The Professionals (TV series)

The Professionals was a British crime-action television drama series that aired on the ITV network from 1977 to 1983, filmed between 1977 and 1981. It starred Martin Shaw, Lewis Collins and Gordon Jackson, as agents of the fictional "CI5". The series was conceived as a response to The Sweeney.

Related Topics:
British - Television - ITV - 1977 - 1983 - 1981 - Martin Shaw - Lewis Collins - Gordon Jackson - The Sweeney

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The Professionals was created by Brian Clemens, who had been one of the driving forces behind The Avengers. Clemens and Albert Fennell executive produced, with business partner Laurie Johnson providing the theme music. Sidney Hayers produced the first series in 1977, and Raymond Menmuir the remainder.

Related Topics:
Brian Clemens - The Avengers - Albert Fennell - Laurie Johnson - Sidney Hayers - Raymond Menmuir

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It was often criticized for violence. Also, one of its first-season episodes (Klansmen) was banned in the UK during its original run, due to its controversial race-related subject matter. The episode has never been screened on terrestrial television in the UK, although it did screen uncut on the cable television channel Superchannel in 1987, and has been screened on free-to-air television in other countries including New Zealand.

Related Topics:
Terrestrial television - Cable television - Superchannel - 1987 - New Zealand

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After the series ended, Raymond Menmuir produced Special Squad for Australia's Network Ten in the mid-1980s, following The Professionals? format. A revival series, ', was produced for Channel 5 in the late 1990s and starred Edward Woodward, but it was not a success.

Related Topics:
Australia - Network Ten - 1980s - Channel 5 - 1990s - Edward Woodward

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