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Series · 1962 – 1978 · Drama

Z-Cars

★7.3 1962 – 1978 12 Seasons Troy Kennedy Martin TV-MA

Z-Cars or Z Cars is a British television drama series centred on the work of mobile uniformed police in the fictional town of Newtown, based on Kirkby, Merseyside. Produced by the BBC, it debuted in January 1962 and ran until September 1978.

Seasons & episodes

12 seasons · 804 episodes

Four of a Kind

Episode 01

Four of a Kind

Jan 2, 1962 · 50 min

The search is on for four young men to ""crew"" the new cars in the tough and troubled district of Newtown, a North of England overspill estate. A mixed community, displaced from the larger towns by slum clearance, has been brought together and housed on an estate without amenities.

The Limping Rabbit

Episode 02

The Limping Rabbit

Jan 9, 1962 · 50 min

A girl disappears, and Steele and Lynch are faced by a conspiracy of silence in her broken family.

Handle With Care

Episode 03

Handle With Care

Jan 16, 1962 · 50 min

An explosion in a quarry disturbs two lovers. It also disturbs Detective Sergeant John Watt when he finds out what caused it.

Stab In The Dark

Episode 04

Stab In The Dark

Jan 23, 1962 · 50 min

A wounding case brings top brass into Victor Division to investigate. Lynch and Steele work overtime to find the villain.

Big Catch

Episode 05

Big Catch

Jan 30, 1962 · 50 min

When the whalers hit Seaport after a good season Smith and Weir have their work cut out to keep trouble to a minimum.

Friday Night

Episode 06

Friday Night

Feb 6, 1962 · 50 min

""It's going to be one of those nights"", pronounced Sgt. Percy Twentyman, and he wasn't far wrong. Steele and Lynch have to cope with the aftermath of a traffic accident in which a drunken driver has killed a motor cyclist and his pillion passenger. Small time felon Grandpa Maddigan blows up the safe in the Gas Company office, Watt and DCS Robins are hot on the trail of the notorious Comber gang, and Twentyman himself gets more than he bargained for when he tries to break up a free-for-all in the Tabernacle pub.

Suspended

Episode 07

Suspended

Feb 13, 1962 · 50 min

The crew of Z-Victor One waste no time in arriving at the scene of a burglary. Their reward is to be suspected of theft themselves.

Family Feud

Episode 08

Family Feud

Feb 20, 1962 · 50 min

When two feuding families go to war Lynch and Steele find themselves in the front line.

Fire!

Episode 09

Fire!

Feb 27, 1962 · 50 min

The report of a burning barn takes Smith and Weir into the country, searching for a fire-raiser.

Threats And Menaces

Episode 10

Threats And Menaces

Mar 6, 1962 · 50 min

In Victor Division the police often live next door to unruly members of the community. Bob and Janey Steele find that this can have unpleasant, even dangerous, consequences.

Jail Break

Episode 11

Jail Break

Mar 13, 1962 · 50 min

What is a mysterious stranger from Soho doing in Victor Division? John Watt would like to know, and keeps a close watch on him. Smith and Weir are heavily involved in the tracking down of money previously stolen in a mailbag robbery. Both events are triggered by a successful jail break.

What Kind Of Hero?

Episode 12

What Kind Of Hero?

Mar 20, 1962 · 50 min

A young man risks his life to save that of an accident victim trapped under an overturned road tanker, then disappears quietly. One of the bystanders, a retired army officer, pesters Barlow to trace the man and see that he gets the recognition he deserves. Barlow eventually finds the reluctant hero, only to discover that he is an army deserter wanted by the Military Police!

Sudden Death

Episode 13

Sudden Death

Mar 27, 1962 · 50 min

When a case of murder is reported Lynch and Steele are the first policemen on the scene. But the main responsibility for organising the hunt for the killer falls on Barlow, whose toughness is backed by vast experience and an intuitive mind.

Found Abandoned

Episode 14

Found Abandoned

Apr 3, 1962 · 50 min

Smith and Weir answer a call and find an abandoned baby. They bring it along to the station, where Inspector Dunn is in charge in Barlow's absence.

The Best Days

Episode 15

The Best Days

Apr 10, 1962 · 50 min

Lynch and Steele have their hands full when a gang of boys break into a school and smash up the headmaster's study. But the hooliganism doesn't stop there. When they are disturbed by the caretaker the oldest member of the gang attacks him and leaves him seriously injured.

Invisible Enemy

Episode 16

Invisible Enemy

Apr 17, 1962 · 50 min

When a gas meter is broken into in a big block of flats Weir and Smith think their hunt is only for a petty thief. What they encounter, though, is someone much more dangerous.

Down And Out

Episode 17

Down And Out

Apr 24, 1962 · 50 min

A drunk causes a disturbance, two thieves break into a pet shop - and Steele and Lynch end the night at knife-point.

Further Enquiries

Episode 18

Further Enquiries

May 1, 1962 · 50 min

Weir stops a car driving without lights, the first event in a night which brings 'important' people in the county to Newtown police station.

Winner Takes All

Episode 19

Winner Takes All

May 8, 1962 · 50 min

A race track tout forgets to pay his alimony, and Steele and Lynch discover an ingenious fraud to beat the bookies.

People's Property

Episode 20

People's Property

May 15, 1962 · 50 min

It's a busy night for Smith, Weir and Sergeant Watt when burglary is rife.

Hi-Jack!

Episode 21

Hi-Jack!

May 22, 1962 · 50 min

At Pete's Caff Steele and Lynch report ""off watch for refreshments"". While they are eating and talking to Steele's friend Les Fielding his lorry is hi-jacked.

Incident Reported

Episode 22

Incident Reported

May 29, 1962 · 50 min

Fancy Smith first meets Stan Carron in the Tabernacle pub where Carron is causing a disturbance. They have an argument. The second time they meet Carron is in no state to argue and Smith starts a long night's work.

Never On Wednesday

Episode 23

Never On Wednesday

Jun 5, 1962 · 50 min

For two years Barlow has been trying to catch a Newtown thief. When DCS Robins takes a personal interest the pressure is on for everyone - particularly Steele and Lynch.

Day Trip

Episode 24

Day Trip

Jun 12, 1962 · 50 min

A charabanc outing, a halt at a pub and an exponent of the three-card trick: this is how a day at the seaside begins. It ends in violence.

Affray

Episode 25

Affray

Jun 19, 1962 · 50 min

Two men claim the same prize and trouble begins. When Lynch and Steele are called there is an unexpected development and a policeman dies.

Contraband

Episode 26

Contraband

Jun 26, 1962 · 50 min

The prospect of a 'finder's reward' in a dockland smuggling case makes Smith and Weir eager volunteers for extra duty.

Teamwork

Episode 27

Teamwork

Jul 3, 1962 · 50 min

Just when the crime figures are levelling out one man pushes them up and up with a series of aimless break-ins. When Steele and Lynch lay hands on him but let him escape Barlow, Watt and Dunn are ready to lay hands on them!

Appearance In Court

Episode 28

Appearance In Court

Jul 10, 1962 · 50 min

Catching a thief is only the beginning as far as the police are concerned. When Smith and Weir have to justify their action in court the truth is made to look slightly less than the whole truth.

Assault

Episode 29

Assault

Jul 17, 1962 · 50 min

Barlow is investigating a case of assault. Betty Ancoats accuses four youths of attacking her, but one of them, Hogan, who has a reputation for violence, denies any knowledge of the crime.

Sunday Morning

Episode 30

Sunday Morning

Jul 24, 1962 · 50 min

No description available.

Unconditional Surrender

Episode 31

Unconditional Surrender

Jul 31, 1962 · 50 min

Barlow initiates a campaign against the Cruddock brothers and their gang. The Z-Cars engage in 'Operation Harassment' and a state of total war develops.

About the series

Z-Cars poster
Audience score
★ 7.3 /10

based on 7 votes

Synopsis

Z-Cars or Z Cars is a British television drama series centred on the work of mobile uniformed police in the fictional town of Newtown, based on Kirkby, Merseyside. Produced by the BBC, it debuted in January 1962 and ran until September 1978.

Drama

Cast

4 principal cast

Frank Windsor

Frank Windsor

DS John Watt

James Ellis

James Ellis

Bert Lynch

Douglas Fielding

Sgt. Alec Quilley

Allan O'Keefe

PC Render

Where to watch Z-Cars

Z-Cars is available to stream on Flicksy via 6 verified sources, aggregated from publicly available embed providers. The drama from Troy Kennedy Martin, Allan Prior has 12 seasons and 804 total episodes, rated 7.3/10 by 7 viewers.

Frequently asked

How many seasons does Z-Cars have?

Z-Cars has 12 seasons with 804 episodes in total.

Is Z-Cars still on the air?

Z-Cars has ended and is no longer in production.

What network airs Z-Cars?

Z-Cars airs on BBC One.

When did Z-Cars first air?

Z-Cars first aired on January 2, 1962.

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