History Series / TheSweeney

A classic British CopShow from the 1970s featuring CowboyCop Inspector Jack Regan (Creator/JohnThaw) and his sidekick Sergeant George Carter (Dennis Waterman) of the [[UsefulNotes/ScotlandYard Metropolitan Police]] Flying Squad (Rhyming slang: "Theatre/SweeneyTodd" = "Flying Squad", hence the title), an elite detective unit dealing with armed robbery.

** "Supersnout" has Carter make a reference to ''Film/GetCarter''. The episode features Rosemarie Dunham, who was in the film. Other actors from the film to appear in the series were Creator/IanHendry, George Sewell and Alun Armstrong.

* DisguisedInDrag: In "Big Spender", a character played by Warren Mitchell (better known for ''Series/TillDeathUsDoPart'') escapes from villains by dressing up in his girlfriend's clothes and a wig. Regan and Carter turn up. "Ooh Mr Wardle, you do look nice!"

* CatapaultNightmare: A variation in "Nightmare". Regan's girlfriend has a prophetic nightmare of Jack in danger that ends with her screaming in terror, MatchCut with her awake in the same position screaming as Jack sits up next to her in bed and tries to comfort her.

** Amongst those who made guest appearances were Creator/BrianBlessed, Creator/WarrenClarke, Creator/JohnRhysDavies, Creator/JulianGlover, Creator/IanHendry, Creator/JohnHurt, Creator/MichaelSheard, Creator/PatrickTroughton, Creator/PeterVaughan and Creator/RichardWilson.

* MagicalSecurityCam: One hand-held 8mm character gave two different views of the same armoured car robbery.

* PlayingGertrude: Although John Thaw was only 32 when the show premiered, his character Regan was well into his forties.

* TheyFightCrime: He's a tough, no-nonsense, bends-the-rules older cop who's quick-witted and with an eye for drink and the ladies! He's a younger, more inexperienced cop who wants to follow the rulebook yet respects his older partner! They fight crime!

** Haskins is also absent from season two's "Supersnout", with Bill Maynard's Det. Chief Insp. Stephen Quirk filling his role.

* CatholicSchoolGirlsRule: DS Carter makes some lurid comments about the attractiveness of girls in school uniforms in "Taste of Fear". On another occasion Jack Regan is meeting an informant in the park when a couple of schoolgirls walk by and one of them [[PantyShot bends over to pick something up]]. Seeing Regan's distraction, the informant quips: "I could be arrested for doing what you're thinking!"

* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: The second episode, "Jackpot", has a captured bank robber interrogated for the whereabouts of a missing take. [[spoiler: he pulled the heist to fund a kidney transplant for his daughter abroad, and the villains aren't keen to honour his share after his arrest and imprisonment.]]

** In "Feet of Clay" an ex-informer turned businessman's son is kidnapped. It turns out to be a scam.

* CopKillerManhunt: The penultimate episode "Victims" deals with the Flying Squad on the trail of an informant who shot and killed a polic officer. He's eventually tracked to his hideout at an abandoned warehouse. His girlfriend attempts to talk him down, but Regan is forced to shoot him in self-defence.

* AdultFear: The first season finale "Abduction" sees Regan fly off the handle when his daughter is kidnapped.

* TemporarySubstitute: During Garfield Morgan's absences from season four, several commanding officers appeared to fill his role. "Hard Men, "Drag Act", "Hearts and Minds" and "Latin Lady" feature Det. Chief Supt. Braithwaite, "Bait" features DCI Roan, "The Bigger They Are" features Creator/RichardWilson as DCI Anderson and "Feet of Clay" features Commander Watson. In "The Bigger They Are", Carter even {{lampshades}} this by saving, "Come back, Haskins, all is forgiven".

* AbsenteeActor: Garfield Morgan was absent for much of the fourth season, due to theatre commitments. He's also absent from season two's "Supersnout".

* SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute: During Garfield Morgan's absences from season four, several commanding officers appeared to fill his role. "Hard Men, "Drag Act", "Hearts and Minds" and "Latin Lady" feature Det. Chief Supt. Braithwaite, "Bait" features DCI Roan, "The Bigger They Are" features Creator/RichardWilson as DCI Anderson and "Feet of Clay" features Commander Watson. In "The Bigger They Are", Carter even {{lampshades}} this by saving, "Come back, Haskins, all is forgiven".

* SixIsNine: The "6 with a screw missing turns into a 9" gag is used in a scene where a very respectable family are eating dinner when armed policemen crash into their home, and are just as surprised as they are because they were expecting to meet armed criminals. After the mistake is cleared up, the officers leave with apologies and the family calmly return to their meal. Moments later, a crash is heard in the distance, and the father comments that it sounds as though they've found number 9.

* MistakenIdentity: In "Hit and Run", Carter's wife is run down and killed because she was wearing a coat belonging to her co-worker, who was the intended target.

* ReadingYourRights: Regan's reading of the rights generally summed to four words, usually accompanied by one last punch, kick or headbutt:
--> ''' You're fucking NICKED, matey!"'''

* SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute: During Garfield Morgan's absences from season four, several commanding officers appeared to fill his role. "Hard Men, "Drag Act", "Hearts and Minds" and "Latin Lady" feature Det. Chief Supt. Braithwaite, "Bait" features DCI Roan and "The Bigger They Are" features Creator/RichardWilson as DCI Anderson. In the last one, Carter even {{lampshades}} this by saving, "Come back, Haskins, all is forgiven".

* AbsenteeActor: Garfield Morgan was absent for much of the fourth season, due to theatre commitments.

* SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute: During Garfield Morgan's absences from season four, several commanding officers appeared to fill his role. "Drag Act" and "Latin Lady" feature Det. Chief Supt. Braithwaite, "Bait" features DCI Roan and "The Bigger They Are" features Creator/RichardWilson as DCI Anderson. In the last one, Carter even {{lampshades}} this by saving, "Come back, Haskins, all is forgiven".

* SuspiciouslySimilarSubsitiute: During Garfield Morgan's absences from season four, several commanding officers appeared to fill his role. "Drag Act" and "Latin Lady" feature Det. Chief Supt. Braithwaite, "Bait" features DCI Roan and "The Bigger They Are" features Creator/RichardWilson as DCI Anderson. In the last one, Carter even {{lampshades}} this by saving, "Come back, Haskins, all is forgiven".