The Cops (British TV series)

The Cops
Also known as	Stanton Blues
Genre	Police procedural
Created by	Jimmy Gardner Robert Jones Anita J. Pandolfo
Directed by	Harry Bradbeer Alrick Riley Kenneth Glenaan
Starring	Katy Cavanagh Rob Dixon John Henshaw Clare McGlinn Steve Jackson Jack Marsden Danny Seward Parvez Qadir Steve Garti Mark Chatterton David Crellin Ken Kitson
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language	English
No. of series	3
No. of episodes	24
Production
Executive producer	Tony Garnett
Producer	Eric Coulter
Production locations	Bolton, Greater Manchester, England
Cinematography	Mark Waters
Editors	Paul Endacott Colin Monie Liana Del Giudice
Running time	50 minutes
Production company	World Productions
Original release
Network	BBC Two
Release	19 October 1998 (1998-10-19) – 11 April 2001 (2001-04-11)

The Cops is a British television police procedural drama series created by Jimmy Gardner, Robert Jones, and Anita J. Pandolfo, first broadcast on BBC Two on 19 October 1998. Produced by World Productions, the series follows the lives of one shift of uniform officers based at Christie Road Police Station in the fictional town of Stanton, Greater Manchester. Billed as another attempt by the BBC to rival The Bill, the series was notable for its documentary-style camerawork and uncompromising portrayal of the police force. Although the series featured a number of notable actors across three series, Katy Cavanagh, Rob Dixon, and John Henshaw remained as the principal cast throughout.

The series was primarily filmed in Bolton, Greater Manchester. The first series was so controversial in its depiction of the police force that official police advice was withdrawn before the second series went into production. Twenty-four episodes were broadcast in three series, although the third series saw a slight change in the series format, featuring three two-part episodes each loosely tied together with a story arc. Although the second series attracted strong viewing figures and critical acclaim, resulting in the commission of a third series, creator Robert Jones later confirmed that the third series was written as a way of 'bringing The Cops to a close', with the final episode broadcast on 11 April 2001.

The first series was released on VHS on 24 January 2000, available as four individual volumes or as a complete box set. Both the second and third series remain commercially unreleased. All three series received a single rerun on UKTV Drama in the early 2000s. In June 2024, BBC Four began reshowing the first series and all three series appeared on BBC iPlayer.

Reception

The programme won back-to-back British Academy Television Awards in the Best Drama Series category in 1999 and 2000 and was nominated for a third time in 2001, narrowly losing out to Clocking Off. Gordon Beverage, writing for the official 2000 BAFTA magazine, wrote; "All it took was a line of coke and the nation was hooked. It was a masterstroke from one of British television's most successful directors, but then that's what we've come to expect from Tony Garnett."

"Who else would have the nerve and ingenuity to kick off a new police drama with a WPC snorting Class A in a toilet cubicle? Dixon of Dock Green it definitely isn't, much to the chagrin of the duty office, not to mention the numerous members of the force who had hoped for something a little less provocative with The Cops. But pulling punches is not Tony's style."

Critical reception was also extremely positive, with Mark Walker for Amazon writing; "It's grim up North for the cops in The Cops. Bolton, Lancashire (sic) doubles for the fictional Northern town of Stanton; Bolton's not such a bad place in reality, but here it looks like war-torn Beirut. Unlike their soft Southern counterparts, the cops in Stanton swear copiously, get involved in fistfights and generally behave badly. Little wonder when you contemplate the grim reality of their daily round among all the "dirty, thieving, lying scumbags" they have to deal with."

"This is soap opera masquerading as documentary, shot in subjective fly-on-the-wall fashion and with semi-improvised dialogue that enhances the documentary feel. There's no hummable theme tune and every episode leaps without preamble in media res into the thick of the action. The result is a show with all the character-driven tension of a soap combined with the voyeurism and unpredictability of docudrama. It's an original combination that makes for compulsive viewing."

Cast

• Katy Cavanagh as PC Mel Draper
• Rob Dixon as Sgt. Edward Giffen
• John Henshaw as PC Roy Brammell
• Clare McGlinn as PC Natalie Metcalf
• Steve Jackson as PC Mike Thompson (Series 1—2)
• Jack Mardsen as PC Danny Rylands (Series 1—2)
• Danny Seward as PC Dean Wishaw
• Parvez Qadir as PC Jaz Shundara
• Steve Garti as PC Colin Jellicoe
• Mark Chatterton as Ch. Insp. Newland
• David Crellin as DS Alan Wakefield
• Ken Kitson as Insp. Stowe
• Jan Pearson as Maggie Hayes (Series 2-3)
• Paulette Williams as PC Amanda Kennett (Series 2)
• Kitty Simpson as PC Karen McQuire (Series 3)
• Michael McNally as PC John Martin (Series 3)
• Sue Cleaver as Duty Sgt. Standish (Series 1)
• David Prosho as Duty Sgt. Michaelson (Series 2—3)
• Margaret Blakemore as Cindy, CAD Operator
• Mark Benson as SOCO Joe Smail

Episodes

Series 1 (1998)

Episode	Title	Written by	Directed by	Viewers (millions)	Original airdate
1	"Potshots"	Jimmy Gardner	Harry Bradbeer	6.03	19 October 1998 (1998-10-19)
PC Draper, hung-over and worse for wear following a night out with her mates, is called to investigate a suspicious death following complaints from a neighbour who notices a foul stench coming from the flat above. PC Bramell is out to catch a local scrote responsible for the death of Stanton's former sergeant and in the process turns over a local drug peddler being groomed by PC Rylands to become an informant. PC Shundara investigates a case of criminal damage involving members of the Asian community.
2	"Wasted"	Robert Jones	Harry Bradbeer	4.24	26 October 1998 (1998-10-26)
Sgt Giffen attempts to reason with a suicidal man threatening to jump from the roof of a department store. PC Rylands finds himself engaging in a bizarre sex game brought on by the excitement provoked by his police uniform. While on a routine hospital enquiry PC Draper encounters a former schoolmate who has been beaten by a gang of thugs. PCs Metcalf and Thompson deal with a gang of youths targeting a young boy with learning disabilities and PC Metcalf discovers the gang leader's father is former associate.
3	"Swinging Hammers"	Anita J. Pandolfo	Harry Bradbeer	3.53	2 November 1998 (1998-11-02)
PC Draper is disturbed when she meets some of her friends while in uniform – and they are obviously uncomfortable about being seen with her. PC Jellicoe ends up in trouble again after reversing into a minibus full of women on a hen night. PC Wishaw is reprimanded by Sgt Giffen for losing two radios. Roy tries to help out a young rent boy being mugged by his punters. PCs Thompson and Metcalf find themselves becoming target practice after being recruited as backup for a sting organised by DS Wakefield.
4	"Sticks and Stones"	Jimmy Gardner	Alrick Riley	3.51	9 November 1998 (1998-11-09)
PCs Rylands and Brammell visit a former burglar on a curfew and find a house full of potentially stolen goods. DS Wakefield pressures PCs Thompson and Metcalf into taking part in an ID parade. PC Thompson takes pity on a man accused of beating his wife. PC Shundara takes on a second job as a taxi driver but is forced to keep his cool when one of his first fares turns out to be a drunken Stowe and Newland. PC Thompson becomes morose on his stag night when he realises the depth of his feelings for PC Metcalf.
5	"Fall Out"	Anita J. Pandolfo	Alrick Riley	3.23	16 November 1998 (1998-11-16)
PC Metcalf is called to a store selling baby goods where a heavily pregnant woman has been caught on camera stealing a pram. PC Wishaw spends his shift eyeing up potential new cars. PC Jellicoe becomes the butt of everyone's joke after being bitten by a stray Border Collie outside a shop. Meanwhile PC Rylands, distracted by events in his love life, is called to investigate an alleged missing child. The child's father fears that his daughter is in danger after she is not returned by his ex-wife – a suspicion that is later confirmed.
6	"Top of the Game"	Stephen Brady	Alrick Riley	3.29	23 November 1998 (1998-11-23)
PCs Draper and Shundara are in trouble. Draper has not performed particularly well during her probationary period and Sgt. Giffen is given the go-ahead to sack her if the need arises. Shundara attends a theft at a corner shop. He recognises the assailant and refuses to chase him down the street. The Asian shopkeeper is not happy and vows to file a complaint. PC Wishaw responds to a disturbance on the Skeetsmoor Estate and gets a serious beating. Despite four radio calls for help, no one goes to his assistance.
7	"Culminate"	James Quirk	Harry Bradbeer	3.37	30 November 1998 (1998-11-30)
PCs Draper and Shundera are fooled by a burglar who claims they have answered a false alarm. PC Brammell allows a man who defends a shopkeeper by punching a youth to go free. PC Rylands returns to work but concerns are raised about his welfare. PC Wishaw refuses to speak to PC Jellicoe. PC Thompson is the victim of a vicious burglary. Sgt Giffen reprimands PC Brammell for unofficial use of the divisional van. PC Metcalf carelessly arrests arch nemesis Skillet on an outdated warrant, which ends in tragedy.
8	"Walking Disaster"	Robert Jones	Harry Bradbeer	2.82	7 December 1998 (1998-12-07)
Tensions on the Skeetsmore estate are running high following the death of Brian Skillet. PC Rylands is forced to attend mediation with the father of the young girl he failed to save. Ch. Insp. Newland rebuffs Sgt. Giffen's complaint against PC Brammell and orders the division to pull together. PC Wishaw causes further trouble by winding up mourners heading to Skillet's funeral, leading to an ambush which leaves PC Jellicoe vulnerable. Tensions boil over when a deranged PC Rylands offers his condolences to Skillet's family.

Series 2 (1999)

Episode	Title	Written by	Directed by	Viewers (millions)	Original airdate
1	"Walking the Line"	Robert Jones	Harry Bradbeer	3.19	11 October 1999 (1999-10-11)
DS Wakefield, now in uniform, discovers dope in PC Draper's apartment allegedly belonging to her lodger, and proceeds to blackmail her with it. PC Metcalf is made a temporary sergeant following the death of Sgt. Giffen's mother. She oversees an attack in custody on PC Thompson and investigates a domestic with PCs Brammell and Wishaw. All the while she worries that Ch. Insp. Newland will charge her for Brian Skillet's death. Meanwhile, Newland is at the front of a public meeting regarding the state of Skeetsmoor where tensions remain high after Skillet's death, while PC Jellicoe uses his car to escort a young lad back home, which is easier said than done. PCs Wishaw and Thompson apprehend two shoplifters, one of whom accuses Wishaw of sexual harassment.
2	"Taking Liberties"	Jimmy Gardner	Harry Bradbeer	2.75	18 October 1999 (1999-10-18)
PCs Brammell and Wishaw struggle in catching a bail-jumper. Their first visit leads them to 13-year-old Debbie Sharpe, who has sold many of her and her mother's belongings to get drug money. PC Draper eventually speaks to this girl as well and must return her to her home after she tries to run away. Eventually, a run-in with PC Rylands, still slightly on-edge from the funeral incident, leads them to a pub, where Wishaw also notices his father. Wishaw hasn't spoken to his dad in six years, and is troubled by his potential intentions. Meanwhile, PC Draper takes a shine to a community leader and drug counsellor in Skeetsmoor, creating tension with PC Shundara. PC Brammell runs into Vince Graves again and gives him further trouble.
3	"Fallen Angels"	Stephen Brady	Harry Bradbeer	2.28	25 October 1999 (1999-10-25)
After a report meeting with a psychiatrist, PC Rylands is deemed unfit to return to the force. Outraged by this, he tries to patch things up with Dave Wilcox, the father of the dead child, where his situation worsens. PCs Jellicoe and Thompson are in disagreement when an elderly drunk is causing problems to his partner. PC Metcalf takes an immediate dislike to new probationer PC Kennett, and Wakefield doesn't seem to help matters. PC Brammell is told he has high blood pressure by his doctor, and his wife insists that he starts dieting, to his dislike. PC Thompson is undergoing marriage problems and its end is looking likely. PC Jellicoe tries to help a man who has seemingly forgotten his identity while also trying to brush up for a pub quiz which he is attending with some fellow PCs.
4	"The Long Game"	Steve Lawson	Alrick Riley	2.47	1 November 1999 (1999-11-01)
PC Wishaw apprehends scrote Craig Davo after he reports that Debbie Sharpe has OD'd. Following her death, Sgt. Giffen is eager to find out who she got the drugs from, but when Ch. Insp. Newland asks him to wait, Giffen decides to take matters into his own hands: by prying the information out of Davo, already on edge from the incident. After Terry Reynolds' name is mentioned, the officers plan a raid. Meanwhile, PC Wishaw is sent on a community spree to keep him away from the raid. PC Thompson takes pity on a divorced father caught shoplifting a toy for his daughter's birthday. PC Jellicoe fancies a change of pace in his job.
5	"War of Words"	Robert Jones	Alrick Riley	2.18	8 November 1999 (1999-11-08)
News that Terry Reynolds has been released on bail hits Skeetsmoor on the day of Debbie Sharpe's funeral, which PC Draper has been sent to monitor. The officers are searching for Craig Davo again in order to enhance the investigation on Sharpe's death, where new information comes to light about Craig's brother. Draper gets more involved in the community centre following her romantic liaison with leader Darrll Stone, leading to muttered rumours between officers. PC Wishaw brings out new inspector Maggie Hayes while searching for Craig. PCs Thompson and Kennett investigate a van full of stolen bikes, but when it turns out the culprit can't speak English, PC Shundara is roped in.
6	"Clifftop"	Jane English	Kenneth Gleenan	2.63	15 November 1999 (1999-11-15)
PC Draper is subject to joking and mockery when she is found in a community vigil, all while looking for a known sex offender in a relationship with a 14-year-old girl. When it turns out he lives next to a neighbour who's no stranger to complaining, tensions rise. Sgt. Giffen's doubts about PC Kennett rise after an incident with an elderly man parked in a disabled spot gets way out of hand. PC Jellicoe holds a drug talk in a nearby primary school, where he gets a surprising lead. PCs Brammell and Wishaw look into a burglary in a university dorm. PC Thompson meets two rowdy girls who have reported a flasher in the area, but when he sees one of them after the investigation has finished, the situation turns awry.
7	"Ignorance and Suggestion"	Stephen Brady	Kenneth Gleenan	2.51	22 November 1999 (1999-11-22)
A prank on new probationer PC Kennett goes too far, and she files a complaint against the officers involved and even threatens to accuse Sgt. Giffen of sexual assault when she approaches him about the incident. A group of men have all had their wallets stolen, but when the culprit is in the house, they are prejudiced against having PC Metcalf come in and investigate. PCs Brammell and Wishaw find out about PC Shundara's night job as a cab driver. When Shundara looks into an accident in his area, family issues arise. PCs Metcalf and Kennett look into a concerned citizens job, where Kennett's allegations against Giffen are confirmed.
8	"Deep Water"	Robert Jones	Kenneth Gleenan	2.53	29 November 1999 (1999-11-29)
An investigation takes place following PC Kennett's sexual harassment allegations against Sgt. Giffen, and Ch. Insp. Newland is keen to keep Kennett on the force. PC Draper goes undercover when searching for a flasher. PC Thompson is brought to the end of his tether by a prisoner who doesn't fancy taking a shower. PC Brammell searches for the brother of Sahid Ifraz, but there's just one problem: Brammell doesn't intimidate Ifraz. PC Wishaw worries that his job is on the line when he is taken in for questioning about the prank pulled on PC Kennett. PC Jellicoe is dragged into the deep end when news about the young boy he brought home escalates.
9	"Hemorrhage"	Jane English	Alrick Riley	2.75	6 December 1999 (1999-12-06)
PC Draper is caught out when she arrives, plain-clothed, at the scene of Reynolds' house being trashed, but then tries to cover her tracks to avoid having to identify the culprits.
10	"An Act of Revenge"	Jimmy Gardner	Alrick Riley	2.59	13 December 1999 (1999-12-13)
PC Bramwell is brutally attacked in an act of revenge. PC Shundara investigates the assault on Karim Ifraz and discovers that one of his fellow colleagues may be involved – or even responsible. Ellen goes into hospital.

Series 3 (2000–2001)

Episode	Title	Written by	Directed by	Original airdate
1	"Distance (Part 1)"	Kath Mattock	Kenneth Gleenan	18 September 2000 (2000-09-18)
On the morning after the party celebrating her promotion, Natalie finds herself waking up next to Sergeant Giffen. However, more serious concerns soon come to the fore with the case of a pregnant runaway teenager. Meanwhile, with his wife critical in hospital, Roy has gone without sleep, and finds his career is in tatters.
2	"Distance (Part 2)"	Kath Mattock	Kenneth Gleenan	19 September 2000 (2000-09-19)
Dean and his brother, Colin, are the victims of an unprovoked attack, and Roy is called in to try to find the perpetrators. Metcalf is anxious to find a pregnant fifteen-year-old runaway.
3	"All Work and No Play (Part 1)"	Stephen Brady	Alrick Riley	21 March 2001 (2001-03-21)
Mel and Roy are called to an assault at the home of a notorious drug dealer. As it becomes clear that there's a split in the family, Giffen and Wakefield decide to work together to get a result. Giffen also deals with an unusual burglary.
4	"All Work and No Play (Part 2)"	Stephen Brady	Alrick Riley	28 March 2001 (2001-03-28)
As Giffen, Wakefield and Newland continue their investigation into a notorious drug-dealing family, they are placed in a tight corner regarding a suicide and its potentially damaging consequences.
5	"Small Mercies (Part 1)"	Robert Jones	Kenneth Gleenan	4 April 2001 (2001-04-04)
Roy struggles to deal with the death of his wife, but the situation becomes even more complicated when he is forced to assist in the eviction of her first husband's sister. Mel's bravery in a dangerous situation surprises herself.
6	"Small Mercies (Part 2)"	Robert Jones	Kenneth Gleenan	11 April 2001 (2001-04-11)
Mel gets too involved as she tries to establish the motive behind Shona Molloy's attack on a student. Metcalf deals with a disturbed teenager arrested the day before. Roy investigates a domestic which turns out to be rather unusual, and lays some family ghosts to rest.

External links

• The Cops at World Productions
• The Cops at the British Film Institute
• The Cops at IMDb
• The Cops at epguides.com