Special Branch (TV series)

Special Branch is a British television series made by Thames Television for ITV and shown between 1969-1970 and 1973-1974. A police drama series, the action was centred on members of the Special Branch counterintelligence and counterterrorism department of the London Metropolitan Police. The first two series starred Derren Nesbitt, before the programme went through an overhaul, with George Sewell taking over as the new lead.

Special Branch
Title card, series 2
Genre	Police drama
Starring	Derren Nesbitt Wensley Pithey Fulton Mackay George Sewell Roger Rowland Patrick Mower
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language	English
No. of series	4
No. of episodes	53 (list of episodes)
Production
Production companies	Thames (series 1–2) Euston Films for Thames (series 3–4)
Original release
Network	ITV
Release	17 September 1969 (1969-09-17) – 9 May 1974 (1974-05-09)

Production

The first two series were shot mainly in a studio on videotape with filmed location inserts; a standard method of the time but one which suffered from jarring differences in picture quality between interior and exterior scenes.^[1] The location scenes of some episodes were shot on outside broadcast cameras, leading to smoother transitions between location and studio work for those episodes. Series 1 and 2 starred Derren Nesbitt as Detective Chief Inspector (DCI) Jordan, working for Detective Superintendent Eden (Wensley Pithey) and subsequently Det. Supt. Inman (Fulton Mackay). The episodes featuring Eden (the first nine of Series 1) were recorded in black-and-white, while all subsequent episodes were recorded on colour videotape.

The show was revamped in 1973 after Thames Television's Euston Films subsidiary took over production using film, which allowed for a less studio-based series.^[1] Euston Films had pioneered the technique of shooting action and adventure series entirely on location using 16mm film, for a more gritty and realistic look. These episodes starred George Sewell as DCI Alan Craven and Roger Rowland as DS Bill North. In series 3 episode 2, Patrick Mower debuted as Craven's colleague and often antagonist, DCI Tom Haggerty. By the 1974 series Bill North had been axed, having had a nervous breakdown, though he returned for one episode later in the run as a Detective Inspector in CID.

Representing the Ministry in the first two series was Moxon, and later Strand, who appeared in the fourth series. Played by Morris Perry and Paul Eddington respectively, Moxon and Strand were similar: supercilious civil servants who kept an unwanted eye on the detectives and their budgets. They sometimes manipulated them in order to pursue obscure matters of state, such as in the first series episode "Reliable Sources", where Moxon connives to have Eden sidelined into a Home Office working party role.

The theme music for series 1 was by Norman Kay. For series 2, 3 and 4 it was by Robert Sharples under the pseudonym Robert Earley.^[2]

The 1973/74 series of this police drama is notable for being the first production by Euston Films, later responsible for such series as The Sweeney and Minder.^[3] The influence on The Sweeney is clear, although the rough-and-tumble nature of that show is fairly lacking in Special Branch.

Both Sewell and Mower later starred as villains in The Sweeney, while Sweeney star Dennis Waterman appeared in the 1974 Special Branch episode "Stand and Deliver" as a criminal.^[4] Perry appeared occasionally in a role similar to Moxon as the political and manipulative Detective Superintendent Maynon. Mower later went on to star in the 1977–78 BBC police series Target.^[5]

The 1973 and 1974 series have been released on Region Two DVD by Network, and both sets include an episode from the original Thames TV series. The 1969 series was released as a four-disc DVD set by Network in January 2007, and the 1970 series was released as a Website Exclusive in November 2007. All four series were released on DVD by Network in 2008, in a 16-disc box-set featuring all 53 episodes. The 1973 series was released on Region One DVD by Acorn, which labelled it "set one".

As with the later The Sweeney, the on-screen offices of Special Branch were located in Hammersmith.

Filming locations

Multiple episodes of Special Branch used Ennismore Garden Mews, SW7, as a filming location.^[6]

Cast

Derren Nesbitt era

• Derren Nesbitt as Detective Chief Inspector Elliot Jordan (27 episodes, 1969–1970)
• Wensley Pithey as Detective Superintendent Eden (9 episodes, 1969)
• Fulton Mackay as Detective Chief Superintendent Alec Inman (18 episodes, 1969–1970)
• Morris Perry as Charles Moxon (22 episodes, 1969–1970)
• David Garth as Deputy Commander (7 episodes, 1969–1970)
• Keith Washington as Detective Constable John Morrissey (15 episodes, 1969–1970)
• Sandra Bryant as Christine Morris (6 episodes, 1969–1970)
• Jennifer Wilson as Detective Sergeant Helen Webb (6 episodes, 1969)
• Anne Rutter as Detective Constable Jane Simpson (4 episodes, 1970)

George Sewell era

• George Sewell as Detective Chief Inspector Alan Craven (26 episodes, 1973–1974)
• Roger Rowland as Detective Sergeant Bill North (14 episodes, 1973–1974)
• Patrick Mower as Detective Chief Inspector Tom Haggerty (16 episodes, 1973–1974)
• Paul Eddington as Strand (11 episodes, 1974)
• Frederick Jaeger as Commander Fletcher (8 episodes, 1974)
• Sheila Scott Wilkinson as Pam Sloane (7 episodes, 1973)
• Paul Antrim as Detective Sergeant Maguire (7 episodes, 1974)
• Richard Leech as Chief Superintendent Knight (5 episodes, 1973–1974)
• Susan Jameson as Detective Sergeant Mary Holmes (4 episodes, 1974)
• Peter Jeffrey as Chief Inspector Pettiford (1 episode, 1973)

Guest appearances

Notable actors appearing included: Paul Darrow ("Smokescreen"), Dino Shafeek and Windsor Davies ("The Promised Land"), Garfield Morgan and Rula Lenska ("Something About a Soldier"), Jacqueline Pearce ("Catherine the Great"), Cyd Hayman ("Rendezvous"), Susan Jameson as Detective Sergeant Mary Holmes ("Date of Birth", "Intercept", and "Downwind of Angels"), John Bindon ("Intercept"), Peter Bowles and Janet Key ("Downwind of Angels"), Nicolette McKenzie ("Diversion"), Denis Lill ("Diversion"), Kenneth Colley ("Date of Birth"), Valerie Leon ("Sounds Sinister") June Brown ("Entente Cordiale"), Annette Crosbie ("The Other Man"), Michael Gambon and Nadim Sawalha, ("Hostage"), Dennis Waterman and Stephanie Turner (as brother and sister in "Stand and Deliver"), Stephanie Beacham ("Threat"), Richard Marner ("Polonaise"), Roger Lloyd Pack ("Red Herring"), Gareth Thomas ("Alien"), Tony Haygarth ("You Won't Remember Me") and Walter Gotell ("Intercept").

Episodes

Series overview

Series	Start date	End date	Episodes
1	17 September 1969	17 December 1969	14
2	11 August 1970	4 November 1970	13
3	4 April 1973	4 July 1973	13
4	14 February 1974	9 May 1974	13

Series 1 (1969)

Episode #	Title	Transmission Date	Writer	Director	Guest cast
1	Troika	17 September 1969	George Markstein	Mike Vardy	Sandra Bryant, Ivor Danvers, Roger Rowland, Donald Pelmear, John Livesey, Brian Ellis, Richard McNeff, Ray Barron
2	Smokescreen	24 September 1969	George Markstein	James Goddard	Sandra Bryant, Paul Darrow, John Dunbar, John Robinson, Edina Ronay, Donald Pelmear
3	The Promised Land	1 October 1969	Trevor Preston	Dennis Vance	Geoffrey Bayldon, Windsor Davies, Arnold Peters, Dino Shafeek, Martin Wyldeck, Mary Healey, George Lee, Arnold Diamond
4	A Date With Leonidas	8 October 1969	Scott Forbes	Dennis Vance	Brenda Cowling, Michael Harding, Joan Hooley, Kenneth Gilbert, Michael Keating, Damien Thomas, Robert Webber, Jon Croft
5	The Kazmirov Affair	15 October 1969	Emanuel Litvinoff	Mike Vardy	John Bailey, Edward Burnham, Ros Drinkwater, Patricia Lawrence, Gerald Sim, Ray Smith
6	A New Face	22 October 1969	Tom Brennand & Roy Bottomley	Peter Duguid	Tom Chadbon, John Levene, Doreen Mantle, Nicola Pagett, Tony Rohr, Anthony Sagar, Frances Tomelty, David Simeon
7	You Don't Exist	29 October 1969	Anthony Skene	Dennis Vance	Mel Martin, Harry Meacher, Clive Merrison
8	The Children of Delight	5 November 1969	Adele Rose	Peter Duguid	John Abineri, Tony Caunter, Sheila Fearn, Howard Goorney, Arnold Ridley, Heather Emmanuel
9	Reliable Sources	12 November 1969	Tom Brennand & Roy Bottomley	Dennis Vance	Tony Britton, David Collings, Norman Claridge
10	Short Change	19 November 1969	George Markstein	William G. Stewart	Sandra Bryant, Tommy Godfrey, Maurice Good, Peter Thornton
11	Exit a Diplomat	26 November 1969	C. Scott Forbes	Voytek	Hamilton Dyce, Cheryl Hall, Barbara Leigh-Hunt, Gary Watson, Donald Bisset, Hugh Morton, David Joyce, Billy Milton, George Pravda
12	Care of Her Majesty	3 December 1969	Robert Banks Stewart	Jonathan Alwyn	John Bryans, Angela East, John Franklyn-Robbins, Hilary Dwyer, Geoffrey Lumsden, Alec Ross
13	Visitor from Moscow	10 December 1969	Paul Wheeler	Dennis Vance	Alan Browning, Alan Haines, Ronald Magill, Claire Nielson, Jack Shepherd, Raymond Westwell
14	Time Bomb	17 December 1969	David Gordon	Voytek	Edward Atienza, Harold Kasket, Aubrey Richards, Mohammad Shamsi

Note: Episodes 1-9 were made in black & white, colour from episode 10 onwards

Series 2 (1970)

Episode #	Title	Transmission Date	Writer	Director	Guest cast
1	Inside	11 August 1970	Trevor Preston	Guy Verney	Michael Goodliffe, Constantine Gregory, Kenneth Watson, Wendy Gifford, Hayden Jones, Michael Goldie, David Jackson
2	Dinner Date	18 August 1970	George Markstein	William G. Stewart	John Rolfe, Arnold Diamond, Arthur Cox, John Bailey, Frederick Jaeger, David Hargreaves
3	Depart in Peace	25 August 1970	Alun Falconer	Mike Vardy	David Langton, Bryan Marshall
4	Miss International	1 September 1970	Tom Brennand & Roy Bottomley	James Goddard	Jasmina Hilton, Marc Boyle, Richard McNeff
5	Warrant for a Phoenix	8 September 1970	Stewart Farrar	James Goddard	Paul Stassino, John Bennett, Stephen Greif, Clifford Rose
6	The Pleasure of Your Company	16 September 1970	George Markstein	William G. Stewart	Bruce Boa, Peter Arne, Derek Murcott
7	Not to Be Trusted	23 September 1970	Martin Worth	Guy Verney	William Lucas, Alethea Charlton, Emrys Jones, Ania Marson, Denis Goacher
8	Borderline Case	30 September 1970	Lewis Greifer	Tom Clegg	Richard Davies, Richard Durden, Tony Caunter, Leon Lissek, Georgina Simpson, Davyd Harries
9	Love from Doris	7 October 1970	C. Scott Forbes	John Russell	Alister Williamson, Mona Hammond, Hugh Futcher, John Woodnutt, James Marcus, Georgina Hale, Kevin Stoney, Dermot Tuohy, Ray Barron, Ken Barker
10	Sorry Is Just a Word	14 October 1970	Michael Chapman	James Goddard	Sheila Raynor, Gabrielle Drake, Sarah Thomas, James Cossins, Gary Watson, Robin Wentworth
11	Error of Judgement	21 October 1970	Peter Hill	Guy Verney	Basil Dignam, Robert Aldous, Gabrielle Blunt, Miranda Connell, Michael Lynch, Joseph O'Connell
12	Reported Missing	28 October 1970	Louis Marks	Dennis Vance	Nicola Pagett, Brian Wilde, Milos Kirek, Sheila Ruskin
13	Fool's Mate	4 November 1970	George Markstein	Dennis Vance	Sandra Bryant, Simon Lack, David Graham

Series 3 (1973)

Episode #	Title	Transmission Date	Writer	Director	Guest cast
1	A Copper Called Craven	4 April 1973	Roger Marshall	William Brayne	Peter Jeffrey,Tony Selby, Barry Jackson, Patrick Connor, Frank Jarvis
2	Round the Clock	11 April 1973	Tom Brennand & Roy Bottomley	Douglas Camfield	Patrick Fyffe, Maurice Quick
3	Inquisition	18 April 1973	Trevor Preston	Mike Vardy	Alan Downer, Keith Anderson, Clifford Rose, Clement McCallin
4	Assault	25 April 1973	Tom Brennand & Roy Bottomley	Douglas Camfield	Bob Keegan, Richard Vernon, Angus MacKay, Roger Avon, Rod Beacham, John Owens
5	Polonaise	2 May 1973	Allan Scott & Chris Bryant	Mike Vardy	Richard Marner, André Morell, George Pravda, David Weston, Bernard Archard, Michael Culver, Madeleine Christie, John Bailey, Milos Kirek
6	Red Herring	9 May 1973	Peter Hill	Mike Vardy	Norman Jones, Roger Lloyd Pack, Diana Quick, Linda Regan, Leslie Schofield, Leon Eagles, Trevor Martin, Charles Pemberton, John Abbott
7	Death by Drowning	16 May 1973	John Kershaw	Dennis Vance	Gwen Watford, Doreen Mantle, Bruce Montague, Drewe Henley, Dennis Chinnery
8	All the King's Men	23 May 1973	Trevor Preston	Dennis Vance	Geoffrey Bayldon, Ursula Howells, John Gregg, James Bree, Aubrey Richards, Paul Greenwood, Jenny McCracken, Deborah Brayshaw
9	Threat	6 June 1973	Tom Brennand & Roy Bottomley	William Brayne	Jack Hedley, Stephanie Beacham, Robert James, Keith Anderson
10	The Other Man	13 June 1973	Roger Marshall	Dennis Vance	Annette Crosbie, John Arnatt, Malcolm Terris, John Cazabon, Neal Arden, Seymour Green
11	You Won't Remember Me	20 June 1973	Anthony Skene	John Robbins	Michael Latimer, Mary Maude, Renee Houston, Tony Haygarth, Billy Milton, Tony Thawnton
12	Hostage	27 June 1973	John Kershaw	David Wickes	Ann Lynn, Michael Gambon, Mark Eden, Nadim Sawalha, Nigel Lambert, Elisabeth Sladen, Stacy Davies, Keith James, John Flint, Peter Laird
13	Blueprint for Murder	4 July 1973	Peter Hill & Ian Black	William Brayne	Kenneth Warren, William Modisane, Alex Scott, Louis Mahoney, Patrick McAlinney, Edward Jewesbury, Ronald Leigh-Hunt, Arne Gordon, Michael Godfrey

Series 4 (1974)

Episode #	Title	Transmission Date	Writer	Director	Guest cast
1	Double Exposure	14 February 1974	Michael J. Bird	Don Leaver	Gabriella Licudi, Stuart Wilson, Terence Bayler, Kenneth Watson, Ralph Watson, John Gill
2	Catherine the Great	21 February 1974	John Brason	Douglas Camfield	Jacqueline Pearce, Tony Beckley, Michael Sheard, Tommy Eytle, Neville Barber
3	Jailbait	28 February 1974	Michael Chapman	William Brayne	Paul Shelley, Clive Morton, Walter Sparrow, Fredric Abbott, Cyril Appleton, Olaf Pooley, Charles Morgan, Colette O'Neil, Stephen Greif, Arnold Peters, Jon Croft, Rod Beacham
4	Stand and Deliver	7 March 1974	Michael J. Bird	Tom Clegg	Ronald Radd, Dennis Waterman, Stephanie Turner, Christopher Benjamin, Edwin Apps, Charles Farrell
5	Something About a Soldier	14 March 1974	Michael J. Bird	William Brayne	Garfield Morgan, Godfrey James, Rula Lenska, Ivan Beavis, William Marlowe, Jack Lambert, Dave Carter
6	Rendezvous	21 March 1974	Tony Williamson	Terry Green	Cyd Hayman, Geoffrey Chater, Barbara Kellerman, Anthony Nicholls, David Webb, Richard Steele
7	Sounds Sinister	28 March 1974	David Butler	Terry Green	John Carson, Stanley Meadows, Claire Nielson, John Clive, Valerie Leon, Antony Webb, Vi Delma, Peter Cleall
8	Entente Cordiale	4 April 1974	John Kershaw	William Brayne	George Murcell, Al Mancini, Peter Halliday, June Brown, Neil Hallett, Jonathan Adams, Richard Beale, William Marlowe, Alec Linstead, Charles Pemberton, Graeme Eton
9	Date of Birth	11 April 1974	Lewis Greifer	Don Leaver	Bruce Boa, Suzanne Roquette, Kenneth Colley, Richard Beale
10	Intercept	18 April 1974	Ian Kennedy Martin	William Brayne	Walter Gotell, Maxwell Shaw, Patrick Duggan, John Bindon, Peter Miles, Arnold Diamond
11	Alien	25 April 1974	Ray Jenkins	Douglas Camfield	Ann Firbank, Keith Buckley, Patrick Troughton, Gareth Thomas, Peter Cellier, Donald Eccles, Michael Guest
12	Diversion	2 May 1974	Peter J. Hammond	William Brayne	John Cairney, Denis Lill, Nicolette McKenzie, Keith Marsh
13	Downwind of Angels	9 May 1974	Peter Hill	Tom Clegg	Peter Bowles, Janet Key, Seretta Wilson, Peter Blythe, Vicki Hodge, Antony Carrick

References

1. "BFI Screenonline: Special Branch (1969-74)". www.screenonline.org.uk.
2. "BFI Screenonline: Special Branch (1969-74) Credits". www.screenonline.org.uk.
3. "BFI Screenonline: Broadcasters and Industry Bodies > Euston Films". www.screenonline.org.uk.
4. "Stand and Deliver (1974)". BFI. Archived from the original on 15 May 2019.
5. "Target (1977)". BFI. Archived from the original on 19 May 2021.
6. Mews News Issue 32. Lurot Brand. Published winter 2011. Accessed 13 September 2013.

External links

• Special Branch at IMDb

External links

• Special Branch at IMDb
• Special Branch at the BFI's Screenonline