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Trivia / The Sweeney

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The series

  • Actor Leaves, Character Dies: In the DVD Commentary for "Abduction", it is mentioned that the reason for Carter's wife Alison being killed off was that Stephanie Turner was asking for too much money to continue to appear in the series.
  • Actor-Shared Background: Much like John Thaw, Regan is originally from Manchester. Meanwhile, Carter is a former amateur boxer, like Dennis Waterman.
  • Alan Smithee: The second episode "Jackpot" was written by Troy Kennedy-Martin but he insisted that his name be removed and replaced by a fictitious name Tony Marsh because he objected to changes that were made to his script by the producers.
  • Creative Differences: Creator Ian Kennedy Martin's idea was for the series to be mainly studio-based, with more dialogue and less action, but producer Ted Childs disagreed, and in consequence Ian Kennedy Martin parted company with the project.
  • Creator-Chosen Casting: Ian Kennedy Martin wrote the role of Jack Regan especially for his friend John Thaw. They'd previously worked together on the series Redcap (1964).
  • Creator Couple: Dennis Waterman's then-wife Patricia Maynard appeared in "Abduction" as a schoolteacher. Ironically, they don't have a scene together.
  • Distanced from Current Events: "Trojan Bus" was meant to close out season two, but when the plot of "Thou Shalt Not Kill" mirrored a real-life crime in the news, the order of the final episodes were pushed around in the schedules
  • One-Take Wonder: The second movie's signature stunt, the driving of a car through a shop-front window, or a "death defying car leap" as the publicity exclaimed, was filmed in one take with three cameras. The window was on a mezzanine floor, about ten feet (three metres) above the ground.
  • Out of Order: Season two's "Supersnout" was filmed after "Hit and Run", in which Carter's wife is murdered, but broadcast first. As a result, the former episode has an odd scene where Carter asks Regan if his two female neighbours are still around, and is disappointed when they aren't. As a result what was supposed to be a downbeat Carter looking to relieve some depression instead becomes a randy police officer prepared to cheat on his wife.
  • Star-Making Role: For John Thaw.

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