The Professionals
Discussion
Stories vary: Some say that the problem was inability to agree commercial terms with BL for provision of cars. Others say that the BL cars had reliability issues, but as with so much to do with the cars of that era, and with BL in particular, it is hard to find out which bits are true and which bits are myths.
In the New Avengers, IIRC Gambit had an XJ-S, and Purdey had an MGB and later a TR7. I cannot recall what Steed had - maybe an SD1? From memory, I thought that Cowley had an SD1 rather than a Princess, but my memory may be wrong. I recall that Doyle had a white Dolomite Sprint before he got either a sporty Escort or a Capri.
In the New Avengers, IIRC Gambit had an XJ-S, and Purdey had an MGB and later a TR7. I cannot recall what Steed had - maybe an SD1? From memory, I thought that Cowley had an SD1 rather than a Princess, but my memory may be wrong. I recall that Doyle had a white Dolomite Sprint before he got either a sporty Escort or a Capri.
Check out the totes hilars opening for Season 1, with Cowley ostensibly driving a Roller like a right nutter.
https://youtu.be/wqGpIVk3xrU
https://youtu.be/wqGpIVk3xrU
I’ve got the whole collection on my iTunes library, the picture quality compared to my old dvd’s is like night and day.
So I had a little Google to see how it was achieved and found the whole process fascinating - http://www.mark-1.co.uk/Professionals/restoration....
So I had a little Google to see how it was achieved and found the whole process fascinating - http://www.mark-1.co.uk/Professionals/restoration....
I recommend a very amusing book called "Shut It!", which offers a guide to The Sweeney and The Professionals. One of the best bits is "Ray Doyle cooks a bit of pasta", highlighting those moments in which Doyle showcases his prototype metrosexual side. It is said that for many years Martin Shaw was so embarrassed to have been in the show that he was awkward in negotiations about repeats, but that is either another tall tale, or he changed his mind after a while, so the show reappeared.
Despite being uber cheesy, I like the fact that both shows have their serious moments. The Sweeney shows the harsh impact of the job on the personal lives of the cozzers, especially the boozed up and lonely Regan, and also points out that quite often the bad guys get away with it. The Professionals occasionally addresses issues about terrorism, Government powers, "who watches the watchmen?", and what not. But it also features a bloke who jumps out and smashes a chair over another bloke's head, and that's got to be great.
Despite being uber cheesy, I like the fact that both shows have their serious moments. The Sweeney shows the harsh impact of the job on the personal lives of the cozzers, especially the boozed up and lonely Regan, and also points out that quite often the bad guys get away with it. The Professionals occasionally addresses issues about terrorism, Government powers, "who watches the watchmen?", and what not. But it also features a bloke who jumps out and smashes a chair over another bloke's head, and that's got to be great.
Andrew Pixley's booklet which comes with the most recent dvd boxset explains in some detail what the problems were with the BL cars used in the first series, the New Avengers SD1 was fine at first but spares were slow in appearing when the crew needed them, this also applied to the Dolly Sprint and TR7 later on. BL had promised the crew a brand new dark blue S2 Daimler Sovereign (for Cowley) which never materialised despite regular promises that it was on its way from Browns Lane. In some scenes the BL cars had to be pushed into shot by the crew as they often failed to start. The biggest problem of all was the lack of communication between the appointed BL bloke and Mark 1 Productions, promises were made but not kept because each person in that job at BL was swiftly moved on to another department leaving Mark 1 in the lurch.
The first series began filming in June '77 but by October the cars were causing so much trouble that the shooting schedule was two weeks behind and a second unit had to be employed to catch up, taking the show over budget. A big meeting was convened to sort it out but the BL rep failed to turn up. Stunt co-ordinator Pete Brayham then stepped in and suggested his contact at the Ford press office would be only too glad to help out, they already given Euston Films excellent service on The Sweeney, this is why the Fords began to appear in the later Series 1 episodes, and more followed soon after when series 2 began filming in '78.
Doyle's first car in the first filmed episode (Old Dog, New Tricks) was a brown Rover 2000 Automatic, it was used in a couple of later episodes and was then passed on to Euston Films who used it in the second Sweeney film 'Sweeney 2' in December '77.
The first series began filming in June '77 but by October the cars were causing so much trouble that the shooting schedule was two weeks behind and a second unit had to be employed to catch up, taking the show over budget. A big meeting was convened to sort it out but the BL rep failed to turn up. Stunt co-ordinator Pete Brayham then stepped in and suggested his contact at the Ford press office would be only too glad to help out, they already given Euston Films excellent service on The Sweeney, this is why the Fords began to appear in the later Series 1 episodes, and more followed soon after when series 2 began filming in '78.
Doyle's first car in the first filmed episode (Old Dog, New Tricks) was a brown Rover 2000 Automatic, it was used in a couple of later episodes and was then passed on to Euston Films who used it in the second Sweeney film 'Sweeney 2' in December '77.
Edited by P5BNij on Wednesday 19th August 20:03
Edited by P5BNij on Wednesday 19th August 20:04
Edited by P5BNij on Wednesday 19th August 20:05
Edited by P5BNij on Wednesday 19th August 20:05
Screen grab from 'Old Dog, New Tricks', the ex-New Avengers SD1 had a bit of masking tape added to the reg' plates to make it into an R plater..... the car no longer exists but the reg' number was bought by a fan who put into his own SD1, it was featured in Practical Classics mag a dew years ago....
Ace stunt geezer supreme, the late Pete Brayham in the middle....
Pete set up the opening stunt for the second series and drove the Mk1 Consul through the plate glass, all done in one take in the summer 'of '78.... when the series first appeared on VHS and was re-run on TV in the '90s this version of the title sequence was added onto the series 1 episodes, replacing the Cowley in the Roller version....
Ace stunt geezer supreme, the late Pete Brayham in the middle....
Pete set up the opening stunt for the second series and drove the Mk1 Consul through the plate glass, all done in one take in the summer 'of '78.... when the series first appeared on VHS and was re-run on TV in the '90s this version of the title sequence was added onto the series 1 episodes, replacing the Cowley in the Roller version....
Breadvan72 said:
I recommend a very amusing book called "Shut It!", which offers a guide to The Sweeney and The Professionals. One of the best bits is "Ray Doyle cooks a bit of pasta", highlighting those moments in which Doyle showcases his prototype metrosexual side. It is said that for many years Martin Shaw was so embarrassed to have been in the show that he was awkward in negotiations about repeats, but that is either another tall tale, or he changed his mind after a while, so the show reappeared.
It was reported that he learnt that Gordon Jackson's widow was struggling financially which is why he relented on the show being shown again. Breadvan72 said:
I recommend a very amusing book called "Shut It!", which offers a guide to The Sweeney and The Professionals. One of the best bits is "Ray Doyle cooks a bit of pasta", highlighting those moments in which Doyle showcases his prototype metrosexual side. It is said that for many years Martin Shaw was so embarrassed to have been in the show that he was awkward in negotiations about repeats, but that is either another tall tale, or he changed his mind after a while, so the show reappeared.
Despite being uber cheesy, I like the fact that both shows have their serious moments. The Sweeney shows the harsh impact of the job on the personal lives of the cozzers, especially the boozed up and lonely Regan, and also points out that quite often the bad guys get away with it. The Professionals occasionally addresses issues about terrorism, Government powers, "who watches the watchmen?", and what not. But it also features a bloke who jumps out and smashes a chair over another bloke's head, and that's got to be great.
The Sweeney is in a different league to the Professionals. It is a bit before my time, so I only recently got into it. It does have the elements they mocked in that Nissan Almera commercial years ago (MARKET, stop shouting, I CAN'T). Yet there is actual substance there. As you say, the way the criminals are often better off than the police, the cost of the job, the sometimes dubious methods Regan employs. It was also one of the first series to show the use of informants and the relationship between criminals and the police.Despite being uber cheesy, I like the fact that both shows have their serious moments. The Sweeney shows the harsh impact of the job on the personal lives of the cozzers, especially the boozed up and lonely Regan, and also points out that quite often the bad guys get away with it. The Professionals occasionally addresses issues about terrorism, Government powers, "who watches the watchmen?", and what not. But it also features a bloke who jumps out and smashes a chair over another bloke's head, and that's got to be great.
So I thought I would like professionals because it was likely to be similar. OK the theme tune is great and it is fun to see old cars but apart from that it is laughable. The script is cliche ridden, the plots absurd and it looks like it was made for 50p. Compared to the Sweeney it is utter rubbish.
PurpleTurtle said:
Top CI5 geekery there, PH never disappoints!!
It's a bit of an affliction really, I'm fascinated by film and TV production (family connections there so it's not surprising).The Sweeney and Professionals production overlapped for several months during 1977 / 78 with some crew members working on both at different times.
I read an article recently about the Likely Lads.
The rift between the stars was mentioned and the story that James Bolam stopped the shows being repeated. He said he didn't because he couldn't and anyway why would he as it brought in repeat fees. So i very much doubt , that no matter how embarrassed by the Professionals Martin Shaw may be, he could stop it being shown.
It always seemed like it was written by a 14 year old . Any British police fiction with guns is always total gonads.
The rift between the stars was mentioned and the story that James Bolam stopped the shows being repeated. He said he didn't because he couldn't and anyway why would he as it brought in repeat fees. So i very much doubt , that no matter how embarrassed by the Professionals Martin Shaw may be, he could stop it being shown.
It always seemed like it was written by a 14 year old . Any British police fiction with guns is always total gonads.
bartelbe said:
The Sweeney is in a different league to the Professionals.
They were, really : even though we think of both as seventies shows, they came from different starting points. The Sweeney was supposed to be a more realistic character based drama, being based on the activities of the real Flying Squad, albeit with a lot of dramatic licence. The Professionals was pure fiction, an imaginary "secret secret service", so could be as creative as the budget allowed. From what I recall, the Sweeney was post 9pm watershed, whereas the Professionals was Saturday evening entertainment, although there was criticism of the violence in some episodes. One Bugs Bunny, one Watership Down, I suppose 
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