This sedate Sunday night ITV comedy – about a ragtag bunch of cops working for the Thames River Police at Ravensbeck, a quiet backwater on the upper Thames – only lasted one series.
It was a gentle, relaxed, old fashioned type of comedy starring Richard Wilson – on a break from One Foot In The Grave – as ageing constable “Prof” Rose; future Doctor Who star David Tennant as his sidekick, the geeky young PC Simon ‘Darwin’ Brown; and Samantha Beckinsale as WPC Gillian ‘Marilyn’ Monroe.
The other officers were PC James ‘Ollie’ Oliver (Trevor Cooper), who was constantly eating; PC Kevin ‘Taz’ Delaney (Jason Watkins); PC Stan Murdoch (John Biggins) and newcomer PC “Hero” Travers (Craig Fairbrass).
Their lazy boss, “Sarge” (Geoffrey Hutchings) – who was scared of boats – spent all his time fishing leaving the Prof to manage the day to day running of the team investigating illegally moored houseboats, sheep-stealing, boat burglars, domestic disputes and black-market booze smugglers.
In one episode, Darwin was convinced he had seen a mermaid (it turned out to be an actress shooting a television commercial). Sue Johnston played the Prof’s pub landlady girlfriend, Val.
PC Roland ‘Prof’ Rose
Richard Wilson WPC Gillian ‘Marilyn’ Monroe
Samantha Beckinsale PC James ‘Ollie’ Oliver
Trevor Cooper PC Simon ‘Darwin’ Brown
David Tennant PC “Hero” Travers
Craig Fairbrass Sgt Malcolm ‘Sarge’ White
Geoffrey Hutchings PC Kevin ‘Taz’ Delaney
Jason Watkins PC Stan Murdoch
John Biggins Val Rutland
Sue Johnston Angie Tennant
Jan Ravens Elvira
Victoria Plum
Episodes
Flying Colours | Out to Grass | Occurrences | The Spirit of the Deep | Duck Turpin | River Rage | The Siege of Mallory Wharf
Video
Related Posts
Waterfront Beat 1 9 9 0 - 1 9 9 1 (UK) 16 x 50 minute episodes Phil Redmond wrote more depth, personal…
The other officers were PC James ‘Ollie’ Oliver (Trevor Cooper), who was constantly eating; PC Kevin ‘Taz’ Delaney (Jason Watkins); PC Stan Murdoch (John Biggins) and newcomer PC “Hero” Travers (Craig Fairbrass).
