The SweeneyQuote:
The Sweeney is a 1970s British television police drama focusing on two members of the Flying Squad, a branch of the Metropolitan Police specialising in tackling armed robbery and violent crime in London. The programme's title derives from Sweeney Todd, which is Cockney rhyming slang for "Flying Squad".
The programme was shot entirely on 16mm film by Thames Television's film division, Euston Films. It originally broadcast on ITV between 2 January 1975 and 28 December 1978 at 21:00–22:00 weekday (usually Monday) with repeated showings at the same time until the early 1980s. It starred John Thaw as Detective Inspector Jack Regan, and Dennis Waterman as his partner Detective Sergeant George Carter. Such was its popularity in the UK that it spawned two theatrically released feature film spin-offs, Sweeney! and Sweeney 2.
The series was broadcast during a dark period for the real-life Flying Squad, which in the late 1970s had been publicly censured for being involved in bribery, police corruption and excessively close links with the criminal fraternity. Unlike the unwavering high standards seen in the fictional Sweeney, the actual commander of the Flying Squad, Detective Chief Superintendent Kenneth Drury was convicted of five counts of corruption and jailed for eight years on 7 July 1977. An internal investigation, called Operation Countryman, was then launched to further stamp out corruption. A further 12 officers were convicted and many others resigned.
EpisodesSeries 1 EpisodesAll episodes were broadcast on ITV, Thursdays at 21:00.
Ringer - broadcast 02/01/1975
Jackpot - broadcast 09/01/1975
Thin Ice - broadcast 16/01/1975
Queen's Pawn - broadcast 23/01/1975
Jigsaw - broadcast 30/01/1975
Night Out - broadcast 06/02/1975
The Placer - broadcast 13/02/1975
Cover Story - broadcast 20/02/1975
Golden Boy - broadcast 27/02/1975
Stoppo Driver - broadcast 06/03/1975
Big Spender - broadcast 13/03/1975
Contact Breaker - broadcast 20/03/1975
Abduction - broadcast 27/03/1975
All Series 1 episodes were shot in 1974.
Series 2 EpisodesAll episodes were broadcast on ITV, Mondays at 21:00.
Chalk and Cheese - broadcast 01/09/1975
Faces - broadcast 08/09/1975
Supersnout - broadcast 15/09/1975
Big Brother - broadcast 22/09/1975
Hit and Run - broadcast 29/09/1975
Trap - broadcast 06/10/1975
Golden Fleece - broadcast 13/10/1975
Poppy - broadcast 20/10/1975
Stay Lucky, Eh? - broadcast 27/10/1975
Trojan Bus - broadcast 03/11/1975
I Want the Man! - broadcast 10/11/1975
Country Boy - broadcast 17/11/1975
Thou Shalt Not Kill - broadcast 24/11/1975
All Series 2 episodes were shot in 1975.
Series 3 EpisodesAll episodes were broadcast on ITV, Mondays at 21:00.
Selected Target - broadcast 06/09/1976
In from the Cold - broadcast 13/09/1976
Visiting Fireman - broadcast 20/09/1976
Tomorrow Man - broadcast 27/09/1976
Taste of Fear - broadcast 04/10/1976
Bad Apple - broadcast 11/10/1976
May * broadcast 25/10/1976
Sweet Smell of Succession - broadcast 08/11/1976
Down to You, Brother! - broadcast 22/11/1976
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gp12YKCTFn8 Payoff - broadcast 29/11/1976
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoUXgPNvOL8 Loving Arms - broadcast 06/12/1976
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oL1eYEFh-tg Lady Luck - broadcast 13/12/1976
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnMW3lcX_HE On The Run - broadcast 20/12/1976
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUij5lj2zGY
Series 4 EpisodesAll episodes were broadcast on ITV, Thursdays at 21:00.
Messenger of the Gods - broadcast 07/09/1978
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3o9uq5 Hard Men - broadcast 14/09/1978
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3o9u ... ard-men_tv Drag Act - broadcast 21/09/1978
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3o9u ... rag-act_tv Trust Red - broadcast 28/09/1978
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3o9u ... ust-red_tv Nightmare - broadcast 05/10/1978
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3o9u ... ghtmare_tv Money, Money, Money - broadcast 12/10/1978
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3o9u ... y-money_tv Bait - broadcast 19/10/1978
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3o9u ... -7-bait_tv The Bigger They Are - broadcast 26/10/1978
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3o9u ... hey-are_tv Feet of Clay - broadcast 02/11/1978
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3o9u ... of-clay_tv One of Your Own - broadcast 09/11/1978
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3o9u ... our-own_tv Hearts and Minds - broadcast 23/11/1978
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3o9u ... d-minds_tv Latin Lady - broadcast 30/11/1978
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3o9u ... in-lady_tv Victims - broadcast 14/12/1978
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3o9u ... victims_tv Jack or Knave? - broadcast 28/12/1978
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3o9u ... r-knave_tvFilm adaptations Sweeney!, Sweeney 2 and The Sweeney (2012 film)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sweeney#Episodes