"Special Branch" (1969) TV series 1969-1974

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Release Date:

17 September 1969 (UK)

Genre:

Action | Crime

Plot Keywords:

Police

Cast

Derren Nesbitt	...	Det. Chief Insp. Jordan (27 episodes, 1969-1970)
George Sewell	...	Det. Chief Insp. Alan Craven / ... (26 episodes, 1973-1974)
Morris Perry	...	Charles Moxon (21 episodes, 1969-1970)
Fulton Mackay	...	Det. Chief Supt. Inman / ... (18 episodes, 1969-1970)
Patrick Mower	...	Det. Chief Insp. Tom Haggerty / ... (16 episodes, 1973-1974)
Roger Rowland	...	Det. Sgt. Bill North / ... (15 episodes, 1969-1974)
Keith Washington	...	Det. Con. Morrissey / ... (15 episodes, 1969-1970)
Paul Eddington	...	Strand (12 episodes, 1974)

Series Directed by
Dennis Vance		(10 episodes, 1969-1973)
William Brayne		(8 episodes, 1973-1974)
Mike Vardy		(6 episodes, 1969-1973)
Jim Goddard		(4 episodes, 1969-1970)
Douglas Camfield		(4 episodes, 1973-1974)
William G. Stewart		(3 episodes, 1969-1970)
Tom Clegg		(3 episodes, 1970-1974)
Guy Verney		(3 episodes, 1970)
Peter Duguid		(2 episodes, 1969)
Voytek		(2 episodes, 1969)
Terry Green		(2 episodes, 1974)
Don Leaver		(2 episodes, 1974)

Series Writing credits
George Markstein		(7 episodes, 1969-1970)
Roy Bottomley		(6 episodes, 1969-1973)
Tom Brennand		(6 episodes, 1969-1973)
Trevor Preston		(4 episodes, 1969-1973)
Peter Hill		(4 episodes, 1970-1974)
Scott Forbes		(3 episodes, 1969-1970)
John Kershaw		(3 episodes, 1973-1974)
Michael J. Bird		(3 episodes, 1974)
Anthony Skene		(2 episodes, 1969-1973)
Michael Chapman		(2 episodes, 1970-1974)
Lewis Greifer		(2 episodes, 1970-1974)
Roger Marshall		(2 episodes, 1973)

Series Produced by
Lloyd Shirley	....	executive producer (23 episodes, 1973-1974)
George Taylor	....	executive producer (23 episodes, 1973-1974)
Robert Love	....	producer (18 episodes, 1969-1970)
Geoffrey Gilbert	....	producer (13 episodes, 1973)
Ted Childs	....	producer (10 episodes, 1974)
Reginald Collin	....	producer (9 episodes, 1969)
George Markstein	....	series editor (4 episodes, 1969)
Mary Morgan	....	associate producer (4 episodes, 1974)

Series Original Music by
Robert Sharples		(15 episodes, 1973-1974)

Series Cinematography by
John Keeling		(12 episodes, 1973-1974)
Dusty Miller		(9 episodes, 1973-1974)
Norman G. Langley		(2 episodes, 1974)

Series Film Editing by
Chris Burt		(12 episodes, 1973-1974)
John S. Smith		(11 episodes, 1973-1974)

Series Casting by
Dodo Watts		(23 episodes, 1973-1974)

Series Production Design by
Mike Hall		(6 episodes, 1969-1970)
Peter Le Page		(5 episodes, 1969-1970)
Colin Andrews		(4 episodes, 1969-1970)
Neville Green		(3 episodes, 1969-1970)
Frederick Pusey		(3 episodes, 1969-1970)
Roger Allan		(3 episodes, 1969)
David Marshall		(2 episodes, 1969-1970)

Series Art Direction by
Malcolm Middleton		(13 episodes, 1973-1974)
John Wood		(10 episodes, 1973)

Series Costume Design by
Michael Baldwin		(6 episodes, 1973)

Series Makeup Department
Stephanie Kaye	....	hair stylist / hairdresser (23 episodes, 1973-1974)
Michael Morris	....	makeup artist / make-up (23 episodes, 1973-1974)

Series Production Management
Laurie Greenwood	....	production manager (16 episodes, 1973-1974)
Nick Gillott	....	production manager (7 episodes, 1974)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Eamonn Duffy	....	assistant director (23 episodes, 1973-1974)
Mike Higgins	....	second assistant director (13 episodes, 1973)

Series Art Department
Tim Hutchinson	....	assistant art director (13 episodes, 1973-1974)
Malcolm Middleton	....	assistant art director (10 episodes, 1973)

Series Sound Department
Tony Dawe	....	production sound mixer / sound mixer (41 episodes, 1969-1974)
Ian Toynton	....	dubbing editor (23 episodes, 1973-1974)
Hugh Strain	....	dubbing mixer (22 episodes, 1973-1974)

Series Stunts
Chris Webb	....	stunts (1 episode, 1974)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
John Maskall	....	camera operator (23 episodes, 1973-1974)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Joanna Wright	....	wardrobe supervisor (17 episodes, 1973-1974)

Series Music Department
Robert Sharples	....	composer: theme music / composer: title music (23 episodes, 1970-1974)
Norman Kay	....	composer: theme music (13 episodes, 1969)

Series Other crew
George Markstein	....	series editor / script editor (23 episodes, 1969-1970)
Nick Gillott	....	location manager (16 episodes, 1973-1974)
Ian Black	....	script editor (13 episodes, 1973)
Robert Bottom	....	assistant to producer (13 episodes, 1973)
Mary Dalison	....	continuity (11 episodes, 1973-1974)
Renée Glynne	....	continuity (9 episodes, 1973-1974)
Maggie Allen	....	story editor (7 episodes, 1970)
Stuart Freeman	....	location manager (7 episodes, 1974)
Mary Morgan	....	assistant to producer (6 episodes, 1974)
Max Goodleff	....	story editor (5 episodes, 1974)
Martin Hall	....	story editor / script editor (3 episodes, 1969-1970)
Brian Brooke	....	story editor (2 episodes, 1969)

Production Companies

• Thames Television (1969-70)
• Euston Films (1973-74)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

60 min (53 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

Thames Television

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Man About the House: It's Only Money (#1.5)" (1973)

before 'the sweeney' there was...'special branch'!

this was an above average and entertaining brit telly cop series which i used to enjoy watching way back in the 70s when i was a kid. it was made by the now defunct euston films who were later also responsible for 'the sweeney' and 'minder' which was also quite enjoyable apart from dennis waterman's dreadful singing. each episode revolved around some kind of elite police unit who would normally encounter the usual suspects i.e. terroists, blackmailers, extortionists and lonely housewives. george sewell and patcho mower played the main leads akin to regan and carter who'd normally end each show with an obligatory, violent shoot out against the baddies that would normally be set in a remote area for budget constraints. come on people! let's see the video/dvd release!