Arresting Personalities Trivia Quiz

Answer: Jack Warner

The series began in 1955 and showed the activities of the 'bobby on the beat'. The character of George Dixon featured in the film 'The Blue Lamp' from 1950, where he was killed off. He was resurrected for the television series, which was written by Ted Willis. The three incorrect answers are all British actors who appeared in the film 'The Cruel Sea'.

Answer: Taggart

'Taggart' is set in Glasgow, and Jim Taggart was played by Mark McManus, who sadly died in the middle of filming a series in 1994. His character's funeral was later shown in the series and his 'sidekick' was promoted to take his place. The lead character has since changed again, but the show has retained the original title. 'Rebus' was played by John Hannah and then Ken Stott and 'Hamish Macbeth' by Robert Carlyle. Both these were set in Scotland, but 'Wycliffe', played by Jack Shepherd, was based in Cornwall.

Answer: He was dead

The series was originally shown in the 1960s and starred Kenneth Cope and Mike Pratt. Hopkirk is murdered in the first episode and returns as a ghost who only his former partner can see and hear. Initially he returns to ensure his murderer is captured but stays in the 'real world' too long and has to remain in his ghostly form.

The series was revived in 2000 starring Bob Mortimer and Vic Reeves, a well-known British comedy duo.

Answer: Gene Hunt

The endings of the UK and American versions were markedly different. Gene Hunt has become an iconic figure in the UK for representing an era when 'men were men'. John Simm played Sam Tyler in the UK version, the detective who has an accident in 2006 and wakes up in 1973 when police methods were very different from those he is used to.

The other two names are both characters from the show.

Answer: John Thaw

'The Sweeney' ran from 1975 to 1978 with John Thaw as Regan and Dennis Waterman as Carter. The name comes from rhyming slang (Sweeney Todd) for The Flying Squad. 'Inspector Morse' ran from 1987 - 2000 and John Thaw played the lead role of Endeavour Morse, although his first name was revealed only at the end of the series. Kevin Whateley played Morse's sidekick, Lewis, who was later to have his own series. Trevor Eve appeared in two other series -'Shoestring' and 'Waking the Dead'.

Answer: Rodney Bewes

The series began in 2004, following a pilot episode in 2003 and features UCOS, the Unsolved Crime and Open Case Squad. The team is led by Sandra Pullman, a serving officer, played by Amanda Redman. Dennis Waterman also appeared in 'The Sweeney' and sings the theme song. Rodney Bewes appeared in 'The Likely Lads' and 'Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads' with James Bolam.

Answer: Liverpool

The programme ran from 1962 until 1978, and was designed to give a more realistic view of police work than that portrayed by the fatherly George Dixon. Of the original actors, the best known is probably Brian Blessed who went on to act in several films, including 'Flash Gordon' and 'Henry V'.

The theme tune is still heard regularly, particularly at Everton Football Club, which is based in Liverpool.

Answer: Jane Tennison

'Prime Suspect' ran for seven series between 1991 and 2006 and showed the problems faced by a female Detective Chief Inspector (Superintendent in later series). The series was created by Lynda La Plante. Jean Darblay is from 'Juliet Bravo' and Jessica Fletcher from 'Murder, She Wrote'. Cordelia Gray features in novels by P D James, and has been portrayed on television by Helen Baxendale and Pippa Guard.

Answer: David Jason

'A Touch of Frost' ran from 1992 until 2008, when David Jason decided the character should be retired. David Jason has also appeared in 'Only Fools and Horses' and 'Open All Hours'. He appeared in 'Porridge' with Ronnie Barker, who also starred in 'Open All Hours'. Rowan Atkinson is known for 'Blackadder' and 'Mr. Bean', among others, and Chris Barrie appeared in 'Red Dwarf' and 'The Brittas Empire'.

Answer: Midsomer Murders

'Bergerac' was set in Jersey, and John played Jim Bergerac. The series ran from 1981 until 1991. Since 1997, John has played Tom Barnaby in 'Midsomer Murders'. Midsomer is a fictional county which appears to suffer from a well above average number of murders. 'The Bill' is a long-running police series which evolved from a one-off play called 'Woodentop'. 'The Professionals' was more MI5 based than 'normal' police work.