The Gold Robbers
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''The Gold Robbers'' is a thirteen-part British crime drama series starring
Peter Vaughan Peter Ewart Ohm (4 April 1923 – 6 December 2016), known professionally as Peter Vaughan, was an English actor known for many supporting roles in British film and television productions. He also acted extensively on stage. Vaughan played Gr ...
, Artro Morris,
Richard Leech Richard Leeper McClelland (24 November 1922 – 24 March 2004), known professionally as Richard Leech, was an Irish actor. Richard Leeper McClelland was born in Dublin, Ireland, the son of Isabella Frances (Leeper) and Herbert Saunderson McCl ...
and
Peter Copley Peter Copley (20 May 1915 – 7 October 2008) was an English television, film and stage actor. Biography Copley was born in Bushey, Hertfordshire, son of the printmakers, John Copley and Ethel Gabain. After changing his mind about joining ...
; the series was produced by
LWT London Weekend Television (LWT; now part of the non-franchised ITV London region) was the ITV network franchise holder for Greater London and the Home Counties at weekends, broadcasting from Fridays at 5.15 pm (7:00 pm from 1968 ...
and shown on Friday evenings on
ITV ITV or iTV may refer to: Television TV stations/networks/channels ITV *Independent Television (ITV), a British television network and company, including: **ITV (TV network), a free-to-air national commercial television network in the United Kingd ...
between 6 June and 29 August 1969. The series was created and devised by John Hawkesworth, it was inspired by the Great Train Robbery which took place on the early hours of 8 August 1963 when £2.61 million was stolen from a Royal Mail train at a railway bridge in
Ledburn Ledburn is a hamlet (place), hamlet in the parish of Mentmore, in Buckinghamshire, England. History The name Ledburn is Old English language, Anglo Saxon in origin, and means "stream with a conduit". In Manorialism, manorial records of 1212 i ...
,
Buckinghamshire Buckinghamshire (, abbreviated ''Bucks'') is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South East England and one of the home counties. It is bordered by Northamptonshire to the north, Bedfordshire to the north-east, Hertfordshir ...
. Former CID chief DC Supt. Alfred Butler, who worked on the investigation into the robbery, served as the series' technical advisor. The series was highly successful for LWT, repeatedly gathering audiences of around 15 million viewers, frequently overtaking the
BBC The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...
in the ratings. It was later sold to ten countries and nominated for a drama series award at 1969 Television Awards organised by The Society of Film and Television Arts in 1970.


Overview

The series follows the lengthy police investigation led by Det. Chief Supt. Cradock (Vaughan), into one of the biggest and most daring robberies in history where £5½ million worth in gold bullion is stolen when an aircraft lands at West Marsh airfield in Kent. During the investigation, Cradock repeatedly encounters setbacks and successes as he tracks down the suspects, while he is dogged by his interfering superiors, government officials and the ruthless gang who use money, threats and murder to safeguard themselves. Each episode focusses on a different aspect of the robbery, and the various suspects involved. In an interview with the Grimsby Daily Telegraph in 1969, Vaughan described the character of Cradock as an ordinary man faced with the gigantic task of catching the robbers, he stated "I see him as a man obsessed with this job rather than a policeman, I’m trying to let the human factor come through all the petty irritations and so on." Vaughan saw Cradock as a kind of extension of himself, a real human-being with flaws and weaknesses, whilst trying to do good. The series was generally well received by critics, William Marshall from the
Daily Mirror The ''Daily Mirror'' is a British national daily Tabloid journalism, tabloid newspaper. Founded in 1903, it is part of Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN), which is owned by parent company Reach plc. From 1985 to 1987, and from 1997 to 2002, the tit ...
described the first episode as "I thought the episode that introduced The Gold Robbers "(ITV) last week was a taut, gut-grabbing, immaculate piece of work that rubbed on the exposed nerve-ends of anticipation." Whilst, Majorie Bilbow from
The Stage ''The Stage'' is a British weekly newspaper and website covering the entertainment industry and particularly theatre. Founded in 1880, ''The Stage'' contains news, reviews, opinion, features, and recruitment advertising, mainly directed at thos ...
stated it to be one of the best crime drama series to hit the television screens in a while, stating "it promises to be peopled with three-dimensional characters. all with lives of their own, acted by a cast demonstrably alive to the demands of a well- written script." It notably featured an extensive supporting cast of well known British actors, including the likes of Nicholas Ball,
Roy Dotrice Roy Dotrice (26 May 1923 – 16 October 2017) was a British stage and screen actor. He played the antiquarian John Aubrey in the solo play '' Brief Lives''. He won a Tony Award for his performance in the 2000 Broadway revival of '' A Moon for ...
,
Sally Thomsett Sally Thomsett (born 3 April 1950) is an English actress who starred as Phyllis in the film '' The Railway Children'' (1970) and played Jo in the TV sitcom '' Man About the House'' (1973–1976). She also appeared as Janice in the film '' Straw ...
,
Joss Ackland Sidney Edmond Jocelyn Ackland (29 February 1928 – 19 November 2023) was an English actor who appeared in more than 130 film, radio and television roles. He was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for portraying ...
, George Cole,
Ian Hendry Ian Mackendrick Hendry (13 January 1931 – 24 December 1984) was an English actor. He worked on several British TV series of the 1960s and 1970s, including the lead in the first series of '' The Avengers'' and '' The Lotus Eaters.'' He was no ...
,
Ann Lynn Elizabeth Ann Lynn (7 November 1933 – 30 August 2020) was a British actress, especially prominent during the British New Wave of the 1960s, appearing in many films that represented what is known as kitchen sink realism. Lynn's career spanned ...
,
Bernard Hepton Francis Bernard Heptonstall (19 October 1925 – 27 July 2018) better known by the stage name Bernard Hepton, was an English actor and theatre director. He is known for his stage work and television roles in teleplays and series. He also appear ...
,
Alfred Lynch Alfred Cornelius Lynch (26 January 1931 – 16 December 2003) was an English actor on stage, film and television. Early life Lynch was born in Whitechapel, London, the son of a plumber. After attending a Catholic school, he worked in a drawing o ...
,
Wanda Ventham Wanda Ventham (born 5 August 1935) is an English actress with many roles on British television since beginning her career in the 1950s. Ventham played Colonel Virginia Lake in the 1970s science-fiction television series '' UFO'' and had a rec ...
,
Jeremy Child Sir Coles John Jeremy Child, 3rd Baronet (20 September 1944 – 7 March 2022) was a British actor. Early life Coles John Jeremy Child was born on 20 September 1944 in Woking, Surrey, son of Foreign Office diplomat Sir Coles John Child, 2nd B ...
,
Christopher Benjamin Christopher Benjamin may refer to: * Christopher Benjamin (actor) Christopher John Benjamin (27 December 1934 – 10 January 2025) was an English actor with many stage and television credits from 1958 to 2016. He played Henry Gordon Jago in ...
,
Peter Bowles Peter John Bowles (16 October 1936 – 17 March 2022) was an English screen and stage actor. He gained prominence for television dramas such as '' Callan: A Magnum for Schneider'' and '' I, Claudius''. He is best remembered for his roles in sit ...
and
Geoffrey Whitehead Geoffrey Whitehead (born 1 October 1939) is an English actor. He has appeared in a range of television, film and radio roles. Early life Whitehead was born on 1 October 1939 in Grenoside, Sheffield. After his father was killed in the Second Wo ...
. A number of writers wrote for the series including former
Z-Cars ''Z-Cars'' or ''Z Cars'' (pronounced "zed cars") is a British television police procedural series centred on the work of mobile uniformed police and CID detectives in the fictional town of Newtown, based on Kirkby, near Liverpool. Produced by ...
contributor
Allan Prior Allan Prior (13 January 1922, Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, – 1 June 2006) was an England, English television scriptwriter and novelist, who wrote over 300 television episodes from the 1950s onwards. He was founder-writer of influen ...
, actor and writer Glyn Jones,
Doctor Who ''Doctor Who'' is a British science fiction television series broadcast by the BBC since 1963. The series, created by Sydney Newman, C. E. Webber and Donald Wilson (writer and producer), Donald Wilson, depicts the adventures of an extraterre ...
story editor David Whitaker and novelist Berkley Mather. A sequel series was planned in 1970 with Vaughan reprising his role as Cradock, but it was subsequently scrapped as LWT stated to the press at the time that it would be virtually impossible to come up with a series containing Cradock that would be of the same high calibre as the original.


Cast

*
Peter Vaughan Peter Ewart Ohm (4 April 1923 – 6 December 2016), known professionally as Peter Vaughan, was an English actor known for many supporting roles in British film and television productions. He also acted extensively on stage. Vaughan played Gr ...
as Det. Chief Supt. Cradock * Artro Morris as Det. Sgt Tommy Thomas *
Richard Leech Richard Leeper McClelland (24 November 1922 – 24 March 2004), known professionally as Richard Leech, was an Irish actor. Richard Leeper McClelland was born in Dublin, Ireland, the son of Isabella Frances (Leeper) and Herbert Saunderson McCl ...
as Richard Bolt *
Peter Copley Peter Copley (20 May 1915 – 7 October 2008) was an English television, film and stage actor. Biography Copley was born in Bushey, Hertfordshire, son of the printmakers, John Copley and Ethel Gabain. After changing his mind about joining ...
as Asst. Commissioner Farr * Frederick Bartman as Victor Anderson * Wendy Gifford as Jo Miller *
John Bindon John Dennis Arthur Bindon (4 October 1943 – 10 October 1993) was an English actor and bodyguard who had close links with the London underworld. The son of a London cab driver, Bindon was frequently in trouble as a youth for getting into fi ...
as Terry Lardner * Donald Morley as Grierson *
Louise Pajo Louise Elizabeth Pajo (31 July 1940 – 23 November 2020) also credited as Louise R. Pajo, Louise Pago and Teresa Pajo. was a New Zealand-born television and film actress, who worked in productions in her native country, but also in Britain an ...
as Jenny Bolt * Nicholas Ball as Terry Cradock *
Johnny Shannon Johnny Shannon (29 July 1932 – 17 March 2017) was an English actor. Best known for his role as gangster Harry Flowers in the cult film ''Performance'', he appeared in numerous television and film productions over a 35-year period, often playi ...
as George Nechros *
Maria Aitken Maria Penelope Katharine Aitken (born 12 September 1945) is a British theatre director, teacher, actress, and writer. As an actress, Aitken has been twice nominated at the Olivier Awards, in 1980 for ''Private Lives'' and in 1985 for ''Wast ...
as Val *
Sally Thomsett Sally Thomsett (born 3 April 1950) is an English actress who starred as Phyllis in the film '' The Railway Children'' (1970) and played Jo in the TV sitcom '' Man About the House'' (1973–1976). She also appeared as Janice in the film '' Straw ...
as Sally Hartford *
Joss Ackland Sidney Edmond Jocelyn Ackland (29 February 1928 – 19 November 2023) was an English actor who appeared in more than 130 film, radio and television roles. He was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for portraying ...
as Derek Hartford *
Alethea Charlton Alethea Blow Charlton (9 August 1931 – 6 May 1976) was a British actress. Life She was born in Middlesbrough, North Riding of Yorkshire, England, and attended Ripon, Ripon High School and the Northern Theatre School which was based at the Br ...
as Fay Hartford * George Cole as Barry Porter * Peter Madden as Forbes Lingwood *
Jeremy Child Sir Coles John Jeremy Child, 3rd Baronet (20 September 1944 – 7 March 2022) was a British actor. Early life Coles John Jeremy Child was born on 20 September 1944 in Woking, Surrey, son of Foreign Office diplomat Sir Coles John Child, 2nd B ...
as Jeremy Foreman *
George Innes George Innes (born 8 March 1938) is a British actor. Stage career George Innes was born in Wapping, Stepney, East London on 8 March 1938, and he began his career on the stage with the Royal National Theatre, National Theatre of Great Britain ...
as Dillo * Frank Sieman as Chief Inspector * Ronald Clarke as Nobby Clarke *
Roy Dotrice Roy Dotrice (26 May 1923 – 16 October 2017) was a British stage and screen actor. He played the antiquarian John Aubrey in the solo play '' Brief Lives''. He won a Tony Award for his performance in the 2000 Broadway revival of '' A Moon for ...
as Freddie Lamb *
Ann Lynn Elizabeth Ann Lynn (7 November 1933 – 30 August 2020) was a British actress, especially prominent during the British New Wave of the 1960s, appearing in many films that represented what is known as kitchen sink realism. Lynn's career spanned ...
as Rosemary Lamb *
Ian Hendry Ian Mackendrick Hendry (13 January 1931 – 24 December 1984) was an English actor. He worked on several British TV series of the 1960s and 1970s, including the lead in the first series of '' The Avengers'' and '' The Lotus Eaters.'' He was no ...
as Tom Goodwin *
Wanda Ventham Wanda Ventham (born 5 August 1935) is an English actress with many roles on British television since beginning her career in the 1950s. Ventham played Colonel Virginia Lake in the 1970s science-fiction television series '' UFO'' and had a rec ...
as Dee Latter *
Bernard Hepton Francis Bernard Heptonstall (19 October 1925 – 27 July 2018) better known by the stage name Bernard Hepton, was an English actor and theatre director. He is known for his stage work and television roles in teleplays and series. He also appear ...
as Harold Oscroft *
Alfred Lynch Alfred Cornelius Lynch (26 January 1931 – 16 December 2003) was an English actor on stage, film and television. Early life Lynch was born in Whitechapel, London, the son of a plumber. After attending a Catholic school, he worked in a drawing o ...
as Josef Tyzack *
Colette O'Neil Mary Irene Colette Ellis ( McCrossan, 18 November 1935 – 11 July 2021), better known by the stage name Colette O'Neil, was a Scottish actress, noted for her various roles on British television. Life and career O'Neil was a semi-regular cast ...
as Mary Tyzack * Peter Celier as Slade *
Geoffrey Whitehead Geoffrey Whitehead (born 1 October 1939) is an English actor. He has appeared in a range of television, film and radio roles. Early life Whitehead was born on 1 October 1939 in Grenoside, Sheffield. After his father was killed in the Second Wo ...
as Peter Conroy *
Jennifer Hilary Jennifer Mary Hilary (14 December 1942 – 6 August 2008) was a British actress of stage, film and television. Her first acclaimed stage performance was as "Milly" in Henry James' ''The Wings of the Dove'', which marked her debut in the West End ...
as Stephanie Conroy *
Donald Hewlett Donald Marland Hewlett (30 August 1920 – 4 June 2011) was an English actor who was best known for his sitcom roles as Colonel Charles Reynolds in ''It Ain't Half Hot Mum'' and Lord Meldrum in '' You Rang, M'Lord?'', both written by Jimmy Perry ...
as Edward Lancing *
Hilda Braid Hilda Braid (3 March 1929 – 6 November 2007) was an English actress who had a long career on British television. She became well known in her later years for playing Victoria "Nana" Moon on the BBC One soap opera ''EastEnders''. Early life ...
as Vi Conroy *
Patrick Allen Patrick Allen may refer to: * Patrick Allen (actor) (1927–2006), British actor * Patrick Allen (music educator) (born 1955), English author * Patrick Allen (American football) (1961–2021), American football player * Patrick Allen (bowler) (born ...
as Hon. Timothy Fry *
Christopher Benjamin Christopher Benjamin may refer to: * Christopher Benjamin (actor) Christopher John Benjamin (27 December 1934 – 10 January 2025) was an English actor with many stage and television credits from 1958 to 2016. He played Henry Gordon Jago in ...
as Edward Meakin *
Peter Bowles Peter John Bowles (16 October 1936 – 17 March 2022) was an English screen and stage actor. He gained prominence for television dramas such as '' Callan: A Magnum for Schneider'' and '' I, Claudius''. He is best remembered for his roles in sit ...
as Stockbroker


List of Episodes


Availability

It was one of the last major
ITV ITV or iTV may refer to: Television TV stations/networks/channels ITV *Independent Television (ITV), a British television network and company, including: **ITV (TV network), a free-to-air national commercial television network in the United Kingd ...
series produced in monochrome, before they commenced colour production later that same year, which limited the series' repeat potential. Aside from a late evening run in 1970, it was not repeated on television again for over 50 years until it was reshown on
Talking Pictures TV Talking Pictures TV (TPTV) is a British free-to-air vintage film and nostalgia television channel. It was launched on 26 May 2015 on Sky. Later it also became available on Freeview, Freesat and Virgin Media. It is on air 24 hours a day and fe ...
, commencing on 4 September 2023. The complete series was released on
DVD The DVD (common abbreviation for digital video disc or digital versatile disc) is a digital optical disc data storage format. It was invented and developed in 1995 and first released on November 1, 1996, in Japan. The medium can store any ki ...
by Network on 1 July 2013.


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Gold Robbers, The 1969 British television series debuts 1969 British television series endings 1960s British drama television series 1960s British television miniseries British English-language television shows Television series by ITV Studios ITV crime dramas London Weekend Television shows Television shows set in London