ON THE BEAT: Uniform police on TV

As The Responder continues (9pm, BBC1), we take a look at some familiar faces that wore the distinctive police uniform on TV over the years… Dixon Of Dock Green (1955-76) Jack Warner’s George Dixon (left) was a friendly and sympathetic neighbourhood bobby based in London.

Z-cars (1962-78) Things got grittier in this drama series, set in a fictional part of Liverpool,

as the bobbies took their beat on the road.

Juliet Bravo (1980-85) Hit series following Lancashire police Inspector Jean Darblay (Stephanie Turner, series 1-3), replaced by Anna Carteret as Inspector Kate Longton (series 4-6).

The Bill (1983-2010) The fictional Sun Hill station in London was the base for the longestrunning police procedural on British television.

Heartbeat (1992-2010)

Yorkshire-based hit drama set in the 1960s and following Nick Berry’s beat policeman, Nick Rowan (right), as well as the other residents of the area.

The Thin Blue Line (1995-96) Sitcom starring Rowan Atkinson as the Inspector in charge of a surprisingly effective uniformed squad.

WPC 56 (2013-15) Drama series based on the first woman police constables. WPC Gina Dawson (Jennie Jacques) was succeeded by Annie Taylor (Claudia Jessie) in series three.

Prime Suspect 1973 (2017) This prequel series followed the early career of newly qualified Jane Tennison in the Met during 1973.