Z Cars (1962-1978)
Z Cars or Z-Cars was a British television drama series centred on the work of mobile uniformed police in the fictional town of Newtown, based on Kirkby, Merseyside. Produced by the BBC, it debuted in January 1962 and ran until September 1978.
The series differed sharply from earlier police procedurals. With its less-usual Northern setting, it injected a new element of harsh realism into the image of the police, which some found unwelcome.
Z Cars ran for a total of 803 episodes, of which fewer than half have survived. Regular stars included Stratford Johns (Detective Inspector Barlow), Frank Windsor (Det. Sgt Watt), James Ellis (Bert Lynch) and Brian Blessed ("Fancy" Smith). Barlow and Watt were later spun into a separate series "Softly, Softly".
The name Z Cars relates to an imaginary "Z" Division of the local constabulary. The theme tune was based on a traditional Liverpool folk song, and was adopted by Everton Football Club as its official anthem.
Recent Episodes
Episode | Name | Airdate |
---|---|---|
S12E13 | Pressure | Sep 20, 1978 |
S12E12 | Departures | Sep 13, 1978 |
S12E11 | Prey | Sep 6, 1978 |
S12E10 | Rummage | Aug 30, 1978 |
S12E09 | Deserter | Aug 23, 1978 |
Cast
Michael Forrest
David Daker
Geoffrey Whitehead
Brian Blessed
Jeremy Kemp
Joseph Brady
Frank Windsor
John Barrie
Characters
DC Glyn Hicks (1962–1964)
PC Owen Culshaw (1967–1968)
PC Ken Baker (1964–1965)
PC "Fancy" Smith (1962–1965)
PC Bob Steele (1962-1963)
PC "Jock" Weir (1962–1965, 1967-1968)
DS John Watt (1962-1965)
DI/DCI Sam Hudson (1967, 1968)
Also known as
- Z-Cars
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