Target (UK TV Series)

Target (UK TV Series)

Target was a police drama series which ran from 1977-78 on BBC1. It was set in Southampton as the 13th Regional Crime Squad. The series was originally developed under the title of Hackett by producer Graham Williams, but he was then asked to swop roles with the outgoing producer of Doctor Who, Philip Hinchcliffe who retitled the show Target. It starred Patrick Mower as Det. Supt. Steve Hackett, Brendan Price as Det. Sgt. Frank Bonney, Vivien Heilbron as Det. Sgt. Louise Colbert and Philip Madoc as Det. Chief Supt. Tate. Seventeen episodes were produced over two series. The show was the BBC response to ITV's highly successful series The Sweeney. Like The Sweeney the cars used were Fords, mostly Cortinas and Granadas; however Hackett's personal car is American along the lines of a Dodge Charger and is seen in a number of episodes. There is a distinct lack of humour compared to the Sweeney and at the time the series was slated as being more violent than The Sweeney, though watching this now it is hard to tell the difference. The second series was toned down. Also Patrick Mower being such a strong actor seems to overpower the supporting cast, something that was not evident in the Sweeney. The theme music was by Dudley Simpson. Each episode lasted approx 50mins. A third series was mooted with Robert Banks Stewart taking over as producer. He spent two weeks in the producer's chair, during which he planned to change the supporting cast, bring down the violence and steer the show further away from The Sweeney. However, he has then informed by the head of drama that the series was being scrapped and asked to come up with a replacement crime series. He devised the private eye drama Shoestring.

The First Series was last aired on TV on the new defunct Cable Channel Galaxy in 1990 and the second series has not been aired since 1978. There have long been calls for the series to be aired as programmes like The Sweeney and The Professionals get regular airings, but nothing has been forthcoming.

Some of the episode were written by David Wickes who also wrote scripts for The Professionals and his production company David Wickes Productions produced The New Professionals in 1999.