Z Cars

Z Cars

BBC One Ended Drama • Crime

12 Seasons · 773 Episodes · Premiered January 2, 1962 · Ended September 20, 1978

Z Cars or Z-Cars was a British television drama series centred on the work of mobile uniformed police in the fictional town of Newtown, based on Kirkby, Merseyside. Produced by the BBC, it debuted in January 1962 and ran until September 1978.The series differed sharply from earlier police procedurals. With its less-usual Northern setting, it injected a new element of harsh realism into the image of the police, which some found unwelcome.Z Cars ran for a total of 803 episodes, of which fewer than half have survived. Regular stars included Stratford Johns (Detective Inspector Barlow), Frank Windsor (Det. Sgt Watt), James Ellis (Bert Lynch) and Brian Blessed ("Fancy" Smith). Barlow and Watt were later spun into a separate series "Softly, Softly".The name Z Cars relates to an imaginary "Z" Division of the local constabulary. The theme tune was based on a traditional Liverpool folk song, and was adopted by Everton Football Club as its official anthem.

Where to Watch: BBC One

Official Site

Next Air Time: No upcoming air date

Seasons & Episodes

Season 1

31 episodes
E01
Four of a Kind
Tue, Jan 2 1962 8:30 PM GMT+0000 45 min
E02
The Limping Rabbit
Tue, Jan 9 1962 8:30 PM GMT+0000 45 min
E03
Handle with Care
Tue, Jan 16 1962 12:00 PM GMT+0000 50 min
E04
Stab in the Dark
Tue, Jan 23 1962 12:00 PM GMT+0000 50 min
E05
Big Catch
Tue, Jan 30 1962 12:00 PM GMT+0000 50 min
E06
Friday Night
Tue, Feb 6 1962 12:00 PM GMT+0000 50 min
E07
Suspended
Tue, Feb 13 1962 12:00 PM GMT+0000 50 min
E08
Family Feud
Tue, Feb 20 1962 12:00 PM GMT+0000 50 min
E09
Fire!
Tue, Feb 27 1962 12:00 PM GMT+0000 50 min
E10
Threats and Menaces
Tue, Mar 6 1962 12:00 PM GMT+0000 50 min
E11
Jail Break
Tue, Mar 13 1962 12:00 PM GMT+0000 50 min
E12
What Kind of Hero?
Tue, Mar 20 1962 12:00 PM GMT+0000 50 min
E13
Sudden Death
Tue, Mar 27 1962 11:00 AM GMT+0000 50 min
E14
Found Abandoned
Tue, Apr 3 1962 11:00 AM GMT+0000 50 min
E15
The Best Days
Tue, Apr 10 1962 11:00 AM GMT+0000 50 min
E16
Invisible Enemy
Tue, Apr 17 1962 11:00 AM GMT+0000 50 min
E17
Down and Out
Tue, Apr 24 1962 11:00 AM GMT+0000 50 min
E18
Further Enquiries
Tue, May 1 1962 11:00 AM GMT+0000 50 min
E19
Winner Takes All
Tue, May 8 1962 11:00 AM GMT+0000 50 min
E20
People's Property
Tue, May 15 1962 11:00 AM GMT+0000 50 min
E21
Hi-Jack!
Tue, May 22 1962 11:00 AM GMT+0000 50 min
E22
Incident Reported
Tue, May 29 1962 11:00 AM GMT+0000 50 min
E23
Never on Wednesday
Tue, Jun 5 1962 11:00 AM GMT+0000 50 min
E24
Day Trip
Tue, Jun 12 1962 11:00 AM GMT+0000 50 min
E25
Affray
Tue, Jun 19 1962 11:00 AM GMT+0000 50 min
E26
Contraband
Tue, Jun 26 1962 11:00 AM GMT+0000 50 min
E27
Teamwork
Tue, Jul 3 1962 11:00 AM GMT+0000 50 min
E28
Appearance in Court
Tue, Jul 10 1962 11:00 AM GMT+0000 50 min
E29
Assault
Tue, Jul 17 1962 11:00 AM GMT+0000 50 min
E30
Sunday Morning
Tue, Jul 24 1962 11:00 AM GMT+0000 50 min
E31
Unconditional Surrender
Tue, Jul 31 1962 11:00 AM GMT+0000 50 min

Season 2

42 episodes

Season 3

42 episodes

Season 4

43 episodes

Season 5

12 episodes

Season 6

416 episodes

Season 7

76 episodes

Season 8

40 episodes

Season 9

32 episodes

Season 10

13 episodes

Season 11

13 episodes

Season 12

13 episodes
James Ellis
James Ellis as PC/DC/Sgt./Insp. Bert Lynch (1962–1965, 1967–1978)
Frank Windsor
Frank Windsor as DS John Watt (1962-1965)
Joseph Brady
Joseph Brady as PC "Jock" Weir (1962–1965, 1967-1968)
Brian Blessed
Brian Blessed as PC "Fancy" Smith (1962–1965)
Stratford Johns
Stratford Johns as DCI Charlie Barlow (1962–1965)
Colin Welland
Colin Welland as PC David Graham (1962–1965)
Terence Edmond
Terence Edmond as PC Ian Sweet (1962–1964)
Leonard Williams as Sgt. Percy Twentyman (1962)
Jeremy Kemp
Jeremy Kemp as PC Bob Steele (1962-1963)
Robert Keegan as Sgt. Bob Blackitt (1962–1965)
Geoffrey Whitehead
Geoffrey Whitehead as PC Ken Baker (1964–1965)
John Slater
John Slater as DS Tom Stone (1967-1974)

Similar Shows

User Reviews

Rate this show

Your star rating (required)