The Revenue Men
The Revenue Men is a British television series, produced and transmitted by the BBC between 1967 and 1968. The series dealt with cases handled by the Investigation Branch of Customs and Excise such as the illegal import of goods, illegal immigration and business transactions amongst travellers. The Revenue Men was produced by Gerard Glaister. The series lasted for three series and 39 episodes in total. In spite of this fact, all of the episodes were later wiped, with no episodes extant in the BBC archives as of 2009.
Seasons
1. The Traders
Air Date: 1967-03-28
The keen young Ross McInnes makes blunders when handling his first case since joining the Branch.
2. Don't Get Conspicuous
Air Date: 1967-04-04
Ross McInnes, eager for work, acts on a tip-off meant for Smith, who lets him have his head while keeping him on a long lead.
3. You Can't Win
Air Date: 1967-04-11
Three million English cigarettes are hijacked in France. The men of the I.B. go to work on the assumption that they could be on their way back to this country. The problem is when and how - and who?
4. A Tough Business
Air Date: 1967-04-18
Tom MacDonnell, a haulage operator, uses gas oil, duty twopence a gallon, in his lorries, but claims rebate on diesel, duty three shillings and sevenpence a gallon. When Meg meets up again with once steady boy friend Caesar Smith she finds that her emotions, her maternal interest and her loyalties are all placed under a cruel strain.
5. The Money Man
Air Date: 1967-04-25
Larry Hagan is a good businessman, deserves all the trappings of success. Or so it seems until Smith and Campbell take a closer look and uncover a neat racket.
6. Swallowtale
Air Date: 1967-05-02
The import duty on antique jewellery is high. So evasion on a valuable item can look like a way to easy money - and become a difficult trade for the men of the I.B. to put a stop to.
7. The Benefactor
Air Date: 1967-05-09
Easy money is the usual lure in smuggling. But there can be other motives as Smith and McInnes discover when they dig into the past of a man who seems to have everything money can buy.
8. Sometimes There's a Bonus
Air Date: 1967-05-16
One case leads to another and Smith discovers the makings of a fraud that neither the I.B. nor the police can do anything about - until someone gets hurt.
9. Pretty Flat Kind of Existence
Air Date: 1967-05-23
Some contraband can kill, and when this happens Smith and McInnes need to go a step further than the police to cut the pipeline.
10. A Man Takes a Drink
Air Date: 1967-05-30
When whisky disappears from a bonded warehouse Smith and McInnes become involved in a very ingenious plan to defraud the Revenue.
11. You Can Always resign
Air Date: 1967-06-06
Smith is investigating a firm of importers but when he becomes involved with the owner's daughter he finds himself in a most invidious position.
12. Deadly Cargo
Air Date: 1967-06-13
A child is shot by terrorists and the rifle used was made in Britain. Smith becomes emotionally involved in the case of illegal arms deals because of his personal experience of terrorists. But then, who are the terrorists?
13. Borderline
Air Date: 1967-06-20
When plastic explosives are used by the so-called I.R.A. it becomes obvious that their supplies are coming into the Republic from Britain. McInnes and Smith investigate and find that even the most charming of men can be dangerously irresponsible.
1. The Waiting Game
Air Date: 1967-09-01
Drayton, a perfectly normal and respectable businessman, is sacked from his job as general Manager of the Dynaflow company after only four weeks in office. The company has been bought out by a Mr. Purvis and the price is suspiciously low. Drayton contacts the I.B. and it doesn't take Smith long to realise that a colossal Purchase Tax swindle is in the making. The trouble is, how to prove it. And that's where Smith has to start playing the waiting game.
2. Man in a Wheelbarrow
Air Date: 1967-09-08
The Customs men at a Continental car ferry become suspicious when a man makes too many trips through their port.
3. The Present
Air Date: 1967-09-15
Lying to the Customs men - whether about that extra packet of cigarettes or an expensive gold watch - causes more trouble than it's worth. Sheila and Dick Graham find this out when they lie about a valuable microscope found in their luggage, and set McInnes and Smith off on an investigation.
4. Who Needs Friends?
Air Date: 1967-09-22
Sir John Dolan and Stuart Campbell are close friends. And we all need friends, don't we?
5. A Cup of Kindness
Air Date: 1967-09-29
Ross McInnes learns that a good I.B. man must think of the Department above all things - even above friendship.
6. Better Dead Than Alive
Air Date: 1967-10-06
When Penman's flat is broken into by a young man, a chain of strange events leads the I.B. into a macabre and dangerous case.
7. Evidence Partial and Impartial
Air Date: 1967-10-13
Smith arrests two old clients and oversteps the mark. The two he has accused insist that he himself should be investigated.
8. A Sleeping Partner
Air Date: 1967-10-20
Fortunes can be made from a leak of information from a Customs office. Smith and McInnes attack the problem from two sides, both with equal application.
9. Conflict of Interests
Air Date: 1967-10-27
Perhaps to be a good I.B. officer one should have no emotions at all. Ross McInnes finds this out the hard way.
10. The Exile
Air Date: 1967-11-03
When Paul Valery, an international con-man, has a mysterious visitor, the I.B. become involved with a very undesirable alien.
11. You Can't Touch Me
Air Date: 1967-11-10
When Paul Hasek, a foreign diplomat, is caught in a compromising situation, his privileged position is used as a cover for smuggling.
12. Fox in the High Street
Air Date: 1967-11-17
Any way of reducing the price of mink coats would be welcomed by some women, even if it means depriving the country of revenue.
13. The Golden Spider
Air Date: 1967-11-24
When a man collapses in a Customs hall he is found to be carrying a large quantity of gold.
14. The New Faces
Air Date: 1967-12-01
Smith is involved in butter smuggling between Northern and Southern Ireland and he and McInnes find themselves up against a very professional operator.
1. Sentimental Value
Air Date: 1968-03-29
A man called McGeely arrives in Scotland but cannot leave his ship because he has no papers. He claims he comes from Glasgow and mentions Sauchiehall Street as proof. But as the Customs men point out, everyone all over the world has heard of Sauchiehall Street. Smith and McInnes are after some smugglers who are bringing high quality jewellery into the country in small quantities. McGeely is given a piece to smuggle ashore but when he vanishes from the ship the smugglers have about as much idea as the Revenue men about where to find him. Who gets there first?
2. Search for an Unknown Client - Part One
Air Date: 1968-04-05
The I.B. are confronted by a case of 'the worst kind of smuggling'. Campbell puts Ross McInnes on the trail of the client concerned. Ross traces him as far as the Inner Hebrides but arrives too late. It seems he cannot pursue the case any further - it's a dead end. He returns to report his failure to a furious Campbell.
3. Search for an Unknown Client - Part Two
Air Date: 1968-04-12
Last week Logan's death brought Ross to a halt. This week Smith resumes the search for the man who supplies the peddlers.
4. I'd Rather be in Philadelphia
Air Date: 1968-04-19
Johnny Cain is back again and Smith's holiday in Switzerland develops into another case for the I.B.
5. A Drop of What You Fancy
Air Date: 1968-04-26
A labourer is taken to hospital having been poisoned by a bottle of illegal whisky. Ross McInnes investigates.
6. Funny Sort of Criminal
Air Date: 1968-05-03
Smith is faced with a very difficult moral problem when he is informed that there are several illegal immigrants working at the docks.
7. Little Rich Girl
Air Date: 1968-05-10
The I.B. are called in to assist when the Waterguard are being annoyed by the activities of Miss Stella Bruce, a rich young playgirl.
8. Combined Operations
Air Date: 1968-05-17
A huge combine is selling smuggled goods in working-mens' clubs, but there seems to be no way for the police or the I.B. to break the organisation.
9. Family Affair
Air Date: 1968-05-24
Pressure on a colleague leads the I.B. to examine the sport of kings.
10. The Gentle Bootlegger
Air Date: 1968-05-31
A family reunion sets Smith off on the trail of an illicit brew.
11. The Big Feller
Air Date: 1968-06-07
""Pull up the ladder, Jack"" could well be the Big Feller's family motto.
12. A Sense of Justice
Air Date: 1968-06-14
A dangerous man escapes from jail and Smith becomes involved.
Select an episode to start watching
Rating
1.0/10
Release Date
1967-03-28
Episodes
39 (3 seasons)
Status
Ended
