Thief Takers

This brilliant police series is still often repeated on UK Drama. Although it was made in 1996 it doesn't yet look dated. Each episode concentrates on one or two of the main characters and their private lives, which usually involve the crimes they are working on at the time.

The flying squad deals with armed robbery and murder, so there are plenty of exciting car chases and shoot outs.However, the series also finds time for relationships and romance.

So many well-known actors made guest appearances in this series, including Nick Moran, Ray Winstone and Dougie Henshall.

If you get the chance to see it, I think you'll agree that it was a pity there were only 3 series made.

I watched it when it was on TV the first time and thought it was OK,but nothing to write home about.....But after picking up the pilot episode on video in a second hand shop it left me dying to watch all 3 series of this wonderful programme.I scoured second hand video shops and boot fairs with no joy,then i started searching Ebay,and i was lucky to get series 1,2 & 3,ok,it cost me £100 to buy all of them,but money well spent to be able to see the whole lot.The characters in it all have decent roles and it not only is about bank raids,robberies and general policing,but gave an insight into the characters lives and this made it just that little bit more interesting.I would rate this as good as the Sweeney and other programmes of that type.I just hope that one day it is released on DVD,and then i am sure it would become more well known.If you get the chance to watch it,then do,you will not be disappointed.Cheers Nick.

I was lucky enough to see the whole first and second series i don't know if they are out on VHS or DVD as i watched them when they were on TV. After the first episode i was hooked, at first i though it would be a bit like the Bill or any other police drama but it was so much better. The shear scale of the production was amazing for a TV drama of the 90s, the locations, camera work, stunts, plots and acting where are on par with a Hollywood movie. It had everything helicopters, guns, fast car chases, bombs, ruthless villains and some of the most streetwise police i have ever seen on TV it might seem a little dated now as i think it was from 1995 but its still worth a look.

I saw this series in 1998 on Indian satellite TV. Got completely hooked on it, taped a few episodes as well. It's strange that "Thieftakers" is rarely mentioned as one of the many great series produced for British television. Tight plots, richly etched characters, "Thieftakers" is set in a very believable milieu. Each episode has a very cinematic quality, nothing TV about it. The inter-actions between the characters are handled with great subtlety. The chemistry between Grant Masters and Amanda Pays is electric! Grant Masters had the potential to be a very cool Steve McQueenesque leading man in the movies. It's a pity his career has been limited to television. His enigmatic, intense portrayal of team boss Glenn Matteo is truly memorable.

If you're ever lucky enough to see the season of this series that features the divine Simone Lahbib as tough little tomboy cop Lucy McCarthy you will be amazed at the versatility of the actress. It's astonishing that anyone who would've seen her in this action adventure would have thought to cast her as the somewhat prim 'straight'-laced (grin) very feminine Helen Stewart in the series she did after this. The not-to-be-missed "Bad Girls." Though both characters possess her tremendous sense of Authority. And she's even believable, slip of a thing that she is, handling a firearm. Sidenote trivia: the chap who plays her boss here (Grant Masters) most recently played the prime suspect in the first episode of her new gig as Robson Green's partner on "Wire in the Blood"...and an even bigger and delicious inside joke is seeing the wonderfully devious Jack Ellis as Lucy's old boyfriend, for those of you in the know--he is the same wicked actor who played Ms. Lahbib's nemesis, the libidinously evil Jim Fenner on those first 3 glorious seasons of "Bad Girls." It's in retrospect, but seeing what her character does to him here makes up for an awful lot. (Big Grin) Also of note to American fans is the other female lead, Amanda Pays, who did 2 notable u.s. series in the 80s & 90s, "Max Headroom" and "The Flash." But Lahbib has all the best lines...or, at least, delivers them with such panache that she steals every scene she's in.