1975, Television: “The Sweeney”

The British television series "The Sweeney" premieres on 2 January 1975. This new police drama tells the story of two members of the Flying Squad, a London Metropolitan Police branch specialised in armed robbery and violent crime. The programme made by Thames Television's film division, Euston Films, aired on ITV between 2 January 1975 and 28 December 1978. Main stars are John Thaw as Detective Inspector Jack Regan and Dennis Waterman as his partner Detective Sergeant George Carter.

"The Sweeney" started as a single drama, "Regan", in the series "Armchair Theatre". "Regan" attracted 7 million viewers, enough to be commissioned as a series. "The Sweeney" attracted 19 million viewers at its peak. Between the third and the fourth season two feature films were produced, "Sweeney!" (1977) and "Sweeney 2" (1978). The series, created by Ian Kennedy Martin, was the first modern police-based series on British television.

John Thaw as Jack Regan

John Thaw as Jack Regan and Dennis Waterman as George Carter

John Thaw as Jack Regan and Dennis Waterman as George Carter

Garfield Morgan as Frank Haskins

The cars used in the series were as famous as the characters. In series 1 to 3 the main cars were a Copper Brown Ford Consul GT 3.0 litre V6 (NHK 295M) and a Marine Blue Ford Cortina XL Mk III (NHK 296M). Other squad cars were a Astro Silver MkI Ford Granada 3.0S (NWC 301P), a White Ford Cortina GT MkIII (NWC 300P), a Copper Bronze Ford Granada 3.0 Ghia MkI (RHJ 997R), and a Strato Silver Ford Granada 2.8iS MkII (VHK491S).

Ford Consul GT 3.0 litre V6 (NHK 295M)

Main Cast

• John Thaw as Detective Inspector Jack Regan
• Dennis Waterman as Detective Sergeant George Carter
• Garfield Morgan as Detective Chief Inspector Frank Haskins
• John Alkin Detective Sergeant Tom Daniels

The Sweeney Opening Titles