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.
Neville Smith (actor) wrote his first screenplay, "The Golden Vision", for the BBC TV series "The Wednesday Play". In the following years he appeared in episodes of "Cluff", "Z-Cars", "Thirty-Minute Theatre", "Softly Softly", "Her Majesty's Pleasure" and "The Wednesday Play". In 1971 the film "Gumshoe", based on Smith's novel of the same title, was the first major film-directlng assignment for Stephen Frears. Smith also played a small role in the film, as Arthur, a character whom Eddie Ginley ( played by Albert Finney) consults about the gun before entering L:iverpool Docks. In 1977 Smith wrote the screenplay for "Apaches", a short public information