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The Chinese Detective

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The Chinese Detective
This is the main title caption that was seen throughout the series.
Created byIan Kennedy Martin
StarringDavid Yip
Derek Martin
Robert Lee
Country of originUnited Kingdom
No. of series2
No. of episodes14
Production
Running time1 Hour
Original release
NetworkBBC1
Release30 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 Chinese actor David Yip as Detective Sergeant John Ho, and offered traditional police procedural storylines in a setting of occasional prejudice and distrust 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 series was set in and around London's docklands before redevelopment began in the 1980s.

Like many British TV detectives of the 1980s TV era, DS Ho drove a 'classic' car - in his case a Morris Minor Traveller.

Both series were released on DVD 14 April 2008.

Cast

Episode list

Series 1: 1981

Ep Title Directed by: Written by: Air date
11"Release"Ian ToyntonIan Kennedy Martin30 April 1981 (1981-04-30)
Guest stars: Alan Ford, Shirley Stelfox
22"Hammer And Nails"Terry GreenIan Kennedy Martin7 May 1981 (1981-05-07)
33"The Four from Fulham"Ian ToyntonIan Kennedy Martin14 May 1981 (1981-05-14)
44"Income Tax"Ian ToyntonIan Kennedy Martin21 May 1981 (1981-05-21)
55"Washing"Tom CleggIan Kennedy Martin28 May 1981 (1981-05-28)
Guest stars:
66"Ice And Dust"Tom CleggIan Kennedy Martin4 June 1981 (1981-06-04)

Series 2: 1982

Ep Title Directed by: Written by: Air date
71"Trials"Ian ToyntonIan Kennedy Martin10 September 1982 (1982-09-10)
82"Oblomov"Terence WilliamsIan Kennedy Martin17 September 1982 (1982-09-17)
Guest stars: Michael Barrington, Alan Ford, John Savident, Albert Moses, Robert Russell, Barry Smith
93"Wheels Within Wheels"David GreenIan Kennedy Martin24 September 1982 (1982-09-24)
Guest stars: Rudolph Walker, George Sewell, Rosemary Martin, Keith James
104"Tapdancer"Ian ToyntonIan Kennedy Martin1 October 1982 (1982-10-01)
115"Bounty Hunter"Laurence MoodyEddie Boyd8 October 1982 (1982-10-08)
126"Chorale"Jeremy SummersIan Kennedy Martin15 October 1982 (1982-10-15)
137"Pasts"Leonard LewisEddie Boyd22 October 1982 (1982-10-22)
148"Secret State"Brian LighthillIan Kennedy Martin5 November 1982 (1982-11-05)