Softly, Softly (1966)
A landmark BBC crime drama following plain-clothes detectives across a decade of gritty British police procedural television.
Softly, Softly - Series Information
- Original Title: Softly, Softly
- First Air Year: 1966
- Last Air Year: 1976
- Created by: Troy Kennedy Martin
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Drama, Crime
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode (50 minutes)
- Number of Seasons: 12
- Number of Episodes: 269
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- First Air Date: January 5, 1966 (United Kingdom - 12)
- Networks: BBC One
- Alternative Titles: Softly, Softly: Taskforce (UK)
- Production Companies: BBC
- Production Countries: United Kingdom
Softly, Softly - Plot
Softly, Softly is a British television drama series, produced by the BBC and screened on BBC 1 from January 1966. It centred around the work of regional crime squads, plain-clothes CID officers based in the fictional region of Wyvern, supposedly in the Bristol area of England.
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Softly, Softly - Cast & Crew
Creator(s)
- Troy Kennedy Martin
Main Cast
- Stratford Johns
- Frank Windsor
- Terrence Hardiman
- Glyn Houston
- Leslie Schofield
- George Pravda
- Roddy McMillan
- Hamilton Dyce
- Frederick Hall
- Derek Martin
Writers
- Elwyn Jones
- Allan Prior
- Alan Plater
- Mervyn Haisman
- Henry Lincoln
Softly, Softly - FAQs
What is Softly, Softly about?
Softly, Softly is a BBC British crime drama series that follows the work of regional plain-clothes CID officers operating in the fictional Wyvern area, loosely based around Bristol, England. It focuses on detective investigations and police procedural work across its 12-season run from 1966 to 1976.
Is Softly, Softly a spin-off of another series?
Yes, Softly, Softly is a direct spin-off of the BBC series Z Cars, which also featured the character DCS Charles Barlow played by Stratford Johns. The show expanded on the procedural format of its predecessor, shifting focus to a regional crime squad rather than uniformed patrol officers.
Who are the main actors in Softly, Softly?
The series stars Stratford Johns as DCS Charles Barlow and Frank Windsor as DI John Watt, both reprising their roles from Z Cars. The supporting cast includes Terrence Hardiman, Glyn Houston, Leslie Schofield, George Pravda, Roddy McMillan, Hamilton Dyce, Frederick Hall, and Derek Martin.
When did Softly, Softly first air?
Softly, Softly first aired on January 5, 1966, in the United Kingdom on BBC One. The series ran for a decade, concluding in 1976 after 12 seasons and a total of 269 episodes, making it one of the longer-running British crime dramas of its era.
How many seasons and episodes does Softly, Softly have?
Softly, Softly ran for 12 seasons and a total of 269 episodes. Season lengths varied, ranging from 13 to 31 episodes per series. The show aired continuously on BBC One from January 1966 through 1976, making it one of the most prolific British police dramas of its generation.
Who created Softly, Softly?
Softly, Softly was created by Troy Kennedy Martin, the British screenwriter also known for his work on Z Cars and the film The Italian Job. The series was produced by the BBC and featured scripts from a rotating team of writers including Elwyn Jones, Allan Prior, and Alan Plater.
What genre is Softly, Softly?
Softly, Softly is a Drama and Crime series, specifically a police procedural. It follows plain-clothes CID detectives as they investigate criminal cases in a fictional English region. The show is widely regarded as a pioneering example of the British police procedural genre on television.
Are there alternative titles for Softly, Softly?
Yes, the series is also known as Softly, Softly: Taskforce in the United Kingdom. This alternate title was used in later seasons to reflect the show's evolving focus on a dedicated crime taskforce unit, distinguishing it from its earlier format and its parent series Z Cars.
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