"The Professionals" (1977)TV series 1977-1983

Creator:

Brian Clemens

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Release Date:

30 December 1977 (UK)

Genre:

Action | Crime

Plot:

This series chronicled the lives of Bodie and Doyle, top agents for Britain's CI5 (Criminal Intelligence 5)...

Plot Keywords:

Secret Agent | Spy

Cast

Gordon Jackson	...	George Cowley (57 episodes, 1977-1983)
Martin Shaw	...	Doyle (57 episodes, 1977-1983)
Lewis Collins	...	Bodie (57 episodes, 1977-1983)

Runtime:

60 min (57 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:12 (some epiosodes) | Argentina:13 | Iceland:16 (some epiosodes) | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Harefield Grove, Harefield, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

London Weekend Television (LWT)

Trivia:

For many years actor Martin Shaw (Doyle) blocked repeat TV showings of the series, disowning it almost immediately after it had finished. Although he gave his reason as not being able to negotiate fees for TV repeats with programme makers London Weekend Television, it was also alleged that he didn't want to be typecast with the "hard man" image the show portrayed him to have. He only eventually relented to repeat showings in the mid-1990s when it was discreetly pointed out to him that the widow of Gordon Jackson (Cowley) could do with the income generated by repeat fees.

Quotes:

[scene-setting voiceover from Season 1 opening titles]
George Cowley: Anarchy, acts of terror, crimes against the public. To combat it I've got special men - experts from the army, the police, from every service - these are The Professionals.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "The Comic Strip Presents...: Detectives on the Edge of a Nervous Breakdown (#7.1)" (1993)

HARD CORE

I remember watching this British TV show when I was stationed in England in the 70's. I remember it was (in a way) similar to Starsky and Hutch but much more hard core. Two guys ( counter- terrorist agents type) would fight crime. Very fast moving and explosive. (I learned quick that British TV was much more liberal than regular TV shows in the states-I missed it alot).