Series synopsis
Softly, Softly is a British drama crime television series that premiered on BBC One on January 5, 1966. It ended on December 15, 1976. It was created by Troy Kennedy Martin. It stars Daphne Heard, Ysanne Churchman, Roddy McMillan and Jack Watling.
Softly, Softly is a British television drama series, produced by the BBC and screened on BBC 1 from January 1966. It centred around the work of regional crime squads, plain-clothes CID officers based in the fictional region of Wyvern, supposedly in the Bristol area of England.
Premise
Softly, Softly is a British television drama series, produced by the BBC and screened on BBC 1 from January 1966. It centred around the work of regional crime squads, plain-clothes CID officers based in the fictional region of Wyvern, supposedly in the Bristol area of England.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Daphne Heard
- Ysanne Churchman
- Roddy McMillan
- Jack Watling
- Godfrey Quigley
- John Challis
- Nerys Hughes
- David Prowse
Supporting cast
- Peter Cellier
- William Fox
- Katy Manning
- Tom Baker
- Margaret John
- Geoffrey Palmer
- Terence de Marney
- Kenneth Watson
- James Copeland
- Gertan Klauber
- Pauline Quirke
- Michael Gambon
Guest cast
Episodes
This series spans 12 seasons with 269 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 26 | January 5, 1966 | June 29, 1966 |
| Season 2 | 31 | November 2, 1966 | May 31, 1967 |
| Season 3 | 26 | October 4, 1967 | April 4, 1968 |
| Season 4 | 27 | September 12, 1968 | March 13, 1969 |
| Season 5 | 26 | September 11, 1969 | March 12, 1970 |
| Season 6 | 26 | September 16, 1970 | March 10, 1971 |
| Season 7 | 26 | October 6, 1971 | March 29, 1972 |
| Season 8 | 20 | September 13, 1972 | January 31, 1973 |
| Season 9 | 18 | September 12, 1973 | January 16, 1974 |
| Season 10 | 13 | September 4, 1974 | November 27, 1974 |
| Season 11 | 15 | August 25, 1975 | December 3, 1975 |
| Season 12 | 15 | September 8, 1976 | December 15, 1976 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Off Beat | January 5, 1966 |
| 2 | A Local Touch | January 12, 1966 |
| 3 | The Misinformer | January 19, 1966 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Inside Out The regional Crime Squad has moved from Gloucester to Di John Watt's building in Wyvern. The move does not please Watt or his detectives as it brings them directly under the eyes of their bosses. Meantime a crime has been committed by a man the Squad has every reason to believe cannot have committed it. |
November 2, 1966 |
| 2 |
All That Glitters Three apparently unrelated facts turn out to have a fascinating connection. A former criminal, now crippled, lives like a lord but has no visible means of support. A film unit arrives in the area to make a television documentary. And a mysterious and ambiguous note arrives on John Watt's desk. |
November 9, 1966 |
| 3 |
The Jackpot A new gambling club is due to open and already the manager has been 'invited' to pay protection money to a man from a firm that supplies fruit machines. The Squad investigate, and they don't like what they find. |
November 16, 1966 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Target (1) Sighted | October 4, 1967 |
| 2 | The Target (2) Point Blank | October 11, 1967 |
| 3 | Material Evidence | October 18, 1967 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Theory The No. 11 District squad has just completed a rearrangement of their Headquarters accommodation, taking over the house next door to provide extra space; and to bring Gilbert and Barlow into closer proximity with Watt and his team. |
September 12, 1968 |
| 2 | Proof | September 19, 1968 |
| 3 | Bird Of Passage | September 26, 1968 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Recovery DC Morgan receives information that a big art robbery will take place. The squad acts... but so does the thief. |
September 11, 1969 |
| 2 |
Flash Point Barlow is enjoying a pint at the pub when Watt's girl friend, Dr. Jean Morrow, tells him about an old lady who has been brutally attacked for the sake of a few pounds. Jean's story shocks Barlow into involving the squad in immediate action. |
September 18, 1969 |
| 3 |
In At the Death When the head of a successful firm dies there is always someone waiting to step into his shoes. In this case the dead man's business venture is believed to be crooked and DS Hawkins is closely concerned as to who will fill his place. |
September 25, 1969 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baptism | September 16, 1970 |
| 2 | Sunday, Sweet Sunday | September 23, 1970 |
| 3 | Safe in the Streets? | September 30, 1970 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Once Bitten | October 6, 1971 |
| 2 | Hostage | October 13, 1971 |
| 3 | The Floater | October 20, 1971 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spit and Polish | September 13, 1972 |
| 2 | Killer | September 20, 1972 |
| 3 |
Surveillance Observation is being kept at the scene of an intended robbery. PC Snow is one of the watchers and he later finds himself in considerable danger. |
September 27, 1972 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Errors | September 12, 1973 |
| 2 |
Signed Off A policeman is missing. Is there anything sinister in his disappearance, or is there a simple explanation? |
September 19, 1973 |
| 3 |
A Quiet Man A quiet morning: a milkman on his round in a residential street. But the peace is soon shattered. |
September 26, 1973 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alert | September 4, 1974 |
| 2 |
You Don't Have to Shout, I'm Listening Masur Jemal suddenly goes berserk in the garage where he works. No-one has any idea why. A member of the Task Force has been hit on the head with a spanner while trying to restrain Jamal and could be badly hurt. When Task Force investigate they find things are worse than they suspected. |
September 11, 1974 |
| 3 |
Worth a Million A job is being planned. John Watt knows when and by whom, but he doesn't know where or what. |
September 18, 1974 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Feedback | August 25, 1975 |
| 2 | High Life | September 3, 1975 |
| 3 | Protection | September 10, 1975 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Not with a Bang... | September 8, 1976 |
| 2 | There's Always Tomorrow | September 15, 1976 |
| 3 | Say It with Flowers | September 22, 1976 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | BBC One |
|---|---|
| First aired | January 5, 1966 |
| Last aired | December 15, 1976 |
| Runtime | 50 minutes |
| Status | ended |
| Schedule | Wednesday |