1972)
4. EVIDENCE OF CHARACTER (3 Nov 1972)
5. PROVE IT (10 Nov 1972)
6. SHADOW OF A DEADBEAT (17 Nov 1972)
7. PAPA CHARLIE (24 Nov 1972)
8. ERROR OF JUDGEMENT (1 Dec 1972)
9. TWO INTO ONE WILL GO (8 Dec 1972)
10. THE MONEY GAME (15 Dec 1972)
11. WE DO WHAT WE CAN (29 Dec 1972)
12. HOAX (5 Jan 1973)
13. MY BOY ROBBY? (12 Jan 1973)
SEASON THREE – 23 June 1973 – 15 September 1973
1. WHERE’S HARRY (23 June 1973)
2. DIAMONDS ARE NEVER FOREVER (30 June 1973)
3. BULLET IN A HAYSTACK (7 July 1973)
4. WEIGHT OF EVIDENCE (14 July 1973)
5. CROSSFIRE (21 July 1973)
6. PROPERTY, DOGS AND WOMEN (28 July 1973)
7. EXCHANGE IS NO ROBBERY (4 Aug 1973)
8. DAISY CHAIN (11 Aug 1973)
9. DON’T GO OUT ALONE (18 Aug 1973)
10. THE STONE (25 Aug 1973)
11. MONOPOLY (1 Sep 1973)
12. ROGUE’S GALLERY (8 Sep 1973)
13. PIER (15 Sep 1973)
SEASON FOUR – 13 April 1974 – 25 May 1974
1. COME-BACK (13 April 1974)
2. THE TROJAN HORSE (20 April 1974)
3. DEATH BY MISADVENTURE (27 April 1974)
4. FOR ALL THEIR FAULTS (4 May 1974)
5. A MAN OF HIS WORD (11 May 1974)
6. ALL THAT GLITTERS (18 May 1974)
7. A YEAR TO KILL (25 May 1974)
