Series synopsis
The Detectives is a British comedy television series that premiered on BBC One on January 27, 1993. It ended on February 18, 1997. It was created by Jasper Carrott. It stars Robert Powell, George Sewell, Jasper Carrott and Jimmy Tarbuck.
The absurd adventures of two defective detectives, who - despite unbelievable incompetence - somehow manage to solve their cases (or be nearby when the cases are solved) and retain their jobs.
Premise
The absurd adventures of two defective detectives, who - despite unbelievable incompetence - somehow manage to solve their cases (or be nearby when the cases are solved) and retain their jobs.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Robert Powell as Dave Briggs
- George Sewell as Superintendent Cottam
- Jasper Carrott as Bob Louis
- Jimmy Tarbuck as McKenna
- John Nettles as Jim Bergerac
- Philip Glenister as Uniformed Officer
- Christopher Villiers as Dr Phipps
- Eamonn Walker as D.I. Tyler
Supporting cast
- Nick Brimble as Jan
- Ron Cook as Blind Billy
- Adam Godley as D.C. Dominic Boyle
- Jerry Hall as Jerry Palmer
- Amanda Mealing as Emily Ford
- Jon Cartwright as The Earl of Lisson
- Adam Maxwell as Police Officer
- Noel Coleman as The Butler
- Laura Beckford as Receptionist
- Candida Rundle as Chambermaid
- Peter Geeves as Chef
- Nick Ball as Barman
Guest cast
- Jimmy Tarbuck as McKenna
- John Nettles as Jim Bergerac
- Philip Glenister as Uniformed Officer
- Christopher Villiers as Dr Phipps
- Eamonn Walker as D.I. Tyler
- Nick Brimble as Jan
- Ron Cook as Blind Billy
- Adam Godley as D.C. Dominic Boyle
- Jerry Hall as Jerry Palmer
- Amanda Mealing as Emily Ford
- Jon Cartwright as The Earl of Lisson
- Adam Maxwell as Police Officer
Episodes
This series spans 6 seasons with 31 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 0 | 2 | December 23, 1995 | December 28, 1997 |
| Season 1 | 6 | January 27, 1993 | March 3, 1993 |
| Season 2 | 6 | March 2, 1994 | April 6, 1994 |
| Season 3 | 6 | January 9, 1995 | February 13, 1995 |
| Season 4 | 5 | February 15, 1996 | March 14, 1996 |
| Season 5 | 6 | January 14, 1997 | February 18, 1997 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Thicker Than Water 'Tis the season to be jolly! And whilst others may be celebrating, our plucky detective duo, Louis and Briggs, can only think of one thing - avoiding the dreaded Christmas duty. |
December 23, 1995 |
| 2 |
Go West, Old Man When Chief Superintendent Cottam suddenly disappears, Briggs and Louis follow his trail all the way to Canada to try to get him to come back to England, but will he be easily persuaded? |
December 28, 1997 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
What The Butler Saw When the Earl of Lisson is murdered, Briggs and Louis try to discover ""who dunnit"". |
January 27, 1993 |
| 2 |
Hostage A fanatical murderer has escaped from prison and Superintendent Cottam orders Briggs and Louis to catch him but the two detectives would rather be watching the F.A. Cup Final. |
February 3, 1993 |
| 3 |
Teed Off Johnny McKenna is an arms dealer and a keen golfer. Briggs and Louis have to get evidence of his illegal activities. |
February 10, 1993 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Collared Suspended after an unfortunate incident involving a suspected bomb in a briefcase, Briggs and Louis decide to gain favour by nicking some serious East End villains. |
March 2, 1994 |
| 2 |
Witness Two tough detectives are required to go undercover at a monastery. Unable to find any, the Super employs Briggs and Louis. |
March 9, 1994 |
| 3 |
Never Without Protection A Duchess keeps appearing in the tabloids canoodling withher police bodyguards. What the Super needs are two completely unappealing detectives... |
March 16, 1994 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
D.C. Of Love As a lonely and meaningless retirement beckons after 25 years on the force, the boys are given the task of finding 'The Black Widow' after a series of gruesome lonely hearts murders. |
January 9, 1995 |
| 2 |
Flash After mixing their drinks at the policemen's ball, Louis and Briggs confront a new horror involving a flasher, a Marquess and the commissioner's wife. |
January 16, 1995 |
| 3 |
Art Attack When forced to transfer into the Fine Arts Squad, our heroes are despatched to recover the latest artistic creation of 'enfant terrible' Hadyn Smailes - a pair of maracas, a tin of peaches and a fish tank of the artist's own urine. |
January 23, 1995 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Great Escaper Louis and Briggs are cuffed to a notoriously slippery customer as they escort him to his latest prison by train. So how do they end up crossing the Yorkshire moors carrying a toilet door? |
February 15, 1996 |
| 2 |
Fur Coat, No Knickers Louis and Briggs are called in to investigate a murder that has taken place during the re-creation of a medieval battle scene. However they are more concerned with the police football quiz. |
February 15, 1996 |
| 3 |
Back To Class After Briggs and Louis manage to murder the last female white-flippered turtle on the planet, they are only too pleased to investigate a drug scandal at an exclusive girls school. |
February 29, 1996 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Special Branch The Superintendent selects the duo for a particularly sensitive assignment. His granddaughter has become involved in an anti-road protest and he needs Louis and Briggs to 'rescue' her. |
January 14, 1997 |
| 2 |
Cardiac Arrest When a gang member is shot during a getaway, Briggs and Louis are dispatched to the hospital. But with so many sick people, doctors and nurses around, Louis' hypochondria knows no bounds... |
January 21, 1997 |
| 3 |
The Beast Of Hackney Marshes A night patrolling the marshes, on the lookout for an escaped bear, is really not what our heroes had in mind - particularly when their umbrella act for the Super's variety show is really coming together. |
January 28, 1997 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | BBC One |
|---|---|
| First aired | January 27, 1993 |
| Last aired | February 18, 1997 |
| Runtime | 25 minutes |
| Status | ended |