The Detectives is a British comedy television series, starring Jasper Carrott, Robert Powell, and George Sewell. It aired on BBC One from 27 January 1993 to 28 December 1997, and was a spoof of police dramas. It was written by Mike Whitehill and Steve Knight.

Concept

The Detectives originated from a recurring sketch that first appeared on Jasper Carrott's comedy show Canned Carrott. Because of its success, it was turned into a television series. There were a few differences from the sketch to the TV series, such as Dave Briggs being married in the sketch (to Brenda), while in the series, both he and Louis are single and hopeless at romance. Jasper Carrott and Robert Powell play the bumbling detective constables Bob Louis and David Briggs. They were bad at their job, to the despair of their boss, Superintendent Frank Cottam (played by Sewell). However, they usually ended up solving their cases. The BBC compared it to the series Special Branch (1969–74), in which Sewell had also appeared. Mark Lewisohn compared it to The Sweeney (1975–78), describing Sewell's role as "a deadpan spin on that series' Chief Inspector Haskins". Moreover, the original sketches were introduced by a blue-tinted sequence and musical score that parodied The Sweeney ' s opening titles. Each episode showcased different guest stars, and some of them played the same characters they had played in other television series: Leslie Grantham appeared as Danny Kane from The Paradise Club, while John Nettles and Terence Alexander reprised their roles from Bergerac. In 2012, BBC1 broadcast a one-off sketch show The One Jasper Carrott (part of a series showcasing various comedians) which included an extended sketch about Briggs and Louis having formed an incompetent private detective agency, Sherlock and Holmes (the role of Superintendent was now played by Michael Melia, who had played the character Brian in the second episode of series 1, as George Sewell had died in 2007).

Characters

David Briggs

Briggs (Robert Powell) usually spoofs the leader of a crime-fighting duo that takes all the risks, leads the cases and comes up with the ideas, but is always unluckier with women.

Bob Louis

Though being the cynic and the voice of reason, Bob Louis (Jasper Carrott) is as hopeless as Briggs at flirting with women.

Superintendent Cottam

Frank Cottam (George Sewell) is a parody of Sewell's earlier character in Euston Films drama Special Branch. Cottam usually gives Briggs and Louis dangerous assignments to get rid of them.

Nozzer

Nozzer (Tony Selby) is a desk sergeant at West End Central police station. His first episode was in "Rear Window", although in this episode, the character was a dog handler rather than a desk sergeant. He also appeared in "DC of Love", "Curse of the Comanches", "Sacked" and "Best Man"

Episodes

Series 1 (1993)

Series 2 (1994)

Series 3 (1995)

Special (1995)

Series 4 (1996)

Series 5 (1997)

Special (1997)

DVD releases