
Softly, Softly
Softly, Softly is a British television drama series, produced by the BBC and screened on BBC 1 from January 1966. It centred around the work of regional crime squads, plain-clothes CID officers based in the fictional region of Wyvern, supposedly in the Bristol area of England.
Seasons
E1Off Beat
Jan 5, 1966
E2A Local Touch
Jan 12, 1966
E3The Misinformer
Jan 19, 1966
E4It Doesn't Grow On Trees
Jan 26, 1966
E5Talk To Me
Feb 2, 1966
E6Screws And Drivers
Feb 9, 1966
E7Take Over
Feb 16, 1966
E8Over Take...
Feb 23, 1966
E9Don't Push Too Hard
Mar 2, 1966
E10The Key
Mar 9, 1966
E11Tickle On Wheels
Mar 16, 1966
E12A Spot Of Leave
Mar 23, 1966
E13A - Z
Mar 30, 1966
E14Blind Man's Bluff
Apr 6, 1966
E15All The Flowers
Apr 13, 1966
E16Do You Believe In Ghosts?
Apr 20, 1966
E17There's A Lot Of It About
Apr 27, 1966
E18The Gentle Touch
May 4, 1966
E19The Short Cut
May 11, 1966
E20Made In Britain
May 18, 1966
E21Round Trip
May 25, 1966
E22Extraction
Jun 1, 1966
E23Best Out Of Three
Jun 8, 1966
E24I Know What I Said
Jun 15, 1966
E25Conspiracy (1) To Rob
Jun 22, 1966
E26Conspiracy (2) To Corrupt
Jun 29, 1966
E1Inside Out
Nov 2, 1966
The regional Crime Squad has moved from Gloucester to Di John Watt's building in Wyvern. The move does not please Watt or his detectives as it brings them directly under the eyes of their bosses. Meantime a crime has been committed by a man the Squad has every reason to believe cannot have committed it.
E2All That Glitters
Nov 9, 1966
Three apparently unrelated facts turn out to have a fascinating connection. A former criminal, now crippled, lives like a lord but has no visible means of support. A film unit arrives in the area to make a television documentary. And a mysterious and ambiguous note arrives on John Watt's desk.
E3The Jackpot
Nov 16, 1966
A new gambling club is due to open and already the manager has been 'invited' to pay protection money to a man from a firm that supplies fruit machines. The Squad investigate, and they don't like what they find.
E4Murder Reported
Nov 23, 1966
Barlow's manpower diplomacy is strongly tested as Detective Superintendent Arthur Jones leads a murder hunts for only the second time in his career.
E5Sleeping Dogs
Nov 30, 1966
E6Heart Of Brass
Dec 7, 1966
DI Watt and DC Box look into the affairs of Sammy Roach and his girl friend Josie.
E7Find The Lady
Dec 14, 1966
Barlow and Hawkins feel that many of their problems will be solved if only they can 'find the lady'.
E8Barlow Was There (1) Allegation
Dec 21, 1966
E9Barlow Was There (2) Enquiry
Dec 28, 1966
E10Barlow Was There (3) Mischief
Jan 4, 1967
E11Sing A Song Of Friendship
Jan 11, 1967
E12James McNeil, Aged 23
Jan 18, 1967
E13The Next Voice You Hear
Jan 25, 1967
E14An Eye For An Eye
Feb 1, 1967
E15What Colour A Wolf ?
Feb 8, 1967
Stolen objects seem to be disappearing into thin air immediately after their removal from private collections. DC Dwyer has been found to have run up a large debt to a local bookie. He has to leave the force: now he's out of a job and mixing with some very dubious characters.
E16Somebody Important
Feb 15, 1967
E17The Informant (1) Rough Justice
Feb 22, 1967
When Billie Greave is found injured in a factory storeroom it seems obvious to the police that he has fallen while attempting to blow a safe. Barlow is disappointed and angry, for Billie is one of his most trusted informers and has assured him that he is now going straight.
E18The Informant (2) The Man Inside
Mar 1, 1967
E19The Same The Whole World Over
Mar 8, 1967
The Regional Crime Squad is on the trail of a gang of robbers.
E20Selection
Mar 15, 1967
E21Appointment In Wyvern
Mar 22, 1967
E22The Investors
Mar 29, 1967
E23A Piece Of Waste Ground
Apr 5, 1967
E24Proof Positive
Apr 12, 1967
E25Cash On Deliverance
Apr 19, 1967
E26On The Side Of The Law
Apr 26, 1967
E27The Linkman
May 3, 1967
E28Blackitt's Round
May 10, 1967
E29See You Tomorrow
May 17, 1967
E30The Hole (1) In the Road
May 24, 1967
E31The Hole (2) In the Head
May 31, 1967
E1The Target (1) Sighted
Oct 4, 1967
E2The Target (2) Point Blank
Oct 11, 1967
E3Material Evidence
Oct 18, 1967
E4Pieces Of Silver
Oct 25, 1967
E5Something Unusual
Nov 8, 1967
E6Never Forget A Face
Nov 15, 1967
E7Inducement
Nov 22, 1967
E8The Mind Of The Beholder
Nov 29, 1967
E9The Hunt
Dec 6, 1967
E10Measure Of Tolerance
Dec 13, 1967
E11Who's Mr Smith?
Dec 20, 1967
E12The Bombay Doctor
Dec 27, 1967
E13Cause Of Death
Jan 4, 1968
E14In Bulk
Jan 11, 1968
E15Complaint
Jan 18, 1968
E16Landing Whispers
Jan 25, 1968
E17Major Incident
Feb 1, 1968
There is tragedy as an accident involving two road tankers causes the death of a number of children on their way home from school. The harrowing experience of identification and informing next of kin will leave its mark indefinitely on every member of the Wyvern squad.
E18Quicker By Rail
Feb 8, 1968
E19The Good Girl
Feb 15, 1968
E20Identity Unknown
Feb 22, 1968
E21Unfinished Business
Feb 29, 1968
E22Finger Of Suspicion
Mar 7, 1968
For seven weeks a safe has been blown at the rate of one a week on Barlow's patch.
E23If I Can Help Somebody
Mar 14, 1968
E24Don't Tell Me, Let Me Guess
Mar 21, 1968
E25Fortune On The Move (1) Payment
Mar 28, 1968
E26Fortune On The Move (2) Refund
Apr 4, 1968
E1Theory
Sep 12, 1968
The No. 11 District squad has just completed a rearrangement of their Headquarters accommodation, taking over the house next door to provide extra space; and to bring Gilbert and Barlow into closer proximity with Watt and his team.
E2Proof
Sep 19, 1968
E3Bird Of Passage
Sep 26, 1968
E4See The Rabbit
Oct 3, 1968
E5Take Them In Singles
Oct 10, 1968
E6Red Herring
Oct 17, 1968
E7Five Pairs O' Hands
Oct 24, 1968
E8Minor Incident
Oct 31, 1968
E9An Old Song
Nov 7, 1968
E10Big Boats, Little Boats
Nov 14, 1968
E11For A Rainy Day
Nov 21, 1968
E12Assistance
Nov 28, 1968
E13Equal Status
Dec 5, 1968
E14Obstruction
Dec 12, 1968
E15Going Quietly
Dec 19, 1968
E16On Christmas Day In The Morning
Dec 27, 1968
E17Departure
Jan 2, 1969
E18Cross Reference
Jan 9, 1969
E19Run For The Hills
Jan 16, 1969
E20Pressure
Jan 23, 1969
E21A Quantity Of Gelignite
Jan 30, 1969
E22Critical Path
Feb 6, 1969
E23Persistence
Feb 13, 1969
E24Second Chance
Feb 20, 1969
E25How's The Wife Then ?
Feb 27, 1969
E26Right To Search
Mar 6, 1969
E27Proved Connection
Mar 13, 1969
E1Recovery
Sep 11, 1969
DC Morgan receives information that a big art robbery will take place. The squad acts... but so does the thief.
E2Flash Point
Sep 18, 1969
Barlow is enjoying a pint at the pub when Watt's girl friend, Dr. Jean Morrow, tells him about an old lady who has been brutally attacked for the sake of a few pounds. Jean's story shocks Barlow into involving the squad in immediate action.
E3In At the Death
Sep 25, 1969
When the head of a successful firm dies there is always someone waiting to step into his shoes. In this case the dead man's business venture is believed to be crooked and DS Hawkins is closely concerned as to who will fill his place.
E4Error of Judgement
Oct 2, 1969
A race meeting at Chepstow; and incompetent amateur pilot; a lonely field near Wyvern; why is Barlow interested in these three things? Who is it that Barlow wants to set a trap for? The answer lies in unfinished business from Barlow's past. Will he ever complete it?
E5Dead Aboard
Oct 9, 1969
A prostitute is found murdered in a quiet backwater quay at Wyvern. Who is the killer? Barlow and his team make every effort to find out.
E6One Thing Leads To Another
Oct 16, 1969
When Harry Hawkins and Barbara Allin visit a gambling joint it is not just for the purpose of spending their own money. Their main interest is in the easy money that flows, and the club owner, Dino Frankitt, who has the reputation of making HIS easy money in devious ways.
E7General Post
Oct 23, 1969
When a crime occurs on the doorstep of Headquarters the local force thinks it's funny. But Barlow is not amused. He is aware the incident could be a prelude to a much bigger crime - but what? And why is John Watt even less amused than Barlow?
E8Wild Goose
Oct 30, 1969
What is a criminal like Jack Carter doing in Wyvern? Barlow hopes to find out by surveillance and is furious when Digby inadvertently makes the squad's interest apparent.
E9We Shall Miss You
Nov 6, 1969
Barlow and watt travel to Thamesford and back - but not together - in pursuit of important changes in their careers. While they wait to hear the results of their journeys they join forces again in pursuit of one more criminal.
E10Write Off
Nov 13, 1969
Why is DS Allin so interested in the leisure activities of the elite of Wyvern? And why does a car involved in a minor accident unaccountably burst into flames? The subsequent enquiries are not to Watt's liking.
E11Arrival
Nov 20, 1969
Barlow's first day at Thamesford is rounded off with a telephone call that involves him in his first major investigation as head of C.I.D.
E12Exercise
Nov 27, 1969
E13Diversion
Dec 4, 1969
Routine enquiries into a series of minor break-ins become a major hunt for a dangerous criminal.
E14The Spoilt Ones
Dec 11, 1969
E15To Protect The Innocent
Dec 18, 1969
E16Any Other Night
Jan 1, 1970
E17The Aggro Boy
Jan 8, 1970
E18Standing Orders
Jan 15, 1970
E19Private Mischief
Jan 22, 1970
A worried barman asks John Watt why a detective constable is asking questions about him. Watt makes some alarming discoveries about the constable in question.
E20Open And Shut
Jan 29, 1970
E21Sprats And Mackerels
Feb 5, 1970
A whisper from the north of England leads the Task Force to Eastcote Docks. A domestic dispute takes them to the nearby caravan site at Bathgate. But what is the link between the two incidents?
E22Like Any Other Friday
Feb 12, 1970
Barlow is pursuing the hint of an armed robbery. Hawkins and Jackson are tackling another in a series of Thursday night thefts. But there is something different about this particular Friday.
E23Power Of The Press
Feb 19, 1970
E24Trust A Woman
Feb 26, 1970
E25The Hermit
Mar 5, 1970
E26Escort
Mar 12, 1970
E1Baptism
Sep 16, 1970
E2Sunday, Sweet Sunday
Sep 23, 1970
E3Safe in the Streets?
Sep 30, 1970
E4Good Listener
Oct 7, 1970
E5Time Expired
Oct 14, 1970
Missing! Ten small wooden boxes, each weighing 25 lbs., each worth five thousand pounds. Several people are interested in the location of these boxes.
E6Lessons
Oct 21, 1970
E7Without Favour
Oct 28, 1970
E8Never Hit a Lady
Nov 4, 1970
E9Its Ugly Head
Nov 11, 1970
E10Who Wants Pride...?
Nov 18, 1970
Why should anyone steal a security van, disguise it as a plain van and drive it out to a deserted place in the countryside? And why blow a neat hole in it when there's nothing inside anyway? Could it be a dress rehearsal?
E11Collation
Nov 25, 1970
A line drawn by time; a curious parallel; two thieves with a twisted sense of humour - would these be the ingredients of a recipe that would keep Barlow and Watt awake at night?
E12Do Me a Favour
Dec 2, 1970
E13Sweet Are the Uses of Adversity
Dec 9, 1970
DI Hawkins finds himself in the seat of authority - and very uncomfortable it is too. A dangerous and unidentified criminal is at large and CC Cullen demands crisp and confident action. Is Hawkins capable of responding to the challenge of adversity?
E14Bearings
Dec 16, 1970
E15A World Full of Rooms
Dec 23, 1970
E16The Lie Direct
Dec 30, 1970
A parked car in a lonely road - but when it's in the same place two nights running Snow's curiosity is aroused.
E17Ground Level
Jan 6, 1971
E18Company Business
Jan 13, 1971
Sgt. Jackson is very good at statistics, but this time his conclusion is a matter of practical detection. But can he be right? John Watt doesn't think so.
E19Kick Off
Jan 20, 1971
E20Final Score
Jan 27, 1971
E21Something Big
Feb 3, 1971
Charlie Barlow is well known for playing his cards close to his chest. But this time he's on the receiving end - from DCS Allan.
E22Games
Feb 10, 1971
E23In the Public Gaze
Feb 17, 1971
As a result of going to the assistance of one of his officers, Chief Constable Cullen finds that he is in great need of assistance himself.
E24Held for Questioning
Feb 24, 1971
E25Black Equals White
Mar 3, 1971
E26Cash and Carry
Mar 10, 1971
E1Once Bitten
Oct 6, 1971
E2Hostage
Oct 13, 1971
E3The Floater
Oct 20, 1971
E4Aberration
Oct 27, 1971
E5Moving On
Nov 3, 1971
E6An Inside Job
Nov 10, 1971
A supermarket has been robbed and £4,000 stolen. It looks an easy case, and Barlow proceeds to solve it to his own satisfaction. Harry Hawkins isn't so certain.
E7The Bounty Hunter
Nov 17, 1971
E8Marksman
Nov 24, 1971
E9Copper Wire
Dec 1, 1971
E10Man of Peace
Dec 8, 1971
E11Good Touches
Dec 15, 1971
E12Better Than Doing Porridge
Dec 22, 1971
E13The Removal
Dec 29, 1971
E14Priorities
Jan 5, 1972
E15Resolution
Jan 12, 1972
E16The Amateur
Jan 19, 1972
E17Anywhere in the Wide World
Jan 26, 1972
E18Flight
Feb 2, 1972
E19The Big Tip-Off
Feb 9, 1972
E20Woman's World
Feb 16, 1972
E21Policeman's Lot:, A (1) The Row on the Stairs
Feb 23, 1972
E22Policeman's Lot:, A (2) You Pays Your Money
Mar 1, 1972
E23Policeman's Lot:, A (3) It Depends Where You're Standing
Mar 8, 1972
E24Set Us Alight
Mar 15, 1972
E25The Easy Job
Mar 22, 1972
E26Conclusion
Mar 29, 1972
E1Spit and Polish
Sep 13, 1972
E2Killer
Sep 20, 1972
E3Surveillance
Sep 27, 1972
Observation is being kept at the scene of an intended robbery. PC Snow is one of the watchers and he later finds himself in considerable danger.
E4Dog Eat Dog
Oct 4, 1972
E5Bank Rate
Oct 11, 1972
E6On the Third Day
Oct 18, 1972
E7The Witness
Oct 25, 1972
E8Run for Your Money
Nov 1, 1971
E9New Broom
Nov 8, 1972
It's surprising what turns up in household refuse. What is it the dustmen find that brings John Watt and the Task Force so promptly to the rubbish tip?
E10Paper Chase
Nov 15, 1972
Task Force chase counterfeit notes; CID the money snatchers.
E11Welcome to the Club
Nov 22, 1972
E12Justice
Nov 29, 1972
E13Conversion
Dec 6, 1972
Change creates uncertainty. A shake up in No. 1 Task Force causes PC Snow to think carefully about himself and his future.
E14Needle
Dec 13, 1972
Watt and the Task Force investigate an 'accident' and their enquiries take them behind prison walls.
E15Execution
Dec 20, 1972
E16Time-Table
Jan 3, 1973
A safe is blown in Manchester - the suspected man is in Kingley. Watt has a problem.
E17Conspiracy
Jan 10, 1973
A gang of safe breakers are plaguing Thamesford constabulary. Adler puts the pressure on Evans to obtain concrete evidence against the villains.
E18Money for Sale
Jan 17, 1973
E19For Love or Money
Jan 24, 1973
A policeman has many unpleasant duties, not the least of which is investigating the activities of a fellow officer. John Watt has to face this unpleasant task.
E20Little Acorns
Jan 31, 1973
E1Errors
Sep 12, 1973
E2Signed Off
Sep 19, 1973
A policeman is missing. Is there anything sinister in his disappearance, or is there a simple explanation?
E3A Quiet Man
Sep 26, 1973
A quiet morning: a milkman on his round in a residential street. But the peace is soon shattered.
E4No Way
Oct 3, 1973
E5No Life for a Woman
Oct 10, 1973
E6Twenty-Seven Pieces of Porcelain
Oct 17, 1973
Watt thinks the piece of Wedgwood china he buys for his wife is expensive enough, until he has to investigate a theft.
E7Night-Watch
Oct 24, 1973
Snow and Nesbitt are enquiring into a crime which has happened. Evans is asking about a crime which may happen. John Watt is concentrating on the present.
E8Catch As Catch Can
Oct 31, 1973
Why is Hawkins preparing his latest operation behind closed doors? And why is he so interested in a small-time thief?
E9The Loudmouth
Nov 7, 1973
John Watt receives a tip-off which he believes could lead him to a 'crime boss'.
E10Interrogation
Nov 14, 1973
E11Slip of the Tongue
Nov 21, 1973
Watt and Hawkins are baffled by a couple of crooks; Hawkins is angry with a probation officer and Evans is hurt by a brick. It's a dog's life being a policeman!
E12Trial
Nov 28, 1973
E13Skipper's Walk
Dec 5, 1973
Hawkins takes his wife's dog for a walk one night. They meet a drunk who tells him a disturbing tale. Hawkins has to tell John Watt. Together they have to do a job hated by all policemen: looking into the private life of one of their own men.
E14Cover
Dec 12, 1973
A barn is burned down. It could be arson, but the insurance is hardly worth claiming. And of course, fires do happen. But Evans is suspicious, and he goes in for a spot of bricklaying when the new barn is built.
E15Observation
Dec 19, 1973
E16Trouble-Maker
Jan 2, 1974
E17The Raider
Jan 9, 1974
Jackie Warren is dangerous. He has escaped from jail and no-one knows where he is. Then a Post Office van is robbed in Kingley and Watt finds him on his own doorstep.
E18Victim
Jan 16, 1974
E1Alert
Sep 4, 1974
E2You Don't Have to Shout, I'm Listening
Sep 11, 1974
Masur Jemal suddenly goes berserk in the garage where he works. No-one has any idea why. A member of the Task Force has been hit on the head with a spanner while trying to restrain Jamal and could be badly hurt. When Task Force investigate they find things are worse than they suspected.
E3Worth a Million
Sep 18, 1974
A job is being planned. John Watt knows when and by whom, but he doesn't know where or what.
E4Domestic Incident
Sep 25, 1974
Two children at home with their father: a cosy domestic scene. The trouble is, the mother has been thrown out, the father has a violent record and has locked himself in with the children.
E5Pop Goes the Weasel
Oct 2, 1974
The quiet of a Thamesford village is shattered by a pop concert and Task Force is called in to deal with the discord. Meanwhile Sgt. Evans has his own problems.
E6Cat Among the Pigeons
Oct 9, 1974
E7Pardon
Oct 16, 1974
E8Little Boy Blue
Oct 23, 1974
E9A Day's Work
Oct 30, 1974
E10Paperwork
Nov 6, 1974
E11See What You've Done
Nov 13, 1974
E12We're in This Together
Nov 20, 1974
Three villains are nailed for different crimes. Is it coincidence they are all from a family Watt has been after for years?
E13Temptation
Nov 27, 1974
E1Feedback
Aug 25, 1975
E2High Life
Sep 3, 1975
E3Protection
Sep 10, 1975
E4Grass
Sep 17, 1975
E5Bargains
Sep 24, 1975
E6The Talking Doll
Oct 1, 1975
E7And with What Measure?
Oct 8, 1975
E8Female of the Species
Oct 15, 1975
A middle-aged villain takes up with a young woman, which proves to be dangerous for the public and baffling for the police.
E9A Person Unknown
Oct 22, 1975
E10Homicide
Oct 29, 1975
E11Dorothy's Birthday
Nov 5, 1975
E12Whose Side Are You On?
Nov 12, 1975
E13Choirboy
Nov 19, 1975
E14On Call
Nov 26, 1975
E15Blind Alley
Dec 3, 1975
Pressure is put on John Watt to take action. But he knows from experience that sometimes the best action to take is to do nothing.
E1Not with a Bang...
Sep 8, 1976
E2There's Always Tomorrow
Sep 15, 1976
E3Say It with Flowers
Sep 22, 1976
E4The Trojan Horse
Sep 29, 1976
E5Now You See It, Now You Don't
Oct 6, 1976
E6As Good Cooks Go...
Oct 13, 1976
E7The Visitor
Oct 20, 1976
E8Baked Beans
Oct 27, 1976
E9The Climber
Nov 3, 1976
E10At Risk
Nov 10, 1976
E11Got Him!
Nov 17, 1976
E12Just a Whisper?
Nov 24, 1976
E13A Shot in the Dark
Dec 1, 1976
E14Communications
Dec 8, 1976
E15Alarums and Excursions
Dec 15, 1976
Storyline
Softly, Softly is a British television drama series, produced by the BBC and screened on BBC 1 from January 1966. It centred around the work of regional crime squads, plain-clothes CID officers based in the fictional region of Wyvern, supposedly in the Bristol area of England.























