Series synopsis
The Sweeney is a British action & adventure drama crime television series that premiered on ITV1 on January 2, 1975. It ended on December 28, 1978. It was created by Ian Kennedy Martin. It stars John Thaw, Dennis Waterman, Garfield Morgan and Brian Wilde.
Jack Regan, an unethical officer of the Flying Squad, uses unorthodox methods to pursue criminals with the help of his partner, George Carter.
Premise
Jack Regan, an unethical officer of the Flying Squad, uses unorthodox methods to pursue criminals with the help of his partner, George Carter.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- John Thaw as Det. Insp. Jack Regan
- Dennis Waterman as Det. Sgt. George Carter
- Garfield Morgan as Det. Chief Insp. Frank Haskins
- Brian Wilde as Stanley Hedges
- Wanda Ventham as Brenda
- T. P. McKenna as Det. Supt. Grant
- Prunella Gee as Sandy Williams
- Tony Jay as Lambourne
Supporting cast
- Gertan Klauber as Emilio
- Gary Waldhorn as Alan Fowler
- Tony Anholt as Mark Colebrook
- Alun Armstrong as Peter Jenner
- Edward Hardwicke as Bellcourt
- George Cole as Dennis Longfield
- Roger Brierley as Psychiatrist
- Patrick Malahide as Mason
- Geoffrey Palmer as Commander Watson
- Leslie Dwyer as Ted Greenhead
- Anne Stallybrass as Doreen Haskins
- Henry Woolf as Jimmy Dancer
Guest cast
- Brian Wilde as Stanley Hedges
- Wanda Ventham as Brenda
- T. P. McKenna as Det. Supt. Grant
- Prunella Gee as Sandy Williams
- Tony Jay as Lambourne
- Gertan Klauber as Emilio
- Gary Waldhorn as Alan Fowler
- Tony Anholt as Mark Colebrook
- Alun Armstrong as Peter Jenner
- Edward Hardwicke as Bellcourt
- George Cole as Dennis Longfield
- Roger Brierley as Psychiatrist
Episodes
This series spans 4 seasons with 53 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 13 | January 2, 1975 | March 27, 1975 |
| Season 2 | 13 | September 1, 1975 | November 24, 1975 |
| Season 3 | 13 | September 6, 1976 | December 20, 1976 |
| Season 4 | 14 | September 7, 1978 | December 28, 1978 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Ringer After Regan’s car is stolen with invaluable surveillance photos from a stakeout, the thief gives a heads-up to Sweeney’s target. |
January 2, 1975 |
| 2 |
Jackpot Regan’s flying squad falls under suspicion after they apprehend a gang of hijackers, but a bag with 35,000 pounds in it has somehow disappeared. |
January 9, 1975 |
| 3 |
Thin Ice Regan clashes with an arrogant police superintendent when a crime kingpin is allowed to leave the country and go to France. |
January 16, 1975 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Chalk and Cheese Giles Nunn and Carrie Selhurst are an upper crust couple who, partly for kicks and for the profits, commit highway robbery in lonely country lanes, along with the lower class boy Tommy Garret, whose dad is a friend of George Carter. Regan is on to them and Carrie gets arrested, but her unwillingness to cooperate leads to the death of the next victim. |
September 1, 1975 |
| 2 |
Faces When a gang hijack an armoured security truck, Regan, Carter and the Flying Squad set up an ambush to catch the crooks. But who's the informer ? |
September 8, 1975 |
| 3 |
Supersnout An informant of Regan’s tells him about a hijack involving a lorryload of cigarettes where he will be the look-out man. But can Regan trust his snout? |
September 15, 1975 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Selected Target While in prison, inmates Titus Oates and Colly Kibber plan a robbery. |
September 6, 1976 |
| 2 |
In from the Cold Regan and Carter go after Billy Medhurst, implicated in a robbery that resulted in a policeman being shot and crippled. But is the past clouding Regan's judgement? |
September 13, 1976 |
| 3 |
Visiting Fireman Regan gets involved in a secret government deal, thanks to Shebbeq, a Turkish cop. |
September 20, 1976 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Messenger of the Gods Regan and Carter have a suspect in mind for the theft of a consignment of mercury, but he has an alibi. |
September 7, 1978 |
| 2 |
Hard Men Regan and Carter are reluctantly teamed up with a Scottish officer. |
September 14, 1978 |
| 3 |
Drag Act The Sweeney get incorrect information from informants, allowing a gang of villains to make off with some contraband alcohol. |
September 21, 1978 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | ITV1 |
|---|---|
| First aired | January 2, 1975 |
| Last aired | December 28, 1978 |
| Runtime | 60 minutes |
| Status | ended |
| Schedule | Thursday |