Zodiac

Mystery crime series in which a detective uses the skills of an astrologer to help solve the riddles and puzzles of his cases. Seemed like a good idea at the time, but the result was rather tatty and the show had no redeeming features at all. This was a golden opportunity for the lovely but charmed Ms Hempel to move on to a leading role in her acting career, but she obviously has not done her homework here, stunting a series which perhaps could have lasted a couple of seasons in the hands of a keen and hard working young actress?. Its left to the more than reliable Anton Rogers to up the intrigue and try and hold what there is of the show together.

I never saw this series at the time, nor even heard of it. On reflection I suspect that's because it was probably on at 9pm or later, because one of the joys of it is the dialogue which is definitely adult. Or more accurately, grown-up. By which I mean the characters make references that are naughty (in a playful way) & occasionally swear at a minor level.

It is that dialogue & the chemistry between the two leads that really lifts the series up.

It's hampered by being studio-bound & the astrology/supernatural aspects while fun are really just hokum. Plus they drive a coach and horses through any semblance of police procedure.

BUT I was left with a huge smile on my face, laughed out loud several times and really, really wish more than 6 episodes had been made.

At time of writing (2022) you can get this on DVD and I really recommend it. It ought to be lauded as lost classic!

Despite the other negative reviews concerning this programme, it was one of my favourites that year. I well remember this as being a very gentle comedy/drama, and (again contrary to other comments) considered that the chemistry between the two principal leads worked excellently well. The subtle humour and banter between Rodgers and Hempel made it one of those "will they won't they" scenarios, very much akin to the Steed/Peel coupling in the 1960's Avengers. Certainly for 1974 it was a great tonic and wonderful relief from the grim reality of that year of the Heath Government. A great pity there were no more than the original six episodes. However six was probably the right number and I suspect that more would have meant less, so to speak. Nevertheless I would dearly enjoy seeing them all again, they have truly vanished without trace and there are, for example, no listings at all on ebay from amateur recordists. Indeed, even Wikipedia makes no mention of the series under Anton Rodgers - maybe he was also disappointed and wished to remove any connection with it? Nevertheless, Zodiac has one fan - me!

He's a policeman. She's an astrologer. Together they solve crimes, using astrology. The show plays this perfectly straight, and it's usually just shrewd psychological insights into the behaviour of different star-signs. I thought it was great fun but you should probably factor that I fancy Anouska Hempel. And my star-sign.

I should put my cards - not Tarot ones - on the table and confess that my father create this show and wrote three of the six episodes.It is not a show which left him with fond memories. Nevertheless, on watching this recently I enjoyed it. There is a nice balance between light comedy and darker drama. The videotape studio stricture adds a claustrophobic atmosphere. Rodgers and Hempel offer a flirtatious rapport which is fun. The inspector's dress sense is tastelessly 1970s, but deliberately so. The gem episode is Sting, Sting Scorpio based in the Lanes in Brighton where Robert Powell plays a chilling, cold killer. The series feels more like stage plays recorded for TV. Rodgers is mid-point between the wonderful dramatic actor seen in Man in a Suitcase in the 60s and the chubby charm of Fresh Fields in the 80s.