The Chinese Detective is a British television

British television

Public television broadcasting started in the United Kingdom in 1936, and now has a collection of free and subscription services over a variety of distribution media, through which there are over 480 channelsTaking the base Sky EPG TV Channels. A breakdown is impossible due to a) the number of...

 series, transmitted by the BBC

BBC

The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...

 between 1981 and 1982 and created by Ian Kennedy Martin

Ian Kennedy Martin

Ian Kennedy Martin is a British television scriptwriter. He is best known for his creation of the popular 1970s police drama series The Sweeney, produced by Euston Films for Thames Television, which ran on the ITV network from 1975 to 1978. It also spawned two feature film spin-offs...

, who had previously devised The Sweeney

The Sweeney

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...

and Juliet Bravo

Juliet Bravo

Juliet Bravo is a British television series, which ran on BBC1 between 1980 and 1985. The theme of the series concerned a female police inspector who took over control of a police station in the fictional town of Hartley in Lancashire.-Programme name:...

.

The series starred British-born Chinese

British Chinese

British Chinese , including British-born Chinese are people of Chinese ancestry who were born in, or have migrated to, the United Kingdom. They are part of the Chinese diaspora, or overseas Chinese...

 actor David Yip

David Yip

David Yip is an English actor.Yip, of Asian and English descent, was born in Liverpool and trained at East 15 Acting School, London...

 as Detective Sergeant John Ho, and offered traditional police procedural storylines whilst refusing to shy away from portraying institutional racism within the police force, and the prejudice displayed by those Ho encounters whilst doing his job. Like many other TV detectives, Ho was something of a maverick, often using unorthodox methods to solve crimes.

Ho's immediate superior in the police force was Det. Insp. Berwick (Derek Martin

Derek Martin

Derek Martin is a British actor who is best known for his role as Charlie Slater in the British soap opera EastEnders which he played from 2000 to 2011.-Personal life:...

) and he was also often seen visiting his father Joe (Robert Lee

Robert Lee (actor)

Robert Lee is a British actor of Asian ethnicity.-Filmography:-External links:...

) at his restaurant for advice.

The Chinese Detective was the first British television drama to feature a British-Chinese leading character who was both strong and sympathetic. Spirit Warriors

Spirit Warriors (TV series)

Spirit Warriors is an award-winning BBC children's adventure series, broadcast on BBC Two, BBC HD and CBBC. It is the first British television drama series to have a predominantly East Asian cast....

was the second, and most recent, featuring Jessica Henwick

Jessica Henwick

Jessica Yu Li Henwick is a British-born Eurasian actress. Her debut role was in the 2010 CBBC television programme Spirit Warriors, as the lead character Bo.She is the first East Asian actress to play the lead role in a BBC series....

 as the lead character of Bo.

Episode list

Episode	Title	Writer	Director	Guest stars
Series 1 (BBC1 BBC One BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution... , 30 April to 4 June 1981)
1	Release	Ian Kennedy Martin Ian Kennedy Martin Ian Kennedy Martin is a British television scriptwriter. He is best known for his creation of the popular 1970s police drama series The Sweeney, produced by Euston Films for Thames Television, which ran on the ITV network from 1975 to 1978. It also spawned two feature film spin-offs...	Ian Toynton Ian Toynton Ian Toynton is a British television director, producer and editor.His most notable work has been on The O.C., on which he served as director, supervising producer and co-executive producer for a number of episodes. He has both directed and produced episodes of the series Bones, The Pretender,...	Alan Ford Alan Ford (actor) Alan Ford is an English actor. Ford was trained at East 15 Acting School. He is perhaps best known today for his roles in the Guy Ritchie crime capers Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch, and guest starring in The Bill... , Roger Bizley, Shirley Stelfox Shirley Stelfox Shirley Stelfox is an English actress, who trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. She is best known as Edna Birch in British Soap Opera Emmerdale.... , Ahmed Khalil, Jack Le White
2	Hammer And Nails	Ian Kennedy Martin Ian Kennedy Martin Ian Kennedy Martin is a British television scriptwriter. He is best known for his creation of the popular 1970s police drama series The Sweeney, produced by Euston Films for Thames Television, which ran on the ITV network from 1975 to 1978. It also spawned two feature film spin-offs...	Terry Green	Brian Croucher Brian Croucher Brian Croucher is an English actor and director perhaps best known for his role as Ted Hills, which he played from 1995 to 1997, in the soap opera EastEnders.... , Matthew Scurfield Matthew Scurfield Matthew Scurfield is an actor and the eldest child of the late author George Scurfield and his wife Cecilia in Cambridge, England.... , John Judd, James Marcus James Marcus James Marcus is an English actor.He is best known for his performance as Georgie, one of the droogs in Stanley Kubrick's controversial film A Clockwork Orange . Before becoming an apprentice printer, he spent the majority of his teenage life performing gigs... , David Sibley David Sibley (actor) David Sibley is an English actor, best known for character roles in several cult television series: as twisted radio DJ Tom Everett in BBC television detective series Shoestring ; and in Doctor Who as Pralix... , Vincent Wong, Keith Hodiak Keith Hodiak Keith Hodiak is a British actor who was active on British TV between 1978 and 1992.His television debut came in 1978, when he took on the role of Sam Spade in Revenge of the Pink Panther. In 1985, he appeared in three episodes of Are You Being Served? during the programme's final year on air...
3	The Four From Fulham	Ian Kennedy Martin Ian Kennedy Martin Ian Kennedy Martin is a British television scriptwriter. He is best known for his creation of the popular 1970s police drama series The Sweeney, produced by Euston Films for Thames Television, which ran on the ITV network from 1975 to 1978. It also spawned two feature film spin-offs...	Ian Toynton Ian Toynton Ian Toynton is a British television director, producer and editor.His most notable work has been on The O.C., on which he served as director, supervising producer and co-executive producer for a number of episodes. He has both directed and produced episodes of the series Bones, The Pretender,...	Michael Melia Michael Melia Michael Melia is an established British actor best known for his work on television.Melia was born in Berkshire and attended St. Mary's College, Twickenham, the oldest Roman Catholic college in England. Before taking up acting he was a teacher. At one stage he ran a bar in Spain and thought about... , Peter Dean, Vincent Wong, John Judd
4	Income Tax	Ian Kennedy Martin Ian Kennedy Martin Ian Kennedy Martin is a British television scriptwriter. He is best known for his creation of the popular 1970s police drama series The Sweeney, produced by Euston Films for Thames Television, which ran on the ITV network from 1975 to 1978. It also spawned two feature film spin-offs...	Ian Toynton Ian Toynton Ian Toynton is a British television director, producer and editor.His most notable work has been on The O.C., on which he served as director, supervising producer and co-executive producer for a number of episodes. He has both directed and produced episodes of the series Bones, The Pretender,...	Lee Montague Lee Montague Lee Montague is an English actor noted for his roles on film and television, usually playing tough guys.Film credits include: Moulin Rouge, The Camp on Blood Island, The Savage Innocents, Billy Budd, The Secret of Blood Island, Deadlier Than the Male, The Legacy and Brother Sun, Sister... , Marc Zuber Marc Zuber Marc Zuber was an actor.Film appearances include: The Satanic Rites of Dracula, The Wind and the Lion, The Sea Wolves, Shirley Valentine and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.Television credits include: The Onedin Line, Doomwatch, The Regiment, The Changes, Space: 1999,... , Bill Treacher Bill Treacher Bill Treacher is an English actor. Most famous for playing Arthur Fowler on the BBC soap opera EastEnders, for 11 years, from 1985-1996.-Early life:Treacher grew up in the East End of London... , Renu Setna Renu Setna Renu Setna is a Pakistani actor, perhaps best known for his appearance as the shopkeeper Mr. Kittel in In Sickness and in Health.Setna made an appearance in the british BBC Sictom Only Fools And Horses, in the episode "Cash and Curry", where he played a con-artist who cons Del and Rodney out of Two... , Nicholas McArdle, Kenneth Gilbert, Dicken Ashworth Dicken Ashworth Dicken Ashworth is an English actor who has made several appearances in film and television.His film credits include: Force 10 from Navarone, Tess, Krull, and Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit.On television, can be a regular cast member in several soap operas - playing Alan Partridge... , Ishia Bennison Ishia Bennison Ishia Bennison is a British actress, best known for her television appearances, although she is also a veteran stage actress. Bennison is originally from Hull in Yorkshire.- Career :...
5	Washing	Ian Kennedy Martin Ian Kennedy Martin Ian Kennedy Martin is a British television scriptwriter. He is best known for his creation of the popular 1970s police drama series The Sweeney, produced by Euston Films for Thames Television, which ran on the ITV network from 1975 to 1978. It also spawned two feature film spin-offs...	Tom Clegg Tom Clegg (director) Tom Clegg is a British television and film director. He was born in Lancashire in 1934.-Selected filmography:Television* Special Branch * The Sweeney * A Captain's Tale * Sharpe ...	Fiesta Mei-Ling, Frank Coda
6	Ice And Dust	Ian Kennedy Martin Ian Kennedy Martin Ian Kennedy Martin is a British television scriptwriter. He is best known for his creation of the popular 1970s police drama series The Sweeney, produced by Euston Films for Thames Television, which ran on the ITV network from 1975 to 1978. It also spawned two feature film spin-offs...	Tom Clegg Tom Clegg (director) Tom Clegg is a British television and film director. He was born in Lancashire in 1934.-Selected filmography:Television* Special Branch * The Sweeney * A Captain's Tale * Sharpe ...	Peter Schofield, Ian Hendry Ian Hendry Ian Hendry was an English film and television actor. He is best known for his work on several British TV series of the early 1960s such as The Avengers, and for his roles in 1970s films such as Get Carter .-Career:Hendry was born in Ipswich, Suffolk and educated at Culford School... , Roger Sloman Roger Sloman Roger Sloman is an English actor. Born in the Harlesden district of London, he has performed in dozens of television and film appearances since the late 1970s... , Michael Melia Michael Melia Michael Melia is an established British actor best known for his work on television.Melia was born in Berkshire and attended St. Mary's College, Twickenham, the oldest Roman Catholic college in England. Before taking up acting he was a teacher. At one stage he ran a bar in Spain and thought about...
Series 2 (BBC1, 10 September to 5 November 1982)
1	Trials	Ian Kennedy Martin Ian Kennedy Martin Ian Kennedy Martin is a British television scriptwriter. He is best known for his creation of the popular 1970s police drama series The Sweeney, produced by Euston Films for Thames Television, which ran on the ITV network from 1975 to 1978. It also spawned two feature film spin-offs...	Ian Toynton Ian Toynton Ian Toynton is a British television director, producer and editor.His most notable work has been on The O.C., on which he served as director, supervising producer and co-executive producer for a number of episodes. He has both directed and produced episodes of the series Bones, The Pretender,...	Maurice Denham Maurice Denham Maurice Denham OBE was an English character actor who appeared in over 100 television programmes and films throughout his long career.-Life and career:... , Neil Hallett, Frank Gatliff
2	Oblomov	Ian Kennedy Martin Ian Kennedy Martin Ian Kennedy Martin is a British television scriptwriter. He is best known for his creation of the popular 1970s police drama series The Sweeney, produced by Euston Films for Thames Television, which ran on the ITV network from 1975 to 1978. It also spawned two feature film spin-offs...	Terence Williams	Michael Barrington Michael Barrington Michael Barrington was a British actor best known for his television work.His most famous role was as the ineffectual Governor Venables in the popular sitcom Porridge alongside Ronnie Barker and Fulton Mackay.He also appeared on the TV programmes Z-Cars, The Avengers, Private Schulz, Adam Adamant... , Paul Antrim, Alan Ford Alan Ford (actor) Alan Ford is an English actor. Ford was trained at East 15 Acting School. He is perhaps best known today for his roles in the Guy Ritchie crime capers Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch, and guest starring in The Bill... , John Savident John Savident John Savident is a British actor, best known for playing the part of Fred Elliott in the soap opera Coronation Street from 1994 to 2006. And also was a frequent guest on Soccer AM alongside fellow actor Jack 'The Rigger' Spooner.... , Merdelle Jordine, Albert Moses Albert Moses Albert Moses is a British-based actor born near Kandy, Sri Lanka. He had begun to act by the 1960s in India where he appeared in several films, then produced and directed his first. From India, he moved to Africa where he undertook work on documentaries... , Robert Russell Robert Russell (English actor) Robert Russell was an English actor, perhaps best known for a memorable supporting role as John Stearne alongside Vincent Price in the classic British horror film Witchfinder General.... , Barry Smith
3	Wheels Within Wheels	Ian Kennedy Martin Ian Kennedy Martin Ian Kennedy Martin is a British television scriptwriter. He is best known for his creation of the popular 1970s police drama series The Sweeney, produced by Euston Films for Thames Television, which ran on the ITV network from 1975 to 1978. It also spawned two feature film spin-offs...	David Green David Green (director) David Green is a film director, television producer and media executive.Born in London to Evelyn and Louis Green, he was educated at Bury Grammar School and Trinity College, Oxford, where he gained an MA degree in English Language and Literature...	Rudolph Walker Rudolph Walker Rudolph Walker, OBE is a British character actor. Born in Trinidad and Tobago, Walker came to the United Kingdom in 1960.... , George Sewell George Sewell George Sewell was an English actor.-Early life and early career:The son of a Hoxton printer and a florist; Sewell left school at age 14 and worked briefly in the printing trade before switching to building work, specifically the repair of bomb-damaged houses... , Rosemary Martin Rosemary Martin Rosemary Martin was an English actress, best-remembered for her television roles .Other notable TV credits include: Z-Cars, Crown Court, Bill Brand, Coronation Street, Pennies from... , Keith James
4	Tapdancer	Ian Kennedy Martin Ian Kennedy Martin Ian Kennedy Martin is a British television scriptwriter. He is best known for his creation of the popular 1970s police drama series The Sweeney, produced by Euston Films for Thames Television, which ran on the ITV network from 1975 to 1978. It also spawned two feature film spin-offs...	Ian Toynton Ian Toynton Ian Toynton is a British television director, producer and editor.His most notable work has been on The O.C., on which he served as director, supervising producer and co-executive producer for a number of episodes. He has both directed and produced episodes of the series Bones, The Pretender,...	Edward Hardwicke Edward Hardwicke Edward Hardwicke , sometimes credited as Edward Hardwick, was an English actor.-Early life and career:... , Bryan Marshall Bryan Marshall Bryan Marshall is an English actor, with a number of major credits in film and television to his name.Marshall was born in Clapham, London... , Linda Marlowe Linda Marlowe -Selected filmography:* That Kind of Girl * The World Ten Times Over * The Americanization of Emily * The Man Outside * The Ballad of Tam Lin * Night After Night After Night * Big Zapper... , Pam St. Clement Pam St. Clement Pamela Ann Clement , known by the stage name Pam St. Clement, is an English actress. She has played Pat Evans in the BBC soap opera EastEnders since 1986, and is now one of the programme's longest-serving cast members. St. Clement announced her intention to leave EastEnders on 8 July 2011 and will... , Ben Howard
5	Bounty Hunter	Eddie Boyd	Laurence Moody Laurence Moody Laurence Moody is an English television director who, after reading English at Cambridge University, worked as a trainee at Granada Television, at this time directing a number of episodes of their top rated ITV1 soap opera, Coronation Street.Subsequently, he has originated and worked such...	Maurice Roëves Maurice Roëves Maurice Roëves is a British actor, born in Sunderland, County Durham on 19 March 1937.His television roles include Danger UXB , The Nightmare Man , the 1984 Doctor Who serial The Caves of Androzani, Days of our Lives , Tutti Frutti , Rab C... , Michael Attwell Michael Attwell Michael John Attwell was an English actor.He is possibly best known for his role as Kenny Beale in the television soap opera EastEnders.... , Stevan Rimkus
6	Chorale	Ian Kennedy Martin Ian Kennedy Martin Ian Kennedy Martin is a British television scriptwriter. He is best known for his creation of the popular 1970s police drama series The Sweeney, produced by Euston Films for Thames Television, which ran on the ITV network from 1975 to 1978. It also spawned two feature film spin-offs...	Jeremy Summers Jeremy Summers Jeremy Summers is a retired British television director and film director, best known for his directorship of ITC productions in the 1960s and 1970s, most notably The Saint.-Background:...	George Baker George Baker (actor) George Baker, MBE was an English actor and writer. He was best-known for portraying Tiberius in I, Claudius, and Inspector Wexford in The Ruth Rendell Mysteries.-Personal life:... , Derren Nesbitt Derren Nesbitt Derren Nesbitt is an English actor. Possibly his best known role was as SS Major von Hapen in Where Eagles Dare.In 2008 he was writing a book on "biblical myths and falsehoods".-Acting career:... , Valentine Palmer, Roy Pattison, Roy Scammell
7	Pasts	Eddie Boyd	Leonard Lewis Leonard Lewis Leonard Jack Lewis was a British producer and director. He was most active in television. He was the Executive/Series Producer for BBC's EastEnders during the early 1990s, though he had success with many other television programmes for both the BBC and ITV...	James Ellis James Ellis (actor) James Ellis is an actor from Northern Ireland with a television career of more than 45 years. He went to school at Methodist College Belfast and later studied at both Queen's University Belfast and the Bristol Old Vic.... , Kenneth Gardiner, Peter Copley Peter Copley Peter Copley was a British television, film and stage actor.-Biography:Copley was born in Bushey, Hertfordshire, son of the printmakers, John Copley and Ethel Gabain.... , John Collin John Collin (actor) John Collin was a British actor frequently seen on UK television during the 1960s and 1970s mainly in supporting roles. John Collin's best known role was as Detective Sergeant Haggar in the long running BBC police series Z-Cars... , Patsy Smart Patsy Smart Patsy Smart was an English actress who is best remembered for her performance as Miss Roberts in the 1970s ITV television drama Upstairs, Downstairs....
8	Secret State	Ian Kennedy Martin Ian Kennedy Martin Ian Kennedy Martin is a British television scriptwriter. He is best known for his creation of the popular 1970s police drama series The Sweeney, produced by Euston Films for Thames Television, which ran on the ITV network from 1975 to 1978. It also spawned two feature film spin-offs...	Brian Lighthill	Tony Caunter Tony Caunter Anthony Peter "Tony" Caunter is a British actor best known for his role as Jack Shepherd in the Yorkshire TV sitcom Queenie's Castle and also his portrayal of Roy Evans in EastEnders from 1994-2003.... , Paul Antrim, Patrick Malahide Patrick Malahide Patrick Malahide is a British actor, who has played many major film and television roles.-Personal life:Malahide, real name Patrick Gerald Duggan, was born in Reading, Berkshire, the son of Irish immigrants, a cook mother and a school secretary father... , Michael Robbins Michael Robbins Michael Anthony Robbins was a British actor known for his television work... , Maurice O'Connell, Anna Wing Anna Wing Anna Eva Lydia Catherine Wing, MBE is an English actress. She has had a long career in television and theatre.-Personal life:...

External links

• British Film Institute Screen Online