The classic 1970s cop series The Sweeney is released, fully restored, on Blu-ray on 2nd June to celebrate its 50th Anniversary.

The iconic police series, created by Ian Kennedy Martin, debuted on British TV in 1975  and was a ratings smash, running for four seasons until 1978 and making household names out of John Thaw and Dennis Waterman as Detectives Regan and Carter, with the brilliant Garfield Morgan as their long-suffering boss. It changed the landscape of TV cop dramas forever, with its no nonsense approach to crime-busting, pithy, quotable dialogue, punch ups galore (including Carter reliably being duffed up every episode), edge of your seat car chases, and some properly nasty villains.

Series One has been painstakingly restored for a superb five-disc Blu-ray Collector’s Edition, featuring all the episodes from the ground-breaking inaugural year, two versions of Regan, the original pilot of the show, a host of extras and commentaries, a booklet, and lavish packaging.

Featuring guest appearances from the cream of British acting talent – including Prunella Gee (Never Say Never Again), Dudley Sutton (The Devils), Billy Murray (The Bill), Warren Mitchell (In Sickness and In Health) and Wanda Ventham (UFO), and showcasing the directing skills of the likes of David Wickes (The Professionals) and Tom Clegg (McVicar) – The Sweeney is a top notch, must have purchase for those who like their cop dramas gritty, action packed and most definitely ‘old school’. The beautifully restored episodes (13 in total), in the original 4.3 TV format complete with ad breaks,  look absolutely fantastic, and if it wasn’t for all the smoking, lack of seatbelts and vintage Jags tearing around gravel pits, you’d swear it was filmed yesterday.

If you’re a fan of The Sweeney, you’re going to want to start your collection to come with this definitive Series One box set, no arguments! and once you’ve finished watching (or re watching all those episodes) Head into the special features. Check out this list! 

BLU-RAY SPECIAL FEATURES:

Option to view episodes in original Mono, 5.1 surround sound, or isolated music tracks    

Armchair Cinema: Regan (original and 50 minute cut-down versions)  

Interview with series creator Ian Kennedy Martin

Restoring The Sweeney

Reconstructed titles from Original Stills

Vintage Thames Trailer for Jackpot

Introduction to Queen’s Pawn by Tony Selby

Introduction to The Placer by John Forgeham

Introduction to Cover Story by Prunella Gee

Introduction to Golden Boy by Dudley Sutton

Introduction to Stoppo Driver by Billy Murray

Introduction to Big Spender by Warren Mitchell

Introduction to Abduction by Wanda Ventham

Audio Commentary on Armchair Cinema: Regan by actor Dennis Waterman, producer Ted Childs & director Tom Clegg

Audio Commentary on Ringer with actors Dennis Waterman, Garfield Morgan, writer Trevor Preston & editor Chris Burt

Audio Commentary on Jackpot with authors of “The Sweeney The Official Companion” Robert Fairclough & Mike Kenwood

Audio Commentary on Thin Ice with Producer Ted Childs, writer Troy Kennedy Martin & director Tom Clegg

Audio Commentary on Night Out with director David Wickes & assistant director Bill Westley

Additional Audio Commentary on Night Out with producer Ted Childs & writer Troy Kennedy Martin

Audio Commentary on Stoppo Driver with actors Dennis Waterman & Garfield Morgan

Audio Commentary on Abduction with actors Dennis Waterman, Garfield Morgan, writer Trevor Preston & director Tom Clegg

Booklet featuring an essay by Dennis Waterman

The retail price for this set is £74.99 and its released on June 2nd 2025.