Dempsey and Makepeace
| Dempsey and Makepeace | |
|---|---|
Main title card.
|
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| Created by | Ranald Graham |
| Starring |
Michael Brandon Glynis Barber Ray Smith Tony Osoba |
| Composer(s) | Alan Parker |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of series | 3 |
| No. of episodes | 30 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Running time | 50 minutes |
| Production company(s) | Golden Eagle Films LWT |
| Distributor | ITV Studios |
| Release | |
| Original network | ITV |
| Picture format | 4:3 |
| Audio format | Mono |
| Original release | 11 January 1985 – 1 November 1986 |
Dempsey and Makepeace (1985–86) is a British television crime drama made by LWT for ITV, created and produced by Ranald Graham. Lead roles were played by Michael Brandon (Dempsey) and Glynis Barber (Makepeace), who later married each other on 18 November 1989.
The series combined elements of previous series such as the mis-matching of British and American crime-fighters from different classes as seen in The Persuaders! and the action of The Professionals.
The premise of Dempsey and Makepeace is the oddball pairing of two police detectives: an elegant British noblewoman, Sgt (Lady) Harriet Makepeace, and a streetwise working-class New Yorker, Lt James Dempsey, both working for an elite and armed unit of the London Metropolitan Police.
When his partner Joey dies in a botched drugs operation and he uncovers police corruption at the highest level, Dempsey is under threat of assassination. With help from his colleagues, he hurriedly leaves New York for London, on the pretence of an undercover international police exchange programme.
Harriet "Harry" Makepeace is the daughter of Lord Winfield (Ralph Michael), who owns an English stately home. Reference is made to his having formerly been in the Army or the Secret Service. Harry’s grandfather is mentioned as having been an eccentric Victorian collector of antiques and rare items. Harry’s mother is mentioned only once, by her maternal uncle Duffy and, it would seem she had died some time ago. Harry has made her way up through the ranks of the police force, despite sexism by her male counterparts and the physical demands of the job.
Although there is initial reluctance on both sides, Harry and Dempsey work as partners in a specialised task force, SI 10, and they make a good team. SI 10 is under the command of Gordon Spikings, played by Ray Smith. A fourth regular role is that of Chas, played by Tony Osoba, who provides useful research and communications in the SI 10 office and occasionally has a more active role.
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