An interesting idea – is it possible to curb crime completely and still remain true to the law yourself? An excellent story. Strange, though, why the actual name of the town is never used. They could easily have invented one without offending anybody. (In fact it looks like most of the filming was done in Kensal Town, W10)

There are some great humorous moments: see Sharon's "eyelash" comment, the lads in their hotel room, the drunken man and his Nazi salute, the minister's "I can't have you going over my head, George... or then you'd really think you were God!"

Allan Surtees (as the Minister) plays an excellent part and has some superb dialogue here... but Cowley has an answer for him every time – "A city sewn up tight but safely... a city where hooligans are kept in check and suspicious characters are forced to move on. For God's sake, George, to most residents it sounds like Utopia!" / "Aye... that's what they thought about Hitler's Germany!".

Paul Hardwick makes a fascinating Chief Constable – paternal and caring, he genuinely believes his own misguided ideals are correct. His scenes with Cowley are very well-played.

An excellent episode (if a little bit slow-moving at times), this is definitely one of my faves.

"Let's get outta this lousy city!"

It's also a great Lad-watching episode. Both look terrific and the "gay" role they have to play in the second part makes it even more fun. The irony of Stephen "The Crying Game" Rea as a man who says: "I'm not a homosexual myself, but many of my friends are" is too precious!

We get some personal background on Doyle. He's from Derby, but went to school elsewhere (wherever "the lousy town" is) and was precocious sexually. "Whatd'ya mean 'first time?' I was nearly fifteen!". And he snuck into adult films using his father's overcoat. Naughty laddie.

Bodie wears black or dark brown much of the time and Doyle, with sunglasses, chest hair, silver chain, tight jeans and leather jacket, doesn't get much better ever!

The car park scene shot with the night filter is visually bothersome, but it does make both heroes look marvelous.

Note that Bodie hauls the heavy luggage, lumbering along in Doyle's wake. This is an ongoing theme we'll see over and over. There is speculation that this became an inside joke between the two of them.

The campy acting and dialogue when they check into the hotel for the second time is delightful. A frequent rewind and replay moment. Watch Ray closely when he gives his little "fractured eyelash is so much better" speech.

Watch how they know one another's physical positions when they're unloading the car. Teamwork, no matter what the task.

Bodie's (Lewis's) skin in this one is on gorgeous display. The first time I saw the episode in PAL I went wild over the pearlescent glow. No one has skin like that man! And of course, during the aborted whipping scene, we get to see more of it than usual. A very big round of applause to the writers for that bit of pleasure! That scene is well done by both actors, though the baddies are a bit boring. Would have liked a little more nastiness, but I suppose once they saw the CI5 IDs they knew they were done for.

Notice that Bodie uses Ray's first name when he spots the cops closing in on them. This happens often when things are really worrisome. Otherwise he calls him Doyle.

Doyle's trust in police as a whole is put to the test in this story and he emerges triumphant. Nice, understated byplay between them on this issue starting from the first encounter when Bodie declares that he doesn't like arrogant coppers. When Doyle dictates they surrender, Bodie's behavior and expression show just how fond of the notion he is but he does it because Doyle thinks they should.

And observe the fury in Doyle's face when Bodie is struck.

A good story of right-mindedness gone wrong.

At the start of the episode Cowley leaves a Whitehall MOD building and is followed by Pellin's car as he walks along Whitehall Court and then Horse Guards Avenue.

Cowley’s flat is actually in Hurlingham Court, Ranelagh Gardens, Putney, SW6. He uses the Ranelagh Gardens entrance. This block appears again in Backtrack.(Many thanks to Stephen Carter for info and pic.)

Cowley is summoned to the minister's office which was the Tower Theatre, Canonbury Place, Islington though redevelopment in the intervening years renders this site unrecognisable today.

The "lousy city" appears to have been Kensal Town (apologies to anybody reading this who lives there!), though parts of Sherpherd's Bush were also used...

The Gay Youth Offices are in Kensal Road, though the building seems to have gone now.

The lads shoot their photos on the corner of Middle Row and Kensal Road.

They scarper with the bag of evidence along Adelia Street, into Kensal Road and then on to West Row. The blue and white police cars give chase along Middle Row and West Row respectively.

The shopping centre is in Shepherd's Bush Green, though barely recognisable today.

Inspector Chives' office was a building along North Pole Road, North Kensington.

Doyle is pulled up along Watling Avenue in Burnt Oak (Thanks to Bryn Dyer).

The Edgwarebury Hotel, Barnet Lane, Elstree served as Green's home. (Thanks to Tony Mackay).

On arriving arrive in the hotel room, Doyle opens his attache case, takes off his shoulder holster, removes the gun, puts it down and puts the holster on top of it. A moment later he picks up the (empty) holster and again takes the gun out to put it in the case! (Thanks to Sue Law)

When the lads are stopped for speeding, they pull up outside some houses. When they drive off again they are outside some shops instead! Thanks to Sue Beach for that one!

There's another "scene-shifting" flaw when the lads are giving the small-time villain a lift.

Stephen Rea (Pellin) is best remembered for the oddball IRA thriller The Crying Game. (Apparently he was once actually married to a former IRA terrorist).

Tom Georgeson (Detective Sergeant Reed) also starred in the episode 'Need to Know' but is best remembered for Boys from the Blackstuff and Between the Lines.

Colin McCormack (Sergeant Edwards) had a tiny role in 'The Ojuka Situation', again paying a copper!