Back in 2006-7 Britain was captivated on a level perhaps not seen since we all asked “Who is No1?” a few decades earlier! Sam Tyler (John Simm) a Manchester Detective Chief  Inspector, had an accident and woke up in 1973. Just what had happened? From being a modern day DCI, Sam finds himself in 1973, a DI and surrounded with some serious characters. First his DCI, Gene Hunt (Played by Philip Glenister) by comparison makes the Sweeney’s Jack Regan look like Lord Longford, Ray Carling (Dean Andrews) is a hard man, who at the start of the series comes over as slightly thuggish. , and Chris Skelton (Marshall Lancaster) is the amiable, slightly nerdy young DC who isn’t the brightest bulb! Then there is Annie…….. Annie Cartwright (Liz White) who takes Sam under her wing, and clearly adores him despite thinking him a little crazy (well he is always going on about being from the future).

I won’t spoil the ending but perhaps in the light of what we know now Sam was perhaps ill advised in who he turned to for help… “Fix it for me JIM)!!!!!

The series was remade for the American market with Harvey Keitel as Gene Hunt. A follow on – spin off “Ashes to Ashes” took Gene, Ray and Chris to London in the early 1980s and ran for three series with Keeley Hawes as DI Alex Drake.