The Sweeney opening credits finding the location

[@kmac5849]

The Thames tv tune followed by the sweeney theme, gives me a warm glow for some reason….nostalgic ❤

[@johnrider5701]

The best British television cop show ever it's never been bettered and in these days of cheap and nasty reality shows it never will be 😢

[@andrewward1425]

Spot on

[@mbrady2329]

It was genuinely gritty, and they didn't always catch the culprits.

[@Bruce-1956]

I always enjoyed Z-Cars which was broadcast live.

[@adriansherlockdamondark.1094]

Something so sad and haunting about the end version of the theme. The passage of time just makes it even more moving.

[@butzee]

@@adriansherlockdamondark.1094 Yes I was allowed to watch the Sweeney as a 12 year old and that music meant bed time!

[@grobbler1]

@@butzee Exactly the same for me!

[@Retro_Rich]

Yes this. Real lump in the chest. Used to be on 9 till 10pm Thursday nights. Was allowed to stay up and watch it as a 4 year old. Never made me violent. We used to keep our crayons in empty tobacco and cheroot tins at Infant School. Never made me a smoker neither. The woke brigade would have a fit now.

[@XXXXX1985S]

​@Retro_Rich Yes same here, watched it as a child - never made me smoke or drink. Although I did grow up to become a bank robber and spend most of my time doing blags.😉

[@MatthewFenn-u7z]

Exactly what I was just thinking as I listened to it. A reminder of a better time long gone.

[@yensabi]

Loved the Sweeney and the 70s locations , always feel a bit sad knowing that John and Dennis are no longer with us…. Thanks 👍

[@dungareesareforfools]

Not to mention Garfield Morgan, another great actor. When you see some of the other non-regular characters, you realise how great these three were.

[@yensabi]

@ Yes you’re absolutely right… 👍

[@easthertsradio]

It was Tomorrow's world, Top of the Pops and at 9pm, The Sweeney. What a Thursday night!

[@andrewphippsphillips1455]

Can only remember them being Monday nights from 9 til 10pm after World In Action. I'm probably going by repeats of the show perhaps?

[@jackwild8019]

Bricks and mortar often endure but time makes ghosts of us all ⏰️🚔📷

[@jasongilliot1761]

Sadly so true

[@TallysVids]

The new building which is Latymers pub (on the corner of Colet Gardens) the building that was there previously was a pub called The Red Cow. This was the cast and crews local during breaks, and also the pub was used in a number of episodes too.

[@mickeydodds1]

Apparently, it was one of those good old fashioned, but now long vanished, down and dirty, spit and sawdust 'Strip Pubs', where strippers were booked to perform before the clientele every lunch time - you know, they went round with a pint glass for a collection wearing lingerie, then sripped nude to a 45 single or two of their choice put on the sound system. Things often got, ahem, a little too risque. The Sweeney Men certainly frequented this pub at lunchtimes. Seems to accord with the whole raw, earthy, London in the early 70s vibe.

[@dw7920]

Nicely done, thanks for the upload. 👍 One of the first things I was taught when I went to work at Thames as a junior Technical Operator was how to operate a telecine, colour-correcting & transferring old & faded eps of The Sweeney from 16mm film to tape for transmission. A better introduction to a fantastic institution I could not have wished for. All gone now and still missed. These locations are just around the corner from where I work now though which seems apt..

[@aol6983]

In its time back in the great 70's, this was the best programme on tv, incredible theme tune that was delivered so cleverly with the intro + ending being the same piece of music but different renditions, what a theme tune - brilliant! Absolutely loved THE SWEENEY, I watch the reruns on ITV 4 even now.

[@jamesgraham6122]

Almost 50 yrs and it seems like just a few years ago.. I was in Greece, skipper of a large charter schooner 1976.. Life goes by like a long weekend when we're enjoying ourselves..

[@jfro5867]

When that tune chimes in, I’m a kid again, it’s already past bedtime and I want to stay up and watch but get shooed off to bed. Have since watched the series many times. Loved it. Iconic.

[@scopex2749]

I have the box set of this AWESOME series and I still watch it regularly! "We're the Sweeney son .......and we haventr had any dinner.........YOURE NICKED" RIP John Thaw & Dennis Waterman 2 outstanding actors, Thaw always seeming to play a copper (Morse)

[@chrisevans4123]

The best cop show on telly EVER,...gritty dramas like these aren't produced today, the stories, the action , the characters reflect Britain at the time, times were hard for many , but communities helped each other .and the country had an identity, ....sadly times have got far worse nowadays,. Fractured communities and failing law and order , makes Britain not the once great force it was, .. sweeney was a real gem , that just gets better with time..

[@mulberrybushfilmfan]

One of the best shows ever made. Still watching in 2024 glued to it on Telly in the 70s. Been to a few events for it held by Misty Moon.

[@no.7593]

Superb piece of music!

[@TJ34644]

Many thanks for this. My favourite ever program. Great to get some context behind the scenes

[@deemdoubleu]

Awesome, I loved the Sweeney as a kid, my favourite I think.

[@swanvictor887]

The thing that jumped out at me immediately.....Look at the original 1974 footage and the makes of cars: ordinary, everyday bangers for the most part....then look at the cars in that street today... no more 'ordinary' people in London anymore, it seems.

[@andrewphippsphillips1455]

I like the unusual quirky shaped old metal streetlights in the opening credits, where now they're just ugly and bland structures.

[@darryllharden9141]

Quite enjoyable insight on how you found the location for this iconic title sequence shot.

[@kennethlamb378]

"Step on it, George !" . . . "Doin' twenty, Guv".

[@C.kelp1879]

All along the left side, of Colet Gardens, entering from Hammersmith Road, is the wall of the old St Paul's School, of which Field Marshal Montgomery was an alumni. It was pulled down, in the 1970s. This left the playing fields and a large hole, which was the basement area of the actual school. That is where Regan and Carter are pointing their guns in the opening credits. Many scenes were filmed in or around that land, until it was marked for development. It is now home to flats and a college.

[@markcf83]

Sheriff,he went thataway......

[@paulsilbermann1709]

My Gosh what a program this was so enjoyed it , & there were times if I remember correctly where the villains for away The Movie was great rest in peace 🕊️ to the 2 Starz 'Jonn thaw' & Dennis Waterman !!! ***///\

[@betweenprojects]

Yay! Used to live in Colet Gardens back in the day. Oopposite was a big derelict site that often featured as the destination of Ford Granada car chases.

[@garygrimmett7945]

Brilliant..my fave tv cop show ever...glad ive got the boxsets...itv3..edit it to bits!!!😮

[@David_Crayford]

Thanks for the insight. I would never have known. Typical that its just outside the production office! Of course, things have changed from when grandad was around. You won't see police driving anything without airbags, seatbelts, ABS, collision avoiding radar and a 5 star ENCAP safety rating in 2024. And if they have any common sense, they keep fit and don't smoke.

[@PMA65537]

Been in Latymers pub a few times when I worked in Hammersmith ~10 years ago. Photo of Mel Smith on the wall inside.

[@amphilbey]

Thanks for sharing, walked down Hammersmith Road to Olympia many times and never knew this, massive fan of the show since Channel 5 started repeating in the 90s when I was a student.

[@johnfishnet]

A great peice of informative work, in my mid 50s and grew up with the Sweeney if I was allowed up late. Will try to make the location next time I'm in town.

[@adriankatsikides3390]

well I never, we are indebted to you. Be interesting if there are any long term residents that have memories of filming.

[@dalek3086]

Hammersmith Colet Court , used several times by The Sweeney ( and New Tricks ). Could say it was Hammersmith ? - of course it is Hammersmith.

[@rustandoil]

Best British police show ever 👍🏼

[@andrewphippsphillips1455]

Im quite sure they used the street in a couple of scenes too (Regan and Carter's driver Bill twists his ankle when they're having a kickabout on the waste ground). Im certain its the road where Carter's wife was wrongly/mistakenly run over in one episode, which featured some truly excellent acting from Dennis Waterman.

[@michealmackintosh4502]

Notice how everyone was slim in those days before the advent of the killing fast junk food outlets. Incedently those old bangers one comment spoke about were in fact the normal cars at that time.Cars lasted longer in those days and had less to go wrong.No circuit boards.I was living in North Fulham at the time.

[@mickeydodds1]

Kentucky Fried Chicken was barely making an inroad - there were none of the myriad imitators, nor McDonalds for that matter. What we did have were the good old fashioned Fish and Chip shops in most high streets, and the Wimpy Bars.

[@michealmackintosh4502]

Thanks....plus the wondrous pie and mash shops...god how I miss those on a winter's day.Best London food EVER.

[@jackiegeritz5345]

The brilliant actor John Thaw was married to the equally brilliant Sheila Hancock. ❤

[@Cool2BCeltic]

You know, there's certainly potential for a modern day version of The Sweeney.

[@GeoffHarper-k7z]

Any idea where the 2nd version of the titles were filmed. I loved that version even if the stories weren't as good. No ones ever released an original version of the theme to the best of my knowledge

[@WILLIAM1690WALES]

Personal memories for me living in Hammersmith for 1980/82, and of course Sweeney Todd, the flying squad

[@rogerkretzschmar8280]

Favourite episode for me was the one with Diana Dors.... ' I want to speak to Inspector Reagal' 😅

[@ranjanaluwihare1511]

RIP John Thaw! 😢🙏🏽🌹

[@TT_1221]

The guys sitting in the Production office putting the show together ... Where will we shoot the opening credits? ... Let's just go around the corner, there's a modern apartment block there.

[@nw8000]

Speed bumps and electric cars are no match for a Ford Consul...

[@andrewphippsphillips1455]

Totally different world & lifetime isn't it? You'd feel like Rod Taylor's character in that film The Time Machine if you arrived now from 1974, probably feel it was a bit too dystopian, clean but too fussy....

[@adrianparker-e9f]

on the other side of the wall, does that sometimes appear as waste ground ? In 'Faces' is that the wall the baddies climb over ? If so, what was on that site previously ? ( it looks like something was knocked down.) The building, what ever it is, that is there now, looks new,

[@liverpoolscottish6430]

EPIC. This is on my list of places to visit- it's hallowed ground for Sweeney fans! GUV! GUV! GUV! GUV! :)

[@harvardfacebook7372]

Thanks buddy 👍🏿

[@minimaxi802]

I never this location, found out that it is near the A4, the main road into London from the west near Hammersmith flyover and church.

[@simongilbert2704]

wow , just wow ;;;

[@tonykemp3432]

Look at fuc#ing amount of cars on the roads 😡😡

[@muckle8]

The lads must have had a few bevvies in that boozer on the corner! - “ Evening Jack “ - sod it! 😃 Haha

[@gregbolitho9775]

One of myu favorite tv seies, also loved Z Cars with Stratford Johns and a few others. Then aus swapped to american stuff.

[@Oliver-f1v]

We the Sweeny we not had any dinner 😂

[@couchgamerhd]

wasnt that bulidng at the start used in special branch tv series

[@butzee]

@@couchgamerhd It was the production offices of Euston films for nearly 30 years! I think special branch was Euston films? Sweeney filmed loads of episodes around this location!

[@PhilbyFavourites]

Parking…. The bane of our modern world….

[@ahmedahmed9644]

That's the. Same. Street where George s. Wife gets run over in. One. Episode

[@PMA65537]

In a coat borrowed from the actual murder target, schoolteachers, IIRC.

[@ahmedahmed9644]

@PMA65537 👍

[@4vepvik781]

Simpler times,less cars,less saturation.. Nowadays...🤷🏾🤷🏾🫤🫤🫤

[@ianknight1884]

It wasn't a Consul - it was a Granada!

[@butzee]

1974 Ford Consul 3000 GT V6

[@Philcopson]

People always reckon that it was a Ford Granada pursuing the classic villain's "getaway car" - the Mark 2 Jag. But it was the Consul GT version pursuing an S-type. (In fact, although you can spot the occasional Mark 2 Jag at the kerb-side, the villains always have S-types or the occasional Series 1 XJ6. Unlike earlier police series, "The Sweeney" had lots of location shooting, so is great for car-spotters - comparative rarities such as the Jensen C-V8 and the Frua-styled AC 428 to be glimpsed.)

[@AGTC009]

They actually used both ! The Consul was used for the whole of one series until the Granada was launched then they made the switch .