Barlow

Barlow at Large is a British television programme broadcast in the 1970s, starring Stratford Johns in the title role. Johns had previously played Barlow in the Z-Cars, Softly, Softly and Softly, Softly: Taskforce series on BBC television during the 1960s and early 1970s. Barlow at Large began as a three-part self-contained spin-off from Softly, Softly: Taskforce in 1971 with Barlow co-opted by the home office to investigate police corruption in Wales. Johns left Softly, Softly for good in 1972, but returned for a further series of Barlow at Large in the following year, Barlow having gone on full-time secondment to the Home Office. This second series, rather than telling one story in serial form, as the 1971 series had, was instead ten 50-minute episodes, each with a self-contained story. In this series, Barlow was supported by Norman Comer as Detective Sergeant Rees, who had been helpful to him during the first series. He also had to deal with the political machinations of the senior civil servant Fenton. In 1974 the series was renamed Barlow and a further two series of eight episodes each followed, introducing the character of Detective Inspector Tucker, played by Derek Newark. The final episode was transmitted in February 1975. The Barlow character was seen again in the series Second Verdict in which he, along with his former colleague John Watt, looked into unsolved cases and unsafe convictions from history.

Drama

Seasons

1. A Welcome in the Hillside

Air Date: 1971-09-15

2. Come to Dust

Air Date: 1971-09-22

3. Heat of the Sun

Air Date: 1971-09-29

1. Strays

Air Date: 1973-02-07

Barlow must find a young girl who has disappeared from London Airport.

2. Wanted

Air Date: 1973-02-14

Fishing for a villain in Amsterdam, Barlow searches for the appropriate bait.

3. Review

Air Date: 1973-02-21

Eddie Doyle is serving a life sentence for murder, but friends in The Potteries think the police may have moved too fast.

4. Publicity

Air Date: 1973-02-28

A girl has been murdered in the West Country, and routine methods have failed to find her killer. What's needed is something different...

5. Wheelbarrows

Air Date: 1973-03-07

Barlow investigates a racket using car ferries to export stolen vehicles.

6. Informant

Air Date: 1973-03-14

When a voice from the past brings Barlow information about a crime, he has to balance his new responsibilities at the Home Office against his detective's judgment.

7. Trespass

Air Date: 1973-03-21

The policeman look and sound British. But when Barlow follows the trail of a city swindler as far as Rhodesia, he finds them surprisingly unfriendly.

8. Assessor

Air Date: 1973-03-28

Barlow finds that Signor Rizzi is interested in something more sinister then good trade relations.

9. Treasure

Air Date: 1973-04-04

The Rock of Gibraltar proves stony ground when Barlow and Rees start 'digging' for treasure. Their hunt for £750,000 worth of stolen and forged securities leads them to all the Rock's attractions - and one of the attractions leads Rees into temptation.

10. Confidence

Air Date: 1973-04-11

Barlow's relationship with Fenton is never easy - and it is stretched to the limit when Fenton receives and extraordinary confession.

1. Big Deal

Air Date: 1974-01-23

Barlow's involvement in the security arrangements for a number of big open-air pop festivals appears to be routine. But when things go wrong at least one chief constable is glad he's there.

2. Snatch

Air Date: 1974-01-30

A prominent Jewish industrialist appears to have been kidnapped. Is it a hoax? Or is it the action of Arab guerillas - in which case what exactly do they want?

3. Plunder

Air Date: 1974-02-06

Even on holiday in Italy Barlow manages to combine business with pleasure - which accounts for his knowledge of and interest in Etruscan art.

4. Hit

Air Date: 1974-02-13

Barlow is instructed to make discreet enquiries into the undesirable company being kept by a politician. In the process he meets up with an old adversary and decides, for once, to go it alone.

5. Corruption

Air Date: 1974-02-20

A series of apparently unconnected explosions reveals a web of intrigue. Barlow's enquiries touch a raw nerve in high places and he takes a big personal risk.

6. Restitution

Air Date: 1974-02-27

7. Snookered

Air Date: 1974-03-06

A mysterious call from Special Branch leads Barlow into a cloak-and-dagger world which is, as Fenton warns him, ""shadowy, full of intrigue - and violent"".

8. Sect

Air Date: 1974-03-13

The Home Office have received a number of complaints about an apparently harmless religious sect. Barlow's team investigate, with tragic results.

1. Vindication

Air Date: 1975-01-08

2. Away

Air Date: 1975-01-15

3. Bullion

Air Date: 1975-01-22

4. Rat Run

Air Date: 1975-01-29

5. Asylum

Air Date: 1975-02-05

6. Contessa

Air Date: 1975-02-12

7. Nemesis

Air Date: 1975-02-19

8. Protection

Air Date: 1975-02-26

Select an episode to start watching

Rating

6.0/10

Release Date

1971-09-15

Episodes

29 (4 seasons)

Status

Ended

Cast