The Chinese Detective

The Chinese Detective
This is the main title caption that was seen throughout the series.
Format	Drama
Created by	Ian Kennedy Martin
Starring	David Yip Derek Martin Robert Lee
Country of origin	UK
No. of episodes	14
Production
Running time	1 Hour
Broadcast
Original channel	BBC
Original run	30 April 1981 – 5 November 1982

The Chinese Detective is a British television series, transmitted by the BBC between 1981 and 1982 and created by Ian Kennedy Martin, who had previously devised The Sweeney and Juliet Bravo.

The series starred British-born Chinese actor David Yip as Detective Sergeant John Ho, and offered traditional police procedural storylines whilst refusing to shy away from portraying institutional racism within the police force, and the prejudice displayed by those Ho encounters whilst doing his job. Like many other TV detectives, Ho was something of a maverick, often using unorthodox methods to solve crimes.

Ho's immediate superior in the police force was Det. Insp. Berwick (Derek Martin) and he was also often seen visiting his father Joe (Robert Lee) at his restaurant for advice.

The Chinese Detective was the first British television drama to feature a British-Chinese leading character who was both strong and sympathetic. Spirit Warriors was the second, and most recent, featuring Jessica Henwick as the lead character of Bo.

Episode list

Episode	Title	Writer	Director	Guest stars
Series 1 (BBC1, 30 April to 4 June 1981)
1	Release	Ian Kennedy Martin	Ian Toynton	Alan Ford, Roger Bizley, Shirley Stelfox, Ahmed Khalil, Jack Le White
2	Hammer And Nails	Ian Kennedy Martin	Terry Green	Brian Croucher, Matthew Scurfield, John Judd, James Marcus, David Sibley, Vincent Wong, Keith Hodiak
3	The Four From Fulham	Ian Kennedy Martin	Ian Toynton	Michael Melia, Peter Dean, Vincent Wong, John Judd
4	Income Tax	Ian Kennedy Martin	Ian Toynton	Lee Montague, Marc Zuber, Bill Treacher, Renu Setna, Nicholas McArdle, Kenneth Gilbert, Dicken Ashworth, Ishia Bennison
5	Washing	Ian Kennedy Martin	Tom Clegg	Fiesta Mei-Ling, Frank Coda
6	Ice And Dust	Ian Kennedy Martin	Tom Clegg	Peter Schofield, Ian Hendry, Roger Sloman, Michael Melia
Series 2 (BBC1, 10 September to 5 November 1982)
1	Trials	Ian Kennedy Martin	Ian Toynton	Maurice Denham, Neil Hallett, Frank Gatliff
2	Oblomov	Ian Kennedy Martin	Terence Williams	Michael Barrington, Paul Antrim, Alan Ford, John Savident, Merdelle Jordine, Albert Moses, Robert Russell, Barry Smith
3	Wheels Within Wheels	Ian Kennedy Martin	David Green	Rudolph Walker, George Sewell, Rosemary Martin, Keith James
4	Tapdancer	Ian Kennedy Martin	Ian Toynton	Edward Hardwicke, Bryan Marshall, Linda Marlowe, Pam St. Clement, Ben Howard
5	Bounty Hunter	Eddie Boyd	Laurence Moody	Maurice Roëves, Michael Attwell, Stevan Rimkus
6	Chorale	Ian Kennedy Martin	Jeremy Summers	George Baker, Derren Nesbitt, Valentine Palmer, Roy Pattison, Roy Scammell
7	Pasts	Eddie Boyd	Leonard Lewis	James Ellis, Kenneth Gardiner, Peter Copley, John Collin, Patsy Smart
8	Secret State	Ian Kennedy Martin	Brian Lighthill	Tony Caunter, Paul Antrim, Patrick Malahide, Michael Robbins, Maurice O'Connell, Anna Wing

External links

• British Film Institute Screen Online
• The Chinese Detective at the Internet Movie Database