TV series
The absurd adventures of two defective detectives, who - despite unbelievable incompetence - somehow manage to solve their cases (or be nearby when the cases are solved) and retain their jobs.
Availability
The Detectives premiered January 27, 1993. We don't have a confirmed streaming, rental or purchase option yet.
The absurd adventures of two defective detectives, who - despite unbelievable incompetence - somehow manage to solve their cases (or be nearby when the cases are solved) and retain their jobs.
Choose an episode, then use the watch options above for the show.
Episode 1
As a lonely and meaningless retirement beckons after 25 years on the force, the boys are given the task of finding 'The Black Widow' after a series of gruesome lonely hearts murders.
Guest stars Frank Windsor, Tony Selby, Leo Dolan, John Melainey, Max Digby, Madeleine Newton, Holly De Jong, Tricia George
Episode 2
After mixing their drinks at the policemen's ball, Louis and Briggs confront a new horror involving a flasher, a Marquess and the commissioner's wife.
Guest stars Eamonn Walker, Francis Matthews, Michael Troughton, Richard Syms, Gary Beadle, Alan David, Cal McCrystal, Simon Slater
Episode 3
When forced to transfer into the Fine Arts Squad, our heroes are despatched to recover the latest artistic creation of 'enfant terrible' Hadyn Smailes - a pair of maracas, a tin of peaches and a fish tank of the artist's own urine.
Guest stars Geoffrey Chater, John Quentin, Ben Lemel, James Sinclair Wallace, Vernon Nurse, Amanda Richardson, Stephen Aintree, Kevork Malikyan
Episode 4
When Briggs and Louis investigate an attack on a top figure skater, the pair wind up on ice but fail to gain marks for artistic interpretation.
Guest stars Amanda Mealing, Frank Windsor, Kristy Bruce, Ron Li-Paz, Eric Nordell, Alan Beckworth, Chrissie Richards, Arthur Whybrow
Episode 5
After 30 years of watching and waiting, Superintendent Cottam ropes the boys into helping him catch notorious bullion thief, Ronnie Richardson.
Guest stars Frank Windsor, Mike Reid, Nora Taylor, Fiona Gillies, Samantha Golt, Jonathan Deverell, Christian Santos, Anthony Hamblin
Episode 6
Briggs and Louis are assigned a case protecting the eggs of a newly-discovered breeding pair of red kites. Teir lack of enthusiasm soon turns to panic as the eggs are stolen.
Guest stars Bill Oddie, Roger Walker, Pat Roach, George Malpas
Episode information updated Jul 24, 2026
Available now in United States
These shows are available now and closely match The Detectives.
Robert PowellDave Briggs
George SewellSuperintendent Cottam
Jasper CarrottBob Louis
Jimmy TarbuckMcKenna
John NettlesJim Bergerac
Philip GlenisterUniformed Officer
Christopher VilliersDr Phipps
Eamonn WalkerD.I. Tyler
BBC OneUnited Kingdom
