Softly Softly : Task Force

1 9 7 0 – 1 9 7 6 (UK)
149 x 50 minute episodes

Following on from the 1966 show Softly Softly (which itself was a spin-off from the classic Z Cars), Softly Softly : Task Force starred Stratford Johns as Barlow – the head of Thamesford Constabulary CID and the supervising officer of their Task Force group.

He was assisted by Inspector Watt (Frank Windsor) and Detective Sergeant Hawkins (Norman Bowler) under the guidance of Chief Constable Cullen (Walter Gotell).

Barlow was widowed in 1972 and left Thamesford when he was headhunted by the Home Office – which became another spin-off series, Barlow at Large.

This left the way clear for Watt to come out of Barlow’s shadow and take command in his own right, with the reliable assistance of Hawkins.

Other regulars included Terence Rigby as dog handler PC Snow with his dogs Inky and Radar, David Lloyd Meredith (Sgt Evans) and Walter Gotell (Chief Constable Cullen).

The series was set in the fictional south-eastern English borough of Kingley (played by Rochester and the Medway area of Kent).

Sadly, almost 50% of the episodes no longer exist in any form.

Barlow 
Stratford Johns
Inspector Watt 
Frank Windsor
Det Sgt Hawkins 
Norman Bowler
Chief Constable Cullen 
Walter Gotell
PC Snow
Terence Rigby
Sgt Evans
David Lloyd Meredith
CI/D Sup. Bill Adler
John Franklyn-Robbins
Sara Jameson/Hawkins
Jenny Hanley