Z Cars

Named after the then-new Ford Zephyr cars used as patrol vehicles in the series, Z Cars established the reputations of actors Stratford Johns, Frank Windsor, Colin Welland, Brian Blessed and James Ellis.

After the cosiness of Dixon of Dock Green, the drama attempted to counter the filmic appeal of US cop shows like Highway Patrol with 'gritty' realism.

This was achieved by close attention to authentic police procedure, observation of working-class behaviour and, most especially, the adoption of regional speech.

A typical episode might be summarised thus:

'Eeh, pet, fancy going down the dogs?'

'Appen. And we'll kill a copper an' all.'

'Gotcha! I'm undercover filth and our highly elaborate Police cross-referencing system shows you should go down for a long while.'

'I 'ate you copper!'

THE END

First aired in January 1962, Z Cars ran until September 1978.