Suvarna Garge (Editor)

The Detectives

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
8.2
/
10
1
Votes
Alchetron
8.2
1 Ratings
100
90
81
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
Rate This

Rate This


Created by
  
Jasper Carrott

Original language(s)
  
English

No. of episodes
  
29 + 2 specials

Networks
  
BBC, BBC One

7.5/10
IMDb

7.4/10
TV

Country of origin
  
United Kingdom

No. of series
  
5

First episode date
  
27 January 1993

The Detectives wwwbbccoukstaticarchive3f1924479f989402994c54

Starring
  
Jasper Carrott Robert Powell George Sewell

Composers
  
Keith Strachan, Matthew Strachan

Cast
  
Jasper Carrott, Robert Powell, George Sewell, Hugh Dennis

The Detectives is a British comedy television series, starring Jasper Carrott, Robert Powell, and George Sewell. It aired on BBC One from 1993 to 1997, and was a spoof of police dramas. It was written by Mike Whitehill and Steve Knight.

Contents

Concept

The Detectives originated from a five-minute sketch that first appeared on Jasper Carrott's sketch/stand-up show Canned Carrott. Because of its success, it was turned into a television series. There were a few differences from the sketch to the TV series, such as Dave Briggs being married in the sketch (to Brenda), yet both he and Louis are single and hopeless at romance in the series, and according to one plotline both virgins.

Jasper Carrott and Robert Powell play the bumbling detective constables Bob Louis and David Briggs. They were hopeless at their job, to the despair of their "super" Frank Cottam (played by Sewell). However, they usually ended up solving their cases and retaining their jobs, though they came close to being fired on occasion. Louis was more downbeat, whereas Briggs tried to emulate the gung-ho cops shown on TV and in film.

The series has been compared to the series Special Branch (1969–74), but it bears more similarity to The Sweeney (1975–78). Sewell had starred in Special Branch and his character, Superintendent Cottam, is a spin on The Sweeney's Chief Inspector Haskins (played by Garfield Morgan). Moreover, the original sketches were introduced by a blue-tinted sequence and musical score that parodied The Sweeney's opening titles.

Each episode showcased different guest stars, and some of them played the same characters they played in other television series. An example is Leslie Grantham's appearance as Danny Kane from The Paradise Club – in another episode, John Nettles and Terence Alexander reprised their roles from Bergerac.

All of the episodes have been released on DVD.

In 2012, BBC1 broadcast a one-off sketch show The One Jasper Carrott (part of a series showcasing various comedians) which included an extended sketch about Briggs and Louis having formed an incompetent private detective agency, Sherlock and Holmes.

David Briggs (Robert Powell)

Briggs usually spoofs the leader of a crime-fighting duo that takes all the risks, leads the cases and comes up with the ideas, but is always unluckier in flirting with girls. He always thinks Bob a "pessimist". His hobbies include eating pilchards and Quavers, watching football, art, trying to impress girls and watching Manchester United (like Powell himself). His name is a reference to the creators' real life friend of the same name, who went on to develop Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? with them.

Bob Louis (Jasper Carrott)

Though being the cynic and the voice of reason, Bob Louis is as hopeless as Briggs at flirting with girls. Louis is usually better than Briggs in some ways. For instance Bob can play the guitar, while Briggs can only play Feelings on the mouth-organ. In the Canned Carrott sketches, he turned out to be already married, despite rumours to the contrary stating that they could have divorced. Like Jasper Carrott, he also supports Birmingham City. He likes doing the same things as Briggs (except for eating pilchards).

Superintendent Cottam (George Sewell)

Frank Cottam is a parody of George Sewell's earlier character in Euston Films drama Special Branch. Cottam usually gives Briggs and Louis dangerous assignments to get rid of them, but as the series progressed, he learnt that he was going to need them, one way or another. His judgements about them can change rapidly; for instance in the episode, "Sparring partners", he gave them a dangerous job out of a "perverted desire for revenge", but at the end, he said that they were "damn fine officers", although he was under the influence of a powerful natural steroid at the time.

Nozzer (Tony Selby)

Nozzer is a desk sergeant at West End Central police station. A colleague of Briggs and Louis he turns up periodically in the series. His first episode was in "Rear Window", although in this episode, Nozzer was a dog handler rather than a desk sergeant. He also appeared in DC of Love and Curse of the Comanches.

"Crusher"

Crusher Collins is a police officer who is friends with Briggs and Louis. He hasn't been shown, but recurring references were made about him: the first was the episode "Hostage" when apparently, he was driving a police van that dropped them off. In "Acting constables" we hear his voice for the first time, but the voice is unknown.

DVD releases

  • Series 1–June 2006
  • Series 2–September 2006
  • Series 3–October 2006
  • Series 4 and "Thicker Than Water" – February 2007
  • Series 5 and "Go West, Old Man" – April 2007
  • The Complete Collection – 12 November 2007
  • References

    The Detectives Wikipedia