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.
Brian Blessed hail from Brigg. Blessed went to Bolton on Dearne Secondary Modern School and started drama training at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. One of Blessed's earliest roles was that of PC "Fancy" Smith in the BBC television series "Z-Cars", between 1962 and 1965. In 1966, he appeared in a production of "Incident at Vichy" at the Phoenix Theatre in London. Also in 1966, he was offered the titular role of The Doctor in BBC's sci-fi drama, Doctor Who, to take over from William Hartnell, but had to turn down due to conflicting projects. In 1967, he played Porthos in