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Rockliffe's Babies

  • TV Series
  • 1987– 1987–
  • 50m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
91
YOUR RATING
Alphonsia Emmanuel, Ian Hogg, and Joe McGann in Rockliffe's Babies (1987)
  • Crime
  • Drama
Series featuring the tough and experienced Det. Sgt. Alan Rockcliffe, and his squad of young and enthusiastic plain-clothes PCs.Series featuring the tough and experienced Det. Sgt. Alan Rockcliffe, and his squad of young and enthusiastic plain-clothes PCs.Series featuring the tough and experienced Det. Sgt. Alan Rockcliffe, and his squad of young and enthusiastic plain-clothes PCs.
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
91
YOUR RATING
  • Stars
    • Ian Hogg
    • Joe McGann
    • Alphonsia Emmanuel
Top credits
  • Stars
    • Ian Hogg
    • Joe McGann
    • Alphonsia Emmanuel
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 1User review
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Episodes18

    Browse episodes
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    Photos

    John Blakey, Bill Champion, Martyn Ellis, Alphonsia Emmanuel, Brett Fancy, Ian Hogg, Joe McGann, and Susanna Shelling in Rockliffe's Babies (1987)
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    Top cast

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    Ian Hogg
    Ian Hogg
    • Sergeant Alan Rockliffe
    18 episodes18 eps • 1987–1988
    Joe McGann
    Joe McGann
    • PC Gerry O'Dowd
    17 episodes17 eps • 1987–1988
    Alphonsia Emmanuel
    • WPC Janice Hargreaves
    17 episodes17 eps • 1987–1988
    Bill Champion
    • PC David Adams
    17 episodes17 eps • 1987–1988
    John Blakey
    John Blakey
    • PC Keith Chitty
    16 episodes16 eps • 1987–1988
    Martyn Ellis
    Martyn Ellis
    • PC Paul Georgiou
    16 episodes16 eps • 1987–1988
    Brett Fancy
    Brett Fancy
    • PC Steve Hood
    16 episodes16 eps • 1987–1988
    Edward Wilson
    Edward Wilson
    • Detective Inspector Charles Flight
    15 episodes15 eps • 1987–1988
    Susanna Shelling
    • WPC Karen Walsh
    15 episodes15 eps • 1987–1988
    Malcolm Terris
    Malcolm Terris
    • Detective Superintendent J Munro
    9 episodes9 eps • 1987–1988
    Brian Croucher
    • Chief Superintendent Barry Wyatt
    6 episodes6 eps • 1988
    Bill McCabe
    • Sergeant Benyon
    4 episodes4 eps • 1987–1988
    John Bleasdale
    • Sergeant Oates - Custody Sergeant…
    3 episodes3 eps • 1987–1988
    Norman Beaton
    • Irish Mickey…
    2 episodes2 eps • 1987–1988
    Lesley Clare O'Neill
    • Tina…
    2 episodes2 eps • 1987–1988
    Philip Wright
    • PC Mark
    2 episodes2 eps • 1987–1988
    Denise Margetts
    • Lyn Chitty…
    2 episodes2 eps • 1988
    Lonnie Donegan
    • Ferns
    2 episodes2 eps • 1987–1988
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The title and closing sequences were recorded around the Westway urban motorway in inner West London, and the maps shown on the walls of the police station offices are of north Kensington. The slow panning camera in the closing sequence was on the top of Hermes Point, a 20-storey tower block on Chippenham Road, London W9 which later became notorious in a political scandal involving the local council placing homeless families despite knowing it had free asbestos which was a health risk.
    • Connections
      Edited into Red Dwarf: Backwards (1989)

    User reviews1

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Good Eighties Cop Show
    Rockliffe's Babies presented an uncompromising view of policing a city sprawl riven with social problems, high unemployment, ostentatious wealth and racial tensions.

    The titular 'Babies' were detective trainees in the Metropolitan Police Divisional Crime Squad, a local unit based in West London investigating a grab bag of cases under the supervision of one Alan Rockliffe (superbly played by Ian Hogg, a one time candidate for Dr Who), a crusty, self loathing veteran; the recovering alcoholic usually at odds with his superiors - most of whom he despises for their hypocracy and vacilliation, if not incompetence or outright corruption.

    In terms of ability and portryal the Squad are distinctly mixed - a fiesty black woman, a racist hustler and a Scouse maverick are probably the pick. If the series were built around these guys it might have been more streamlined and dynamic; as it is, the other rookies - in terms of ability, and actual portrayal by the actors - are little more than adequate. Their mistakes come from inexperience or poor judgement; and some learn some very hard lessons indeed.

    Compared to the likes of The Wire, Law And Order, and The Shield, Rockliffe's Babies must seem quite tame or dated, but in its day it was a hard hitting piece of Friday night cop action, often criticised for violence and gritty storylines (much like its predecessor Juliet Bravo). Cancelled with some acrimony in 1987, Rockliffe's Babies is a window into the harsh world of eighties London - minus the retro gloss. Flawless it is not, but it's an old favourite that I'd recommend.
    helpful•2
    1
    • wilsonstuart-32346
    • May 25, 2018

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 9, 1987 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Filming locations
      • Kensington, London, England, UK
    • Production company
      • British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      50 minutes
    • Color
      • Color

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    Alphonsia Emmanuel, Ian Hogg, and Joe McGann in Rockliffe's Babies (1987)
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    By what name was Rockliffe's Babies (1987) officially released in Canada in English?
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