Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
    Nostalgia Central
    • Home
    • Blog
      • Lists
    • Television
      • TV by Decade
        • TV – 1950s
        • TV – 1960s
        • TV – 1970s
        • TV – 1980s
        • TV – 1990s
      • Comedy
      • Drama
      • Kids TV
      • Variety
      • News & Sport
      • Advertisements
    • Music
      • Music by Decade
        • Music – 1950s
        • Music – 1960s
        • Music – 1970s
        • Music – 1980s
        • Music – 1990s
      • Artists – A to K
        • Artists – A
        • Artists – B
        • Artists – C
        • Artists – D
        • Artists – E
        • Artists – F
        • Artists – G
        • Artists – H
        • Artists – I
        • Artists – J
        • Artists – K
      • Artists – L to Z
        • Artists – L
        • Artists – M
        • Artists – N
        • Artists – O
        • Artists – P
        • Artists – Q
        • Artists – R
        • Artists – S
        • Artists – T
        • Artists – U
        • Artists – V
        • Artists – W
        • Artists – X
        • Artists – Y
        • Artists – Z
      • Artists – 0 to 9
      • Genres
      • Music on Film & TV
      • One-Hit Wonders
      • Playlists
      • Online Radio
    • Movies
      • Movies by Decade
        • Movies – 1950s
        • Movies – 1960s
        • Movies – 1970s
        • Movies – 1980s
        • Movies – 1990s
      • Movies – 0 to 9
      • Movies – A to K
        • Movies – A
        • Movies – B
        • Movies – C
        • Movies – D
        • Movies – E
        • Movies – F
        • Movies – G
        • Movies – H
        • Movies – I
        • Movies – J
        • Movies – K
      • Movies – L to Z
        • Movies – L
        • Movies – M
        • Movies – N
        • Movies – O
        • Movies – P
        • Movies – Q
        • Movies – R
        • Movies – S
        • Movies – T
        • Movies – U
        • Movies – V
        • Movies – W
        • Movies – X
        • Movies – Y
        • Movies – Z
    • Pop Culture
      • Fads
      • Toys & Games
      • Fashion
      • Decor
      • Food & Drink
      • People
      • Technology
      • Transport
    • Social History
      • 1950s Year by Year
      • 1960s Year by Year
      • 1970s Year by Year
      • 1980s Year by Year
      • 1990s Year by Year
      • Events
    Nostalgia Central
    Home»Television»Drama
    Drama TV Shows - 1980s 2 Mins Read

    Star Cops

    Share
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email

    1 9 8 7 (UK)
    9 x 55 minute episodes

    Set in the not-too-distant-future (2027), this BBC series presented the adventures of the International Space Police Force (ISPF) – disparagingly called the ‘star cops’ – led by seasoned terrestrial detective Nathan Spring (David Calder) who had become disenchanted with the system on Earth.

    His companions were Box, an electronic “intelligent listening device” (in other words, a Dictaphone that could answer back), also voiced by Calder, and his assistant, David Theroux (Erick Ray Evans).

    In the new frontier, where the laws have yet to be codified and the interests of corporations and rival governments can be pursued without consequence, Earth-bound authorities realise the need for a dedicated police force to be stationed where the action is.

    starcops

    Other officers in the ISPF included Russian Alexander Krivenko (Jonathan Adams), and Japanese Anna Shoun (Sayo Inaba).

    Two more important characters were soon introduced: Pal Kenzy (Linda Newton), an abrasive and, initially, corrupt Australian official who, through a devious publicity stunt, got herself tied to the Star Cops after Spring had given her the boot; and the series’ main comedy element, Colin Devis (Trevor Cooper), an overweight chauvinist whose “Fancy a quick game of Hide The Sausage?” is one of the series best-remembered lines.

    Despite the premise, the star cops don’t do battle with extraterrestrial invaders. They investigate thefts, sabotage, kidnappings, drug trafficking and suchlike.

    Star Cops contained some marvellous visual effects by Mike Kelt and Malcolm James, and strong performances from guest actors, including Roy Holder and Geoffrey Bayldon.

    The scripts were intelligent and witty (despite an unfortunate habit of stereotyping ethnic groups) and Star Cops was actually signed up for a second season. But with a TV technicians strike cutting the first season down to nine episodes and David Calder moving on to another show, there was no realistic possibility of the crew getting back together to make another 13 episodes.

    Nathan Spring
    David Calder
    David Theroux
    Erick Ray Evans
    Colin Devis
    Trevor Cooper
    Pal Kenzy
    Linda Newton
    Alexander Krivenko
    Jonathan Adams
    Anna Shoun
    Sayo Inaba
    Box (voice)
    David Calder

    Related Posts

    • Police Patrol
      Police Patrol
      1 9 6 5 (UK) 7 x 25 minute episodes This…
    • Earth: Final Conflict
      Earth: Final Conflict
      1 9 9 7 - 2 0 0 2 (USA) 110…
    • Police
      Police
      1 9 8 2 (UK) 9 x 45 minute episodes Police was…
    • Burke's Law
      Burke's Law
      1 9 6 3 - 1 9 6 6 (USA) 94…
    • Counterstrike
      Counterstrike
      1 9 6 9 (UK) 10 x 50 minute episodes "A…
    • Shoot to Kill
      Shoot to Kill
      1 9 9 0 (UK) 1 x 120 minute episode 1…
    • Brenner
      Brenner
      1 9 5 9 (USA) 26 x episodes Brenner was based…
    • Law and Order
      Law and Order
      1 9 7 8 (UK) 4 x 80 minute episodes Debuting…

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest WhatsApp Reddit Email
    Previous ArticleFamous Teddy Z, The
    Next Article Rhinemann Exchange, The

    Comments are closed.

    Follow us
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
    • Instagram
    You May Also Like
    • Green Book, The
      The Green Book, known in full as The Negro Motorist Green Book, […]
    • Mulligan’s Stew
      1 9 7 7 (USA) 7 x 60 minute episodes High school […]
    • Saturday Night Live
      1 9 7 5 – current (USA) “Hi! I’m Chevy Chase […]
    • Sherbet Remembered
      The intermission lights were dimming and scattered chatter was […]
    • Dovells, The
      The Dovells were an American vocal group, formed at Overbrook […]
    • Lords of Discipline, The (1983)
      Sadism, torture, cruelty, racism and Gothic horror surface again […]
    Twitter Feed
    Please note


    Nostalgia Central covers the period 1950 to 1999 and contains some words and references which reflect the attitudes of those times and which may be considered culturally sensitive, offensive or inappropriate today.
    Popular Tags
    1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 Action Figures Amicus Arcade games Australia Beach movies Beatles Blaxploitation Board games Britpop Canada Crime Disney Doo-Wop Elvis Presley Girl groups Glam Goth Hammer Heavy Metal Irwin Allen Labels Merseybeat Mod revival Motown New Romantic New Wave NWOBHM Oi! One-hit wonders Power Pop Pub rock Punk Radio Scotland Ska Soul music Surf music
    Search Nostalgia Central
    Copyright © 1998, 2022 Nostalgia Central
    • About
    • Contact
    • FAQ

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.