Hazell

Hazell was one of a clutch of London-based drama series of high quality which ITV produced in the 1970s, with others from this era including Minder, Budgie and Out. Minder aside, I was too young to watch these series when they were originally broadcast, however I've really enjoyed catching them on DVD. Hazell was an interesting take on the private eye genre, with the 'tec as a Cockney ex-cop with a classic car and a nice line in dialogue.

Nicholas Ball is convincing in the title role, and I'm a little surprised he didn't become a bigger name on TV post-Hazell. I didn't know the writers thought he was too young for the part, and I'm astounded they considered John Bindon for the role. Bindon could play a tough nut, which of course is what he was in real life, but as Dennis Waterman said in his autobiography, Bindon wasn't what you would call an actor.

As well as sharp dialogue, Hazell benefited from a very capable supporting cast, which included Roddy McMillan as the teetotal Scots CID officer Choc Minty, Desmond McNamara as cousin Tel, and James Faulkner as Gordon Gregory, the posh lawyer with some very dubious clients. With regard to a remake of Hazell, I did hear a rumour a while back about Ray Winstone taking the lead role (I feel Jimmy Hazell would be a better part for him than Vincent), and I'm disappointed it hasn't happened.

However, it doesn't surprise me in the slightest that the useless lot in charge of drama at ITV think Hazell is 'dated and sexist'. James Hazell was hardly someone who treated women badly, and Barbara Young played a strong (but not butch) lesbian character in the series, so go figure, as the Americans say. Nowadays, Network Centre (dubbed by one national TV critic Notwork Centre) is content to churn out endless series by Lynda La Plante and unimaginative guff by Kay Mellor, therefore how they can dismiss worthwhile ideas so freely is beyond me.

A measure of ITV's current hold on reality - phone quiz cons aside - is that they think Caroline Quentin is star material. Dearie me. Back to Hazell, and it's a great shame there's been no similar series on our screens for many years. Television drama series aimed primarily at men have been extremely thin on the ground for a very long time, and with TV advertisers said to be desperate to reach younger men, you'd think the answer was obvious. Even to the right-on dullards running drama at ITV.

Look, I'm no critic with the same level of expertise as those above. All I can say is that Hazell was fantastic! The 'edginess' of Hazell always gripped me; the short sharp characters, the fast efficient script. And all beautifully introduced with fabulous Maggie Bell thumping out her very best blues (too bad I can't find a quality copy). Perhaps best was the rock solid foundation provided by all the supporting cast. OK, 'Hazell' seemed a little young to have so much 'experience' but Nicholas Balls' interpretation was perfectly believable if you simply accepted that the character started out young and grew fast, and what's so unusual about that in a large brutal city? Oddly, the series reminded me of the quality of Callan, which I love. Golly me, both so much better than usual politically correct diatribe presented as drama these days.

Hazell, a gem of a show on ITV, flew under the radar but boasted stellar performances, particularly from Nicholas Ball as the confident yet vulnerable private detective James Hazell.

Roddy McMillan added complexity as Choc Minty (eh fly boy), a Scottish detective who made Hazell's life difficult. Featuring familiar faces like Derrick O'Connor and Michael Elphick, and written by Trevor Preston, Leon Griffiths, and Tony Hoare, Hazell embraced a slower pace, allowing its stories to unfold without patronising its audience.

The show is also a chance to see the London of the 70s, part glamour, part seedy, part post apocalypse.

While the series is of its time (especially in regard to race) it does its best to portray things with nuance. Remember folks, the past is a foreign place, they do things differently there.

I would recommend anyone, young or old to give this show a go.

i have recently acquired all episodes of this series on DVD and am thoroughly enjoying them all over again. if it is true that Nicholas ball wanted it to be shot on film otherwise he would quit then it is a real shame, but i can see his point. the series suffers only through being on tape, everything else is spot on. some of the stories are, indeed, a bit clichéd but the performances and scripts are excellent right the way through two series. i was thinking about if a revival was to occur who could do it .... four names came into my head:

Craig Fairbrass (tough) Leslie Grantham (edgy) Nigel Harmon (sexy) and Nicholas Ball (venables/williams thought him too young at the time .. well, he's a lot older now and still looking good)

.... i think a 21st century update would be great. To not consider it because it is sexist is ridiculous, a good screenwriter could turn the novels into superb TV, much better than the likes of 'vincent' or 'murder city'.

gives this series a look, it is great!!!!

In an era of reality TV and Netflix it's probably strange that I can be bothered to write a review? The show was created a long time ago but it's utterly brilliant. Kids would scoff at the fashions and everything else but this show portrays London and all its filthy dead end locations and weaves it into a fascinating PI detective show. Nicholas Ball was wonderful and it's a shame he didn't get a massive break from this. Raw, gritty and a little bit strange at times it represents London in the 70s In all of its glory with fascinating characters and story lines. Watch for nostalgia but definitely watch.