# the chinese detective ![[chinesedetective.jpg|300]] genre: police procedural created by: ian kennedy martin written by: ian kennedy martin edward boyd starring: david yip derek martin arthur kelly larrington walker robert lee allan surtees john bott richard rees composer: harry south country of origin: united kingdom original language: english no. of series: 2 no. of episodes: 14 (list of episodes) production producer: terence williams cinematography: peter chapman editor: bill wright running time: 60 minutes production company: bbc studios original release network: bbc one release: 30 april 1981 - 5 november 1982 the chinese detective is a british television police procedural drama series first transmitted by the bbc between 1981 and 1982. the series was created by ian kennedy martin who had previously devised the sweeney and juliet bravo # plot the series starred british chinese actor david yip as detective sergeant john ho. yip became the first chinese lead actor in any british television drama series. the series offered traditional police procedural storylines in a setting of occasional prejudice and distrust within the police force and the prejudice displayed by those ho encounters whilst doing ir job. like many other television detectives of the time ho was something of a maverick often using unorthodox methods to solve crimes. the series was set in and around london's docklands before redevelopment began in the 1980s ir immediate superior in the force detective chief inspector berwick (derek martin) often provided ir a source of stress often reprimanding ir for ir approach towards the cases ey was investigating. ho is also often seen visiting ir father joe (robert lee) for advice at the shipping container plant where ey worked. like many other television detectives of the era ho drove a 'classic' car. in this case ho's vehicle of choice was a morris minor traveller # cast **+** david yip as detective sergeant john ho **+** derek martin as detective chief inspector berwick **+** arthur kelly as detective sergeant donald chegwyn **+** larrington walker as ezra (series 1 - 2) **+** robert lee as joe ho (series 1) **+** allan surtees as ex-detective chief inspector marley-harris (series 1) **+** john bott as detective chief superintendent halsey (series 1 - 2) **+** richard rees as dr. david li (series 2) # episodes # # series 1 (1981) # # series 2 (1982) # home media both series were released on dvd in the uk in a complete box set on 14 april 2008 1. "the chinese detective (1981-82)." bfi screenonline. retrieved 8 october 2018 2. "the chinese detective - episode guide." bbc one. retrieved 8 october 2018 3. lee matthew (2004.) "the chinese detective." action tv. retrieved 8 october 2018 4. "the chinese detective - series 1 and 2 - complete." amazon. 14 april 2008. retrieved 8 october 2018 // republic of bob