The Professionals

The Professionals
Show name	The Professionals
Genre	Crime drama, Action
Creator	Brian Clemens
Starring	Martin Shaw, Lewis Collins, Gordon Jackson
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
No of episodes	57
Executive producer	Kenneth Turner
Producer	Raymond Menmuir
Original network	ITV
First aired	1977
Last aired	1983

The Professionals

The Professionals is a British television crime-action series focusing on an elite unit that handles high-risk operations. Set against the backdrop of 1970s and early 1980s Britain, the series blends espionage, counter-terrorism, and police procedural elements. Created by Brian Clemens and produced for ITV, it starred Martin Shaw, Lewis Collins, and Gordon Jackson.

Overview

The series follows agents employed by "CI5", an organization modelled on real-world agencies such as Special Air Service, Metropolitan Police Service, MI5, MI6, and Security Service-style units in other countries. Episodes depict confrontations with groups reminiscent of Irish Republican Army, Provisional IRA, Baader-Meinhof Group, Red Brigades, and fictionalized foreign operatives linked to states like Soviet Union, East Germany, and Czechoslovakia. Storylines invoke locations and institutions such as Heathrow Airport, Port of Dover, RAF Lakenheath, and Tower of London. Crews staged operations that reference tactical doctrines seen in units like Special Boat Service and incidents similar to historical events including Munich massacre and Lockerbie bombing (as contemporary cultural touchstones).

Production

Created by Brian Clemens and produced by ITC Entertainment for London Weekend Television, the show was filmed across studio facilities and on location in the United Kingdom and continental Europe. Executive producer Kenneth Turner and producer Raymond Menmuir coordinated stunt teams and technical advisors drawn from former Special Air Service personnel and law-enforcement consultants from the Metropolitan Police Service and provincial constabularies. Directors included veterans who had worked on projects for Hammer Film Productions, Ealing Studios, and series associated with Lew Grade's companies. Music was composed with contributions echoing scores from films released by EMI Films and distributed on vinyl by labels tied to BBC Records and independent outlets. Production design referenced vehicles from manufacturers such as Jaguar Cars, Ford Motor Company, and Land Rover, and firearms and equipment modeled after suppliers linked with Enfield and licensed prop houses used by Pinewood Studios.

Cast and Characters

The principal cast comprised three lead roles and a supporting administrative character. The senior officer, portrayed by Gordon Jackson, drew on character-actor traditions established by names like Stanley Baker and Trevor Howard. Field operatives played by Martin Shaw and Lewis Collins channeled influences from cinematic figures such as Sean Connery, Roger Moore, Charles Bronson, and television stars from series on BBC One and ITV. Recurring guest stars included performers who had credits in productions from Royal Shakespeare Company, National Theatre, and films by David Lean. Supporting roles featured actors associated with programs like Doctor Who, Coronation Street, The Bill, and films released by Rank Organisation.

Episodes (or Plot)

Episodes typically present a self-contained plot with serialized character beats, structured similarly to contemporaneous series such as The Sweeney, Starsky & Hutch, and Mission: Impossible. Plots involve kidnappings, assassinations, arms smuggling through ports like Sheerness Docks, sabotage at installations such as Fawley Refinery, and counter-espionage in urban centers including Glasgow, Birmingham, and Liverpool. Standout episodes used locales tied to institutions like University of Oxford, British Museum, and transport hubs like Euston station. Writers who contributed scripts had backgrounds with credits on series from Anglia Television, Thames Television, and feature films with distributors such as British Lion Films.

Reception and Legacy

On broadcast, the series attracted audiences across demographics and generated critical debate in outlets such as The Times, The Guardian, and trade press like Broadcast (magazine). It drew both praise for production values akin to 1970s cinema and criticism for depictions compared in commentary to events involving Provisional IRA and Cold War tensions with Kremlin-aligned entities. The show influenced later television and film productions, informing stunt choreography and action aesthetics seen in works by directors affiliated with Guy Ritchie, John Glen, and television series produced by BBC Television and Channel 4. Cast members later pursued projects with companies including Universal Pictures, Warner Bros., and stage appearances at venues like the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Academic and fan studies connected the series to discussions in media analyses hosted by institutions such as British Film Institute and university departments at University of Manchester and University of Warwick.

Home Media and Availability

Home media releases were handled by distributors with catalogues that included British television archives; formats ranged from VHS distributed by companies associated with PolyGram to DVD and Blu-ray issued by labels connected to Network Distributing and international rights holders. Streaming availability has appeared on platforms carrying legacy British content licensed through aggregators negotiating with ITV Studios, BritBox, and region-specific services in markets serviced by Amazon Prime Video and international broadcasters. Archive holdings and elements used for restorations were accessed through repositories such as British Film Institute and private collections formerly connected to ITC Entertainment.

Category:British television series