The Chinese Detective

The Chinese Detective
This is the main title caption that was seen throughout the series.
Created by	Ian Kennedy Martin
Starring	David Yip Derek Martin Robert Lee
Country of origin	United Kingdom
No. of series	2
No. of episodes	14
Production
Running time	1 Hour
Release
Original network	BBC1
Original release	30 April 1981 – 5 November 1982

The Chinese Detective is a British television series, transmitted by the BBC between 1981 and 1982 and created by Ian Kennedy Martin, who had previously devised The Sweeney and Juliet Bravo.

The series starred British Chinese actor David Yip as Detective Sergeant John Ho, and offered traditional police procedural storylines in a setting of occasional prejudice and distrust within the police force, and the prejudice displayed by those Ho encounters whilst doing his job. Like many other TV detectives, Ho was something of a maverick, often using unorthodox methods to solve crimes.

Ho's immediate superior in the police force was Det. Insp. Berwick (Derek Martin) and he was also often seen visiting his father Joe (Robert Lee) at his restaurant for advice. The series was set in and around London's docklands before redevelopment began in the 1980s.

Like many British TV detectives of the 1980s TV era, DS Ho drove a 'classic' car - in his case a Morris Minor Traveller.

Both series were released on DVD 14 April 2008.

Cast

• David Yip as Detective Sergeant John Ho
• Robert Lee as Joe Ho
• Derek Martin as Detective Inspector Berwick

Episode list

Series 1: 1981

Series 2: 1982

External links

• British Film Institute Screen Online
• The Chinese Detective at BBC Programmes
  
• The Chinese Detective at the Internet Movie Database