Z-Cars been running for seven years but which some considered 'cosy'. The one character present throughout the entire run (though not in every episode) was Bert Lynch, played by James Ellis (though John Phillips as Det. Chief Supt. Robins would reappear sporadically during the show's run – by the end of the series he had become Chief Constable). Other characters in the early days were Stratford Johns (Inspector Barlow), Frank Windsor (Det. Sgt Watt), Robert Keegan (Sgt Blackitt), Joseph Brady (PC "Jock" Weir) and Brian Blessed ("Fancy" Smith). Also in 1960s episodes as David Graham was Colin Welland, later a screenwriter.
Reginald Marsh (actor) worked in rep. In 1958, he started working behind the scenes of Granada Television, but he soon went back to acting. From the 1960s he appeared in many films, including "The Day the Earth Caught Fire" (1961), "Jigsaw" (1962), "Berserk!" (1967), "The Ragman's Daughter" (1972), "Young Winston" (1972) and "The Best Pair of Legs in the Business" (1973), and on television, in such series as "Dixon of Dock Green", "Z-Cars" and "The Persuaders!". He also played bookie Dave Smith in "Coronation Street" on and off from 1962 to 1976. Marsh played works general manager Arthur Sugden in the boardroom drama