Episode 1
Gifts
Episode credits
Guest stars Paul Moriarty, Brian Gwaspari, Nigel Rathbone, Derek Thompson, James Ottaway, Jean Hastings
TV series
The Gentle Touch
19805 seasons7.2 / 10
Notable as the first British series to feature a female police officer (predating Juliet Bravo by four months), Detective Inspector Maggie Forbes raises her teenage son while navigating a male-dominated police force following the murder of her police commissioner husband.
Availability
Not streaming in United States
Checked Jul 22, 2026
The Gentle Touch premiered April 11, 1980. We don't have a confirmed streaming, rental or purchase option yet.
Synopsis
Notable as the first British series to feature a female police officer (predating Juliet Bravo by four months), Detective Inspector Maggie Forbes raises her teenage son while navigating a male-dominated police force following the murder of her police commissioner husband.
Season 3 episodes
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Where to watch The Gentle Touch
Episode 2
Doubt
Episode credits
Guest stars David Daker, Edward Peel, Christopher Ellison, Christopher Villiers, Julian Wadham, Brian Gwaspari, Nigel Rathbone, Derek Thompson
Episode 3
The Hit
Detective Inspector Forbes has a marksman with a high-powered rifle loose on her patch.
Episode credits
Guest stars Paul Moriarty, Brian Gwaspari, Derek Thompson, George Sewell
Episode 4
Scapegoat
Episode credits
Guest stars Paul Moriarty, Brian Gwaspari, James Ottaway
Episode 5
Knife
Episode credits
Guest stars Paul Moriarty, Mary Healey, Brian Gwaspari, Nigel Rathbone, Derek Thompson
Episode 6
Protection
Episode credits
Directed by Carol WisemanGuest stars Paul Moriarty, Brian Gwaspari, Derek Thompson, George Sewell
Episode 7
Paint It Black
Episode credits
Guest stars Nick Brimble, Brian Gwaspari, Nigel Rathbone, Derek Thompson
Episode 8
Affray
Episode credits
Guest stars Paul Moriarty, Brian Gwaspari, Derek Thompson, Michael Cronin, Jean Hastings
Episode 9
Black Fox, White Vixen
A famous television actress received death threats.
Episode credits
Guest stars Brian Gwaspari, Nigel Rathbone, Derek Thompson, Maev Alexander
Episode 10
One of Those Days
Episode credits
Guest stars Paul Moriarty, David Kelly, Liz Smith, David Joss Buckley, Pamela Buchner, Ian Barritt, Brian Gwaspari, Nigel Rathbone
Episode 11
Vigil
Episode credits
Directed by Peter CregeenGuest stars Paul Moriarty, David Ashford, Brian Gwaspari, Derek Thompson
Episode 12
Damage
Episode credits
Directed by Carol WisemanGuest stars Paul Moriarty, Nigel Rathbone, James Ottaway
Episode 13
Solution
finale
Episode credits
Directed by Carol WisemanGuest stars Paul Moriarty, Brian Gwaspari, Nigel Rathbone, Derek Thompson, James Ottaway, Pamela Buchner
Episode information updated Jul 25, 2026
Available now in United States
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More about The Gentle Touch
Cast
Jill GascoineDI Maggie Forbes
William MarloweDCI Bill Russell
Paul MoriartyDS Jake Barratt
Art Malik
Leslie Ash
Catherine Schell
Hugh Cross
Judy LoeCredits
- Created by
- Terence Feely
- Written by
- Roger Marshall, Terence Feely, Brian Finch, Tony Hoare, Pat Hooker
Production details
- Status
- Ended
- Series type
- Scripted
- Episodes
- 56
- Original language
- English
Networks & production
ITV1United Kingdom
ITVUnited Kingdom
LWTUnited Kingdom
Themes
female police officerlaw enforcementlondon, englandmurder of husbandpolice proceduralsexismsingle mothersocial commentary