Special Branch

Seasons

1969

7.4

Groundbreaking British police drama series following the exploits of the Special Branch of the Metropolitan Police: an elite group of officers tasked with protecting London from spies, terrorists, and subversives.

Episode List

S1 • E1

Troika

At 3.55 am in London John Morrissey gets into a taxi to Scotland Yard. He is rushing to join a meeting about the planned arrest of three people who have broken the Official Secrets Act by selling information. The codename for this operation is Troika. Before the raid by Special Branch at 6 am, Greenaway sends a coded message to Moscow. When Cowley is arrested he tells Jordan that he has valuable information to tell him. After the raid they have arrested both Cowley and Morris but the third, Greenaway, has escaped, dressed as a woman, with a fake passport. Special Branch is then told by American Intelligence that Greenaway is really Major Igor Alexandrov, a KGB sleeper agent.

S1 • E2

Smokescreen

Cowley commits suicide shortly after an unproductive round of questioning by Eden in jail, which leads to an embarrassing public coroner's inquest. Jordan investigates a scientist being vetted for a sensitive position, and all agree he is politically too far left for further consideration, yet he still succeeds.

S1 • E3

The Promised Land

A small boat arrives at a beach in Kent where illegal aliens are unloaded, but the police bag the smugglers and all bar one of the Pakistanis, now quite ill, who seeks refuge with an immigrant rights activist.

S1 • E4

A Date with Leonidas

A teenager's vow of vengeance leads to Inspector Jordan interrupting a wedding and Superintendent Eden accepting a parcel that contains death. Before the day is over both men have cause for concern.

S1 • E5

The Kazmirov Affair

Informed that the manuscript of a Russian author's novel which has been smuggled into Britain is a forgery and could discredit the Goverment, Inspector Jordan goes against orders and investigates the claim.

S1 • E6

A New Face

The son of a trusted officer of the special branch has become radicalised while away at university, trying to join a gang of riot-minded militant socialist students. This threatens to break up his family, and his father's position.

S1 • E7

You Don't Exist

A girl lands at Heathrow from Rhodesia, but owing to Britian's break of diplomatic relations, she has no valid passport. A young officer is supposed to mind her until she can be sent back, but takes her for a tour instead.

S1 • E8

The Children of Delight

'The Children of Delight' is a group of hippies that has arrived on Eden's patch. Is there something sinister going on behind its facade? Detective Sergeants Webb and Gifford go undercover to investigate.

S1 • E9

Reliable Sources

Superintendent Eden is on the spot. The Security Commission has met to consider the leak that tipped a spy during the Troika affair. The detective is cleared - but told that he cannot continue his role as Special Branch controller.

S1 • E10

Short Change

A girl being held for giving official secret documents to the Russians faces a long gaol term, but an exchange offer for a Briton arrested in Moscow is offered. The officers suspect she's far more than she seems to be.

S1 • E11

Exit a Diplomat

When a member of a foreign embassy is caught shoplifting in London, but tries to hide her status by willingly accepting arrest, Superintendent Inman takes an interest in her employers.

S1 • E12

Care of Her Majesty

A British embassy in Eastern Europe receives a coded message from London to say that Jordan of Special Branch would be visiting. This is mainly (so he's told) to check why ten thousand pounds in cash has gone missing. The cover story is that it was royalties for a published novel, but Jordan is told the truth that it was money to bribe the local enemy agents. While searching the embassy Jordan finds a large picture that would cover the safe from the security cameras when it was broken into. Jordan is then told the real truth in that the money has not been stolen but top secret files have gone missing instead. The thief is later caught by Jordan and it turns out to be Sarah Landring.

S1 • E13

Visitor from Moscow

When a KGB officer is sent to London to coordinate security measures with the SB team for the forthcoming visit a Russian VIP, Inman instructs Jordan to help him - with disastrous results.

S1 • E14

Time Bomb

Sent to investigate the death of the son of a pro-British oil sheikh in a bomb plot, Superintendent Inman finds a hotbed of intrigue and a dangerous international situation about to explode in his face.