Z-Cars 1962
What is Z-Cars?
Z Cars is a British television drama series that chronicles the activities of mobile uniformed police officers. Produced by the BBC, the program focuses on the work of the police force stationed in the fictional town of Newtown, which is located in the North of England.
- Type
- TV series
- Year
- 1962
- Status
- Ended
- Episodes
- 802
- Runtime
- 50 minutes
- First aired
- Jan 2, 1962
- Last aired
- Sep 20, 1978
- Original language
- EN
- Origin
- GB
- Networks
- BBC One
- Genres
- Drama
- Updated
How long to binge?
Estimate the schedule using 802 episodes and an average 50-minute runtime.
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Z Cars is a British television drama series that chronicles the activities of mobile uniformed police officers. Produced by the BBC, the program focuses on the work of the police force stationed in the fictional town of Newtown, which is located in the North of England. This setting is based on Kirkby, Merseyside. The series debuted in January 1962 and remained in production until September 1978. As a gritty drama, the show features performances by actors including James Ellis, John Slater, Douglas Fielding, and Bernard Holley. The narrative structure centers on the professional duties and daily operations of the officers within the Newtown police force. Throughout its run, the series established itself as a notable entry in British television history, providing a realistic portrayal of law enforcement work in a specific regional setting. The show concluded its broadcast run in 1978 after sixteen years on the air.
Should you watch it?
“A pioneering British police drama showcasing gritty frontline law enforcement.”
- Groundbreaking portrayal of police work
- Strong ensemble cast
- Authentic Northern England setting
- Dated production values
- Episodic format may feel slow to modern viewers
You enjoy classic British TV dramas with a focus on police procedurals.
Suitable for general audiences, though some episodes may reflect dated social attitudes.
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Cast
Episode guide
Spoiler-Safe Browsing Progress
Season 1 · 31 episodes
Open the complete Season 1 guide & lore primer →- E1 Four of a Kind Mytharc Jan 2, 1962
- E2 The Limping Rabbit Mytharc Jan 9, 1962
- E3 Handle With Care Core Jan 16, 1962
- E4 Stab In The Dark Core Jan 23, 1962
- E5 Big Catch Core Jan 30, 1962
- E6 Friday Night Core Feb 6, 1962
- E7 Suspended Core Feb 13, 1962
- E8 Family Feud Core Feb 20, 1962
- E9 Fire! Core Feb 27, 1962
- E10 Threats And Menaces Core Mar 6, 1962
- E11 Jail Break Core Mar 13, 1962
- E12 What Kind Of Hero? Core Mar 20, 1962
- E13 Sudden Death Core Mar 27, 1962
- E14 Found Abandoned Core Apr 3, 1962
- E15 The Best Days Core Apr 10, 1962
- E16 Invisible Enemy Core Apr 17, 1962
- E17 Down And Out Core Apr 24, 1962
- E18 Further Enquiries Core May 1, 1962
- E19 Winner Takes All Core May 8, 1962
- E20 People's Property Core May 15, 1962
- E21 Hi-Jack! Core May 22, 1962
- E22 Incident Reported Core May 29, 1962
- E23 Never On Wednesday Core Jun 5, 1962
- E24 Day Trip Core Jun 12, 1962
- E25 Affray Mytharc Jun 19, 1962
- E26 Contraband Core Jun 26, 1962
- E27 Teamwork Core Jul 3, 1962
- E28 Appearance In Court Core Jul 10, 1962
- E29 Assault Core Jul 17, 1962
- E30 Sunday Morning Mytharc Jul 24, 1962
- E31 Unconditional Surrender Mytharc Jul 31, 1962
Season 2 · 42 episodes
- E1 On Watch - Newtown Mytharc Sep 19, 1962
- E2 Full Remission Core Sep 26, 1962
- E3 Truth Or Dare Core Oct 3, 1962
- E4 Information Received Core Oct 10, 1962
- E5 Friendly Relations Core Oct 17, 1962
- E6 Corroboration Core Oct 24, 1962
- E7 The Thin Girl Core Oct 31, 1962
- E8 Johnny Sailor Core Nov 7, 1962
- E9 Person Unknown Core Nov 14, 1962
- E10 Ambush Core Nov 11, 1962
- E11 Known To The Police Core Nov 28, 1962
- E12 The Navigators Core Dec 5, 1962
- E13 Business Trip Core Dec 12, 1962
- E14 Five Whistles Core Dec 19, 1962
- E15 Search Core Dec 26, 1962
- E16 All Up By Seven Core Jan 2, 1963
- E17 Trumpet Voluntary Core Jan 9, 1963
- E18 Five And A Match Core Jan 16, 1963
- E19 The Hitch-Hiker Core Jan 23, 1963
- E20 A Simple Case Core Jan 30, 1963
- E21 Act Of Vengeance Core Feb 6, 1963
- E22 The Listeners Core Feb 13, 1963
- E23 The Main Chance Core Feb 20, 1963
- E24 Follow My Leader Core Feb 27, 1963
- E25 Members Only Core Mar 6, 1963
- E26 Matter Of Conviction Core Mar 13, 1963
- E27 The Bad Lad Core Mar 20, 1963
- E28 Enquiry Core Mar 27, 1963
- E29 Pay By Results Core Apr 3, 1963
- E30 The Peterman Core Apr 10, 1963
- E31 The Birds Of The Air Core Apr 17, 1963
- E32 Train Of Events Core Apr 24, 1963
- E33 By The Book Core May 1, 1963
- E34 Nothing Serious Core May 8, 1963
- E35 Alarm Call Core May 15, 1963
- E36 A Try By Weir Core May 22, 1963
- E37 Quiet Confidence Core May 29, 1963
- E38 Scare Core Jun 5, 1963
- E39 Caught By The Ears Core Jun 12, 1963
- E40 Come On The Lads Core Jun 19, 1963
- E41 The Whizzers Mytharc Jun 26, 1963
- E42 Police Work Mytharc Jul 3, 1963
Season 3 · 42 episodes
- E1 Lucky Accident Mytharc Sep 4, 1963
- E2 Made For Each Other Core Sep 11, 1963
- E3 A La Carte Core Sep 18, 1963
- E4 Light The Blue Paper Mytharc Sep 26, 1963
- E5 A Quiet Night Core Oct 2, 1963
- E6 Hit And Run Core Oct 9, 1963
- E7 Hide - And Go Seek Mytharc Oct 16, 1963
- E8 The Kiter Core Oct 23, 1963
- E9 Special Duty Core Oct 30, 1963
- E10 Remembrance Of A Guest Core Nov 6, 1963
- E11 Daylight Robbery Core Nov 13, 1963
- E12 Running Milligan Core Nov 20, 1963
- E13 Choose Your Partners Core Nov 27, 1963
- E14 Tuesday Afternoon Core Dec 4, 1963
- E15 Supper In The Morning Core Dec 11, 1963
- E16 Wait For It Core Dec 18, 1963
- E17 It Never Rains ... Core Dec 25, 1963
- E18 .. And A Happy New Year Core Jan 1, 1964
- E19 Happy-Go-Lucky Core Jan 8, 1964
- E20 Promise Made Core Jan 15, 1964
- E21 I Mean...Where Does It Stop? Core Jan 22, 1964
- E22 A Stroll Along The Sands Core Jan 29, 1964
- E23 No Malice Core Feb 5, 1964
- E24 Profit By Their Example Core Feb 12, 1964
- E25 A Question Of Storage Core Feb 19, 1964
- E26 Fun And Games Core Feb 26, 1964
- E27 A Man...Like Yourself Core Mar 4, 1964
- E28 A Straight Deal Core Mar 11, 1964
- E29 Happy Families Core Mar 18, 1964
- E30 Inside Job Core Mar 25, 1964
- E31 Clues Are What You Think Core Apr 1, 1964
- E32 The Whole Truth... Core Apr 8, 1964
- E33 Whistle, And Come Home Core Apr 22, 1964
- E34 First-Class Citizen Core Apr 29, 1964
- E35 Seconds Away Core May 6, 1964
- E36 Centre Of Disturbance Core May 13, 1964
- E37 You Get All Kinds Core May 20, 1964
- E38 Happy Birthday Core May 27, 1964
- E39 Somebody ... Help Core Jun 3, 1964
- E40 Cage Until Tame Core Jun 10, 1964
- E41 Family Reunion Mytharc Jun 17, 1964
- E42 A Place Of Safety Mytharc Jun 24, 1964
Season 4 · 43 episodes
- E1 The Dark Side Of The Road Mytharc Sep 9, 1964
- E2 What A Main Event! Core Sep 16, 1964
- E3 Finders Keepers Core Sep 23, 1964
- E4 Lucky Partners Core Sep 30, 1964
- E5 Soft Spot Core Oct 7, 1964
- E6 Somebody Said... Core Oct 14, 1964
- E7 Charity Begins ... Core Oct 21, 1964
- E8 The Hunch Core Oct 28, 1964
- E9 Two In The Bush Core Nov 4, 1964
- E10 Welcome Home, Jigger Core Nov 11, 1964
- E11 In A Day's Work Core Nov 18, 1964
- E12 No Stone Unturned Core Nov 25, 1964
- E13 You Pays Your Money Core Dec 2, 1964
- E14 One Day In Spring Street Core Dec 9, 1964
- E15 Bring Back The Cat Core Dec 16, 1964
- E16 If He Runs - Grab Him Core Dec 23, 1964
- E17 First Foot Core Dec 30, 1964
- E18 Think On Core Jan 6, 1965
- E19 The Luck Of The Game Core Jan 13, 1965
- E20 I Love You Bonzo Core Jan 20, 1965
- E21 Brotherly Love Core Jan 27, 1965
- E22 A Matter Of Give And Take Core Feb 3, 1965
- E23 Give A Dog A Name Core Feb 10, 1965
- E24 The Long Spoon Core Feb 17, 1965
- E25 Teething Trouble Core Feb 24, 1965
- E26 A Shame To Take The Money Core Mar 3, 1965
- E27 Window Dressing Core Mar 10, 1965
- E28 Partners Core Mar 17, 1965
- E29 The Fanatics Core Mar 24, 1965
- E30 You Got To Have Class Core Mar 31, 1965
- E31 The Mice Will Play Core Apr 7, 1965
- E32 Sound An Alarm Core Apr 14, 1965
- E33 The Soft Game Core Apr 21, 1965
- E34 Snakes Alive Core Apr 28, 1965
- E35 Suspected Murder Core May 5, 1965
- E36 The Share-Out Core May 12, 1965
- E37 Checkmate Core May 19, 1965
- E38 Another Fairy Tale Core May 26, 1965
- E39 Market Square Core Jun 6, 1965
- E40 Error of Judgement Core Jun 9, 1965
- E41 Under Cover Core Jun 16, 1965
- E42 One Good Turn Mytharc Jun 23, 1965
- E43 Warning Shots Mytharc Jun 30, 1965
Season 5 · 12 episodes
- E1 With A Pin Mytharc Oct 5, 1965
- E2 Wilful Destruction Core Oct 12, 1965
- E3 Cop And Blow Core Oct 19, 1965
- E4 The Hard-Face Grabber Core Oct 26, 1965
- E5 Inspection Core Nov 2, 1965
- E6 Routine Inquiries Core Nov 9, 1965
- E7 A Morning's Sport Core Nov 16, 1965
- E8 Contrary To Regulations Core Nov 23, 1965
- E9 The Good Life Core Nov 30, 1965
- E10 Celebration Core Dec 7, 1965
- E11 But The Crying ... Mytharc Dec 14, 1965
- E12 That's The Way It Is Mytharc Dec 21, 1965
Frequently asked questions
Is Z-Cars based on a real police force?
It is based on the work of mobile uniformed police in a fictional town inspired by Kirkby, Merseyside.
When did Z-Cars first air?
The series debuted in January 1962.
Who produced Z-Cars?
It was produced by the BBC.
How long did Z-Cars run?
The show ran until September 1978.
What is the show's main focus?
It follows the daily work of police officers in the fictional town of Newtown.
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