King’s Men

1 9 7 6 – 1 9 7 7 (Australia)
13 x 60 minute episodes

Grundy Television, whose oeuvre until this point had been game shows, dipped into the cop genre – which had proved hugely successful for Crawford Productions – with this show for the Aussie Seven network.

Set in Sydney’s red-light district of Kings Cross it featured a squad of undercover police headed up by Detective Inspector Harry King (Gordon Glenwright, pictured at right).

The undercover cops included Detective Sergeant Frank Weston (Tom Oliver); bearded Vietnam veteran Senior Detective Hal Whelan (Don Barkham); Senior Detective Tim Harper (Don Spencer) and Policewoman “Jaybee” Giddings (Tina Bursill).

The team used unconventional methods to infiltrate Sydney’s underworld and fight crime.

Guest stars throughout the 13 episodes included Gerard Kennedy, Noeline Brown, Geraldine Turner, Cornelia Frances, Vincent Ball, Peita Toppano, Kate Fitzpatrick, Norman Yemm, Anne Haddy, Michael Caton, Syd Heylen, Lynette Curran, Paul Chubb, Lex Marinos and Peter Adams.

The production could not obtain permission to film in Kings Cross at night and so filming moved across the harbour to Manly, where the main shopping street, The Corso, was dressed up with various signs and lights to resemble Kings Cross.

The series received a lukewarm reception from the critics and low ratings ensured an early grave.

Detective Inspector Harry King
Gordon Glenwright
Detective Sergeant Frank Weston
Tom Oliver
Senior Detective Hal Whelan
Don Barkham
Senior Detective Tim Harper
Don Spencer
Policewoman “Jaybee” (Joanna Barbara) Giddings
Tina Bursill

Episodes

The Missing List | School For Murder | The Butcher | Suffer Little Children | Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Slayer | Takeover | The Leopard’s Spots | Crusade | The Assassins | Public Enemy No. 1 | Pipeline | Final Curtain | Contract For King