1 9 8 6 (UK)
3 x 60 minute episodes
This three-part ITV thriller, shown on consecutive nights in April 1986, had impeccable credentials. Written by Ian Kennedy Martin (creator of The Sweeney), it was produced by Ian Toynton, who was responsible for Minder and Widows.
Relative newcomers Christopher Fulford and Richard Graham starred as police sergeants John Miller and Jim Collis – uncouth, grubby and flawed – as they moved through the big-time criminal world of London.
The duo were attached to Scotland Yard’s Serious Robberies squad (based on the fourth floor of that illustrious establishment – hence the title).
Miller was a brilliant, intuitive detective, his life only marred by a tug-of-love battle over his child. Collis was an accident-prone hothead with a weight problem who eased his worries and self-doubts by rushing to the hot dog stand.
One of the top criminals, George Payne (Kenneth Haigh), was a chartered accountant who lost a lot of money in the 1970s property crash and now planned to pull off the biggest crime of the century. A millionaire career criminal, he liked to hang around with violent men.
Crooks with pump-action shotguns were plentiful, and the language was terse and direct.
The three-part miniseries was intended as a pilot for a new police series, but changes among the management team at Thames Television vetoed the idea.
Detective Sergeant John Miller
Christopher Fulford
Detective Sergeant Jim Collis
Richard Graham
Detective Chief Supt. Haladene
Brian Cox
Mackie
Peter Wight
Hanley
Derrick O’Connor
Monroe
Geoffrey Whitehead
George Payne
Kenneth Haigh
Johnny Ettrick
John Lyons
Railton
Tenniel Evans
Cavan
Bernard Kay
Costigan
Michael Elwyn
Mrs Henderson
Maureen Sweeney
Doctor
Annette Ekblom
Cannock
Denys Hawthorne
DACC
John Rowe
Harrington
Jon Laurimore
Detective Judd
Chris Sullivan
Stakus
Dimitri Andreas
WDS Richards
Sarah Neville
Purvis
Paul McDowell
Tony Ellis MP
Tristram Jellinek
Coren
Mark Penfold
Colin Ettrick
Michael McStay
Nanny
Angela Quinn
DS Shaw
Arthur Kelly
Taylor
James Snell
Ennis
Mike Hayward
Danny Rogers
Derek Fuke
Rafaello
Peter Harding
Mrs Cavan
Annie Tyson
Dacre
Robert Hamilton
Denton
Kim Durham
DI Lowe
James Charles
Khalid Khan
Gurdial Sira
Salter
Jeff Pirie
Jack Willis
Fraser Downie
Cooper
Anthony Sergeant
Sgt. Wright
Robbin John
De Laubrique
Stephen Marlowe