Beating Juliet Bravo to the screen by five months, hour long crime drama series The Gentle Touch was the first UK series to feature a female cop in the lead role.
Jill Gascoine, who had appeared in 70’s cult “classic” Confessions of a Pop Performer and had played a prominent role in later seasons of The Onedin Line here played Detective Inspector Maggie Forbes who worked out of Soho’s Seven Dials station.
Widowed and with a teenage son Maggie had to deal with the usual sexist comments from fellow cops and crims alike (clearly Alex Drake from Ashes to Ashes was heavily influenced by Maggie) and there was often quite a soapy element to the series with a heavy concentration on Maggie’s homelife although later episodes went for more of an action vibe.
When The Gentle Touch finished in 1984 Maggie (and Gascoine) would go on to star in action/spy series C.A.T.S. Eyes.
Cast: JILL GASCOINE as D.I. Maggie Forbes; WILLIAM MARLOWE as D.C.I. Russell; PAUL MORIARTY as D.S. Jake Barratt; DEREK THOMPSON as D.S. Jimmy Fenton; BRIAN GWASPARI as D.I. Bob Fenton; NIGEL RATHBONE as Steve Forbes; BERNARD HOLLEY as D.I. Mike Turnbull; MICHAEL GRAHAM COX as D.I. Jack Slater
Creator: Terence Feely / Executive Producers: Tony Wharmby, Nick Elliott / Series Advisor: Edwin T. Roach / Theme Music: Roger Webb
UK / ITV Network – London Weekend Television / 56×50 minute episodes / 11 April 1980 – 24 November 1984
THE EPISODES
SEASON ONE 11 Apr – 23 May 1980
1. KILLERS
2. RECOIL
3. HELP
4. SHOCK
5. BLADE
6. ROGUE
7. MELODY
SEASON TWO 5 Sep – 7 Nov 1980
1. SOMETHING BLUE
2. DECOY
3. BREAK-IN
4. MENACES
5. HAMMER
6. CHANCE
7. LOYALTIES
8. MAGGIE’S LUCK
9. SHAME
10. THE RING
SEASON THREE 6 Nov 1981 – 5 Feb 1982
1. GIFTS
2. DOUBT
3. THE HIT
4. SCAPEGOAT
5. KNIFE
6. PROTECTION
7. PAINT IT BLACK
8. AFFRAY
9. BLACK FOX, WHITE VIXEN
10. ONE OF THESE DAYS
11. VIGIL
12. DAMAGE
13. SOLUTION
SEASON FOUR 22 Oct 1982 – 28 Jan 1983
1. RIGHT OF ENTRY
2. BE LUCKY UNCLE
3. CAUSE AND EFFECT
4. AUCTIONS
5. DANY
6. VICTIMS
7. THE MEAT RACK
8. JOKER
9. TOUGH, MRS RUDGE
10. PRIVATE VIEWS
11. PRESSURES
12. WEEKEND
13. WHO’S AFRAID OF JOSIE TATE?
SEASON FIVE 1 Sep – 24 Nov 1984
1. FINDERS, KEEPERS
2. LOSERS, WEEPERS
3. DO IT YOURSELF
4. THE CONFERENCE
5. THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE REST
6. MAD DOG
7. WISE CHILD
8. APPEARANCES CAN BE DECEPTIVE
9. SECRETS
10. FOX AND HOUNDS
11. CURE
12. A WOMAN’S WORD
13. EXIT LAUGHING
