Special Branch

This series introduced a new breed of copper to the British public and laid the ground for The Sweeney less than a decade later and was an action-packed, drama-filled cop-show featuring an elite police unit fighting against the criminal underworld. In the first two videotaped series Derren Nesbitt played Detective Chief Inspector Jordan of the Special Branch a no-nonsense, trendy, and well-dressed policeman with an eye for the ladies with Wensley Pithey as Supt. Eden, Fulton Mackay as Det. Supt. Inman and Morris Perry as Charles Moxon. The first two series of the show proved successful so after a short break it was revamped and recast and now shot on film (the first to be produced by Euston Films) and ran for another two series where George Sewell played Detective Chief Inspector Craven and Patrick Mower played Detective Chief Inspector Haggerty.

:: Series 1

Network DVD have released all 14 episodes complete and uncut as a four-disc set running to approximately 700 minutes. Seven of the first eight editions were broadcast in black and white despite being made in colour (The Kazmirov Affair went out in colour).

Title	Tx. Date	Notes
Troika	17.9.69	The Special Branch team are briefed on Operation Troika - a plan to detain three suspects under the Official Secrets Act. But one of them manages to send a coded message to Moscow before he is apprehended...
Smokescreen	24.9.69	Eden goes to Wormwood Scrubs to try and get some information out of a man called Cowley, who is currently serving a sentence under the Official Secrets Act for betraying his country.
The Promised Land	1.10.69	A joint Special Branch/Coastguard task force target an organisation specialising in bringing illegal immigrants into the country, but one eludes the dawn swoop...
A Date with Leonidas	8.10.69	When a Greek national is stopped at immigration and searched, it leads to more serious things when it is discovered that he is the son of a convicted terrorist.
The Kazmirov Affair	15.10.69	An agitated phone call from Professor Crowther leads Jordan into a dubious situation when he supplies him with an inflammatory book written by a Russian author. Could it be a KGB frame-up?
A New Face	22.10.69	Organised student unrest outside a London Embassy turns ugly when violent elements within the group threaten to turn the protest into something far more vicious.
You Don't Exist	29.10.69	Det. Con. Morrissey has to babysit Barbara Cartwright, a Rhodesian national who is barred from entering the country as the Rhodesian Government is not recognised in Britain.
The Children of Delight	5.11.69	Det. Ch. Supt. Jordan is tasked to investigate the Children of Delight - are they just a chilled out Hippie commune or a dangerous cult who keep their members forcibly indoctrinated?
Reliable Sources	12.11.69	Eden gets into trouble when he tries to pursue a warrant for the arrest of a defected Russian agent who has made a deal with the British government.
Short Change	19.11.69	Sparks fly between Jordan and Eden's replacement, Det. Supt. Inman, when Christine Morris - serving a term for spying - absconds from an open prison.
Exit a Diplomat	26.11.69	Inman takes a keen interest in a woman arrested for shoplifting in Oxford Street when he discovers that she's a diplomat from the Czech Embassy.
Care of Her Majesty	3.12.69	Jordan is sent abroad to investigate the theft of money from an intelligence fund maintained by a British Embassy.
Visitor from Moscow	10.12.69	Jordan has to work hand-in-hand with Colonel Kamarov of the KGB as they share joint responsibility for the security measures put in place for the forthcoming visit of a Russian VIP.
Time Bomb	17.12.69	Inman investigates the death of the eldest son of an oil Sheikh who has been killed in a yacht explosion. Political concerns are compounded when Inman has strong suspicions that the death was no accident.

:: Series 2

This series isn't currently available in its entirity be the first episode is and extra on a later series release.

Title	Tx. Date	Notes
Inside	11.8.70	Jordan finds himself in Wormwood Scrubs and no-one is saying why - least of all Supt Inman who feels time is running short and the department is in danger.
Dinner Date	18.8.70	Jordan flies to Frankfurt to escort a British subject, Selby back to the UK after his three year disappearance. They are eager to find out what he has been doing, btu the KGB are lurking in the shadows.
Depart In Peace	25.8.70	A former officer of Special Branch has agreed to give evidence against a former terrorist, but when called, refuses so Moxon and Inman decide to find out what has changed his mind.
Miss International	1.9.70	A nightmare situation arises for Insp.Jordan when a seemingly straighforward case of protection gets more complicated.
Warrant For A Phoenix	8.9.70	A highly resepcted Greek historian as accused of theft and is to be extradited, but Inman isn't happy with the facts of the case.
The Pleasures Of Your Company	15.9.70	Jordan meets up with an old friend from Moscow, whilst Inman meets the CIA's new man in London. Nothing of concern until the two are seen together regularly and international politics beckon.
Not To Be Trusted	22.9.70	When a top-secret research establishment becomes prone to leaks, an eminent scientist on load becomes the focus of the blame and Special Branch have to investigate.
Borderline Case	29.9.70	Industrial action could take place if London Dockworkers are provoked by the right agitator, so Special Branch keep an eye on Karl Peter.
Love From Doris	6.10.70	Correspondence between pen pals - one a lonely serviceman and the other a foreign woman - could be more than just innocent conversation and Special Branch are called in to investigate.
Sorry Is Just A Word	13.10.70	A Czech au-pair goes missing on London, but her father is one of the most powerful men in the country, so foul play is suspected.
Error Of Judgement	20.10.70	'The Guardians' are taking more than a casual interest in a pro-germ-warfare group, and Jordan is sent to qustion their leader, a pretty girl.
Reported Missing	27.10.70	A russian ballerina goes missing from a visiting ballet troupe, but Jordan doubts the autheniticity of the report. Inman champions the girl's cause but there are disasterous results.
Fool's Mate	3.11.70	During a chess tournament Britains top code and cypher breaker is forced to mingle with Communist players and Inman goes along to keep tabs on him, but Moxon is playing his own dangerous game where Jordan is the pawn.

:: Series 3

This series has been released on a 4 disc-set by Network DVD and includes the first series episode Troika as an extra.

Title	Tx. Date	Notes
A Copper Called Craven	4.4.73	Craven finds himsefl under suspicion of accepting a bribe.
Round the Clock	11.4.73	Haggerty's appointment to Special Branch immediately brings him into conflict with Craven - he believes that Craven is on the trail of a main who is already dead.
Inquisition	18.4.73	Craven finds the tables turned when he is accused of hounding a self-confessed fraud.
Assault	25.4.73	Haggerty and Craven target a team of vicious muggers.
Polonaise	2.5.73	The Special Branch team are assigned to protect the captain of a Polish passenger and cargo ship who believs he is going to be killed.
Red Herring	9.5.73	Special Branch joins forces with a bomb-disposal expert to stop a terrorist bombing campaing in the heart of London.
Death By Drowning	16.5.73	The body of a young girl is found floating in the Thames - is it murder, suicide or something worse?
All The King's Men	23.5.73	A deranged man has taken a hostage and threatens to blow up a block of flats. Craven must act quickly to avert disaster.
Threat	6.6.73	The Special Branch team are assigned to protect a visiting Hollywood star who is targeted for murder.
The Other Man	13.6.73	Craven finds himself investigating a man accused of being a traitor, but has his doubts as to the truthfulness of the accusations.
You Won't Remember Me	20.6.73	Craven is puzzled as to why he has been asked to carry out twenty-four hour surveillance on a couple who are engaged to be married.
Hostage	27.6.73	Craven and Haggerty are under the gun to find a kidnapped diplomat's daughter before she is killed.
Blueprint For Murder	4.7.73	The team is assigned to protect a visiting foreign diplomat.

:: Series 4

This series has been released on a 4 disc-set by Network DVD and includes interviews with George Sewell and Partrick Mower and the second series episode Inside as extras.

Title	Tx. Date	Notes
Double Exposure	14.2.74	Craven and Haggerty are assigned to investigate if a photographer is a threat to national security.
Catherine The Great	21.2.74	The team are on the trail of Rehfuss - a deadly assassin who has managed to get into the country.
Jailbait	28.2.74	Craven and Haggerty are hot ont he trail of a traitor who has broken out of prison.
Stand And Deliver	7.3.74	An experimental weapon is stolen from a military rersearch facility, but the thieves are unaware the weapon is unstable.
Something About A Soldier	14.3.74	Tensions run high as Craven and Haggerty investigate two army officers.
Rendezvous	21.3.74	Craven provides security for the debriefing of a captured KGB agent.
Sounds Sinister	28.3.74	Craven and Haggerty investigate the broadcasting of compromising information about public figures on a pirate radio station.
Entente Cordiale	4.4.74	Craven is appalled to find himsefl implicated in his ex-wife's terrorist activities.
Date Of Birth	11.4.74	Craven must unravel the connection between a recently-killed spy and an au-pair.
Intercept	18.4.74	Craven has to investigate a morally dubious but strategically-important foreign VIP who has been robbed of a fortune in diamonds.
Alien	25.4.74	A German student revolutionary has been allowed into Britain under the strict condition that he does nothing political. Craven and Haggerty are made to ensure that he sticks to the terms of his deal.
Diversion	2.5.74	Is Strand's eratic behaviour a result of the pressure he is under or is he playing a much more dangerous game?
Downwind Of Angels	9.5.74	Craven and Haggerty are working against the clock to fin a gunman stlaking the London streets.