THIEF TAKERS
Police series
Episode guide created by Jorge Galindo (j.r.galindo@usa.net)
Created on October 1999
Updated: April 2000
DISCLAIMER: This guide is a noncommercial fan-related document.
Copyright holder is Carlton Television Production.
This epg may be shown only at any free site.
Year: 1995-1998
Format: 1-hour drama
Runtime: UK:60 (25 episodes)
Country: UK
Language: English
Color: Color
Sound Mix: Stereo
Production Company: A Carlton Production
A Carlton International Media Ltd.
Producer: Gina Cronk (seasons I, II)
Colin McKeown (season III)
Executive Producer: Ted Childs
Photography: Derek Suter
Original Music: Mark Ryder & Michael Parker
Theme music: Hal Lindes
Sound recordist: Ian Munro
Line producer: Ann Rees
Film editor: Chris Ridsdale
Production designer: Chris Robillard
Reece Dinsdale .... D.I. Charlie Scott (1996-97)
Brendan Coyle .... D.S. Bob 'Bingo' Tate (1996-97)
Lynda Steadman .... D.S. Helen Ash (1996)
Robert Willox .... D.C. Ted Donachie
Gary McDonald .... D.C. Alan Oxford
Pooky Quesnel .... D.C. Grace Harris (1996-97)
David Sterne .... D.C.I. Frank Uttley
Amanda Pays .... D.S. Anna Dryden (1997-98)
Grant Masters .... D.I. Glenn Matteo (1998)
Nicholas Ball .... D.C.I. Nick Hall(1998)
Simone Lahbib .... DC Lucy McCarthy (1998)
Gary Powell .... Tommy Raymond
The Armed Robbery Squad, known as the Flying Squad, have all the latest
weapons and technology at their disposal. Hated, yet respected, by
criminals and mistrusted by other officers,the flying squad have an
enviable record as the best "thief takers" in London - but its reputation
also creates resentment and rivalry.
Reece Dinsdale, Brendan Coyle and Lynda Steadman star in this all-action
drama. Up against them are some of the underworld's toughest villains who
will stop at nothing to get their hands on the prize -banks, building
societies, post offices, jewellers and security vans are all ruthlessly
raided. The adrenaline-pumping action of car chases, explosions, armed
raids and high-risk undercover stakeouts is blended with the humour and
camaraderie of the Squad and stories about the cop's private lives.
Dramatic adventures include investigating a raid on a plush casino,
entering Triad territory when gang warfare breaks out in Chinatown and
infiltrating a religious cult to track down their targets.
SEASON I
1. CASH AND CARRY
Airdate: Wednesday February 1, 1995 - 9 p.m.
The emphasis in this well-made, if slightly impersonal, pilot, is on the
team rather than individuals. But the main ingredient is the same:
thuggish cops who look and behave exactly like the criminal they are
trying to catch.
2. NO ONE LIKES TO SEE THAT
Written by Roy Mitchell
Directed by Colin Gregg
Guest star: Jesse Birdsall as Dennis Worsley
Beaty Edney as Cathy Worsley
Andrew Schofeld as Michael Slater
Kate McKenzie as Stephanie Scott
Airdate: unknown
A crook has left a bomb-riddled car in a quiet street, a housewife
barely gets to save her children. The bomb has been activated beside a
prison wall lo let Dennis Worsley, a dangerous criminal, escape. Elsewhere,
a pair of felons kidnap the little son and mother-in-law of Michael Chater,
to carry out a hit on an armored lorry. Bingo has been dating Cathy,
Worsley's wife, and fears the worst when he learns about the escape.
Police suspect one of the three guards is an insider for the robbers.
Worsely is the robbers' gang's boss.
3. COMPANY OF STRANGERS
Written by Brendan J. Cassin
Directed by Terry Winsor
Guest stars:
Michelle Joseph as Bronny Oxford,
George Jackos as Yanis Cosntantine
Sylvester WIlliiams as Johnny Hudson
Roger Griffiths as Jim Gillespie
Nick Moran as Stanley Callow
Stephen Perraud as Marcus
Eddie Oser as Fat Bob
Airdate: unknown
Two black thugs attempt to rob a bank, but fail when a cashier gets to
activate a shield leaving one of the robbers without a phalanx of his
fingers. The evidence shows that these two guys are part of a gang
devoted to violent robberies. Bingo faces the two crooks by himself.
4. WHISPERS IN THE DARK
Written by Steve Griffiths
Directed by Colin Gregg
Guest stars:
Richard Graham
Airdate: unknown
Several armoured truck robberies have occurred recently and the
Flying Squad officers have good leads about the authors. Phones have
been tapped to overhear the phone calls of Rogers', one of the suspects.
His wife knows everything about his illicit activities and tries to
hide it when she's questioned, but her attitude changes when the
FS officers let her know Rogers has been abusing Sonya, their daughter.
5. WILD CARD
Written by Sian Orrel
Directed by Terry Winsor
Airdate: unknown
The cops stake out a plush casino where they learn that a theft is about
to occur. There are several suspect employees. Yet things go out of hand,
when the crooks rush in and take a hostage, a lady croupier. Bingo is
severely shot in the melee and carried to the hospital. The gang boss
is shot dead. Helen is about to divorce David.
6. LIE DOWN WITH DRAGONS
Written by Steve Griffiths
Directed by Terry Winsor
Guest stars:
Tom Wu, Michael Atwell
Airdate: unknown
The Flying Squad must enter Triad territory when gang warfare breaks out
in Chinatown. A Chinese theft ring has arrived in Britain and begin by
robbing the shops protected by the Triad. During the Triad boss's
daughter's wedding the newcomers strike again and menace the family.
Bingo attends the funeral of a colleague.
7. HUNGRY GHOSTS
Written by Steve Griffiths
Directed by Terry Winsor
Guest stars:
Tom Wu, Michael Atwell
Airdate: unknown
This episode is a continuation of "Lie Down with Dragons".
Bingo's undercover identity is in jeopardy. There are suspicions about
his true intentions. Helen's jealous ex-husband is scolded for having
attacked Alan. According to a Chinese legend, the hungry ghosts are the
souls of murdered people who stalk their executioners and must be honored
with a sacrifice.
8. THE OUTCASTS
Written by Brendan J. Cassin
Directed by Douglas MacKinnon
Guest stars:
Lisa Walker, Danny Dyer as Alec
Airdate: unknown
A young couple sets out to rob jewelry shops, motorcycle stores, and
shooting anyone who tries to stop them.
9. WASTELAND
Written by Len Colin
Directed by Douglas MacKinnon
Guest stars:
Ron Edwards, Peter MacNamara
The members of a religious cult rob trucks to finance their undercover
activities. Helen and Grace enter the cult and meet its mad leader.
Charlie's wife is about to give birth to their child.
SEASON II
10. GOING UNDER (episode # 201)
Written by Roy Mitchell
Directed by Colin Gregg
Airdate: Thursday, October 10, 1997 - 9:00 p.m.
More shootouts and tyre-screeching car chases as the Flying Squad
return to their battle against the underworld's tough nuts.
Here Oxford is taken prisoner by a drugs gang, Dryden poses as a
prostitute, Tate tries to charm a gay getaway driver and Donachie is
framed for robbery.
11. NASTY BOYS (episode # 202)
Written by Steve Griffiths
Directed by Colin Gregg
Guest stars: Douglas Henshaw (Chris), Gilbert Marsh
Airdate: Thursday, October 17, 1997 - 9:00 p.m.
A failed robbery attempt compels the crooks to make a deadly getaway.
The Flying Squad is called upon to track down the elusive gang.
By and by, they learn that some of the scoundrels are gay. Bingo
plays an interesting dealer to approach the gang's boss.
12. A DEAD MAN (episode # 203 )
Charlie Scott comes face to face with an enemy he thought he killed.
13. BAD BLOOD (episode # 204 )
Written by Brendan J. Cassin
Directed by Crispin Reece
Guest stars:
Airdate: Thursday, October 24, 1997 - 9:00 p.m.
Two perilous lesbians are devoted to rob banks. On their first
assault they use a baby and shoot a guard. The getaway driver, a
black youth, turns up dead afterwards. The Flying Squad suspects
that a witness is indeed the gang's boss.
14. BLACK RUSSIAN
Written by Len Colin
Directed by Alex Pillai
Guest stars:
Airdate: Thursday, October 31, 1997 - 9:00 p.m.
Russian emigrees rob a bank and leave cocaine spilled on the floor.
Strickland, the bank manager, becomes the main suspect of being an
accomplice when his relation to Russian prostitutes is exposed by
Dryden, who has gone undercover.
15. COLLATERAL DAMAGE
Written by Steve Griffiths
Directed by Colin Gregg
Guest stars:
Tilly Blackwood ... Sara
Eoin MacCarthy ... James Patrick Dolan
Airdate: Thursday, November 6, 1997 - 9:00 p.m.
During the night, Dolan, an Irishman, is awakened by thuds heard
on the first floor. Suddenly he is surrounded by floodlights and the
cries of frenzied policemen. He is being put under arrest by the
Flying Squad. Later at the station, sara, an anti-terrorism officer,
demands to have the prisoner out on the street again. When the cops
refuse, she explains that the man is an important link in detaining
a gang of IRA terrorists. Scott decides to accept as long as his men
keep a watch on Dolan. Bingo and Alan are assigned. Sara turns out to
be Bingo's ex-wife.
16. DEJA VU
Written by Roy Mitchell
Directed by Colin Gregg
Guest stars:
David Thredfall ... Frank McGrath
Kate McKenzie ... Stephanie
Airdate: Thursday, November 13, 1997 - 9:00 p.m.
Scott is testifying against Frank McGrath, a dangerous crook, but
his testimony and evidences are being crumbled down by McGrath's smart
lady lawyer. Besides, Scott has been receiving threatening letters
that make him fidgety about his own safety and his family's. This
situation forces the detective to resign and get away from it along
with his wife. Meanwhile, McGrath has eluded the charges and gone
on bail which lets him room to pursue Scott.
SEASON III
17. SHADOWS
Written by David Joss Buckley
Directed by Keith Boak
Guest stars: Cecilia Noble
Airdate: 1997
D.C.I. Frank Uttley is still upset because of Scott's tragedy which
has turned him irascible. A gang is planning a grand hit. The want
of a leader has left the squad squabbling over nonsense. One day, while
the squad engages in nabbing a boy carrying a gun, a real robbery takes
place elsewhere.
18. ROAD RAGE (ep. #3.5)
Written by James Quirk
Directed by Nicholas Prosser
Airdate: 1997
Guest stars:
Norman Eshley .... CI Samson
1996 Grant Masters .... Danny Grant
Andrew Tiernan
Richard Banks
A gang of four thieves attempt a hit on a transportation lorry, but
get caught while escaping with the loot by a patrol car. In the exchange
two patrolmen are shot dead, the felons run away.
19. FASHION VICTIMS
Written by Andy Lynch
Directed by Keith Washington
Airdate: 1997
Guest stars:
John Castle .... Peter Scott
Adrian Cortle .... Neskens
Neskens, a Dutch gunrunner has come to England looking for a business
associate to sell his illegal wares. Peter Scott, Charlie's father and
Interpol agent, asks a favour from Frank to put the Squad on the trail
of the felon.
Neskens has contacted a down-and-out fashion designer to begin his
deals. Matteo doesn't trust Peter since Neskens killed his son Michael
years ago and the Interpol agent may have only revenge on mind.
20. ONE LAST HURRAH
Written by Matthew Graham
Directed by Terence Daw
Airdate: 1997
Guest stars:
Dick Neil ... Rochester
James Laurenson
John "the Soup" Rochester, a renown safecracker, is blown up to pieces
in his car after having finished a job. At the same time, a cargo of
army explosives is stolen from a lorry. A new inspector, D.C.I.
Nick Hall, arrives to lead the squad but the man hides a dark past.
The gang that hired The Soup begin to grow fidgety when one of their
plans goes awry, so their Boss must return from Cyprus to carry on
the theft.
21. SISTERS IN ARMS
Written by Tony Jordan
Directed by Keith Washington
Airdate: 1998
Guest stars:
Bryan Lawrence
David Aston
A rich woman, with revenge on mind, plans to steal her husband's jewelry
shop after the man leaves her penniless. The Squad have caught a gang
devoted to rob jewels from armored lorries, the gang boss is linked to
the rich lady, for he turns out to be her brother-in-law. Meanwhile,
the pregnant wife of the crook joins her sister to commit the robbery.
Lucy is called to order when her relation with Dryden becomes unbearable.
22. AFTER THE GOLDRUSH
Written by David Joss Buckley
Directed by Nicholas Prosser
Airdate: 1998
Guest stars:
Sacha Dehar
Robbers of a gold cargo are surprised when they become victims of
other crooks. It seems that the first gang's boss was a little
indiscreet with his Hindu lover, a stripper involved with the owner
of the club where she works. D.C.I. Hall attends the wedding of his
Hindu accountant's daughter. The accountant's mother has also been
a victim of the Hindu gang but doesn't trust the police.
Alan's protegee has returned to his wayward ways and adding to the
situation, the boy's convict brother escapes from a train where he
was led to the prison. When the squad finally corners the black lad,
Alan shoots dead in self defense the felon's partner who turns out
to be his protegee.
23. BLACK MIST
Written by Rob Hayland
Directed by David Innes Edwards
Edited by John Parker
Photography by Lee Gowino
Executive producer: Jonathan Powell
Airdate: 1997
Guest stars:
David Tse
Ralph Taylor
Naoko Mori
Michael Franklin
(First of a two-part story)
Japanese businessmen get entangled with Italian mafiosi. The Squad
investigate an apparent robbery attempt on a Japanese stockholder.
The crooks are put in evidence when a traffic policewoman suspects
a car parked incorrectly. The officers arraign the Italian gunmen.
Later Alan calls the attention of Matteo over the incident's video,
the guys were determined not to rob the businessman's suitcase but
to kidnap him. They return to talk with the Japanese but these men
keep a veil of secrecy, a black mist, about the affair.
Alan remains abated on the shooting of the boy and undergoes therapy,
his wife grows further worried about his attitude. Then, he and Lucy
are assigned to protect the Japanese businessman's wife and son.
24. BLACK MIST (Part 2)
Written by Rob Hayland
Directed by David Innes Edwards
Edited by John Parker
Photography by Lee Gowino
Executive producer: Jonathan Powell
Lucy and Allan stand under fire when the gangsters come looking for
the Japanese wife and her boy.
25. REMEMBER ME
Airdate: Thursday, November 7, 1996 - 9:00 p.m.
end of series