C.A.T.S. Eyes
Encyclopedia
C.A.T.S. Eyes is a British
television
series made by TVS
for ITV
between 1985 and 1987.
and saw Jill Gascoine
reprise her role as Det. Insp. Maggie Forbes, having left the police force to join a private detective agency called "Eyes" that is actually a front for a Home Office
team called C.A.T.S. (Covert Activities Thames Section).
The team also comprised refined Oxford graduate Pru Standfast (Rosalyn Landor
) and computer expert Frederica "Fred" Smith (Leslie Ash
). Nigel Beaumont (Don Warrington
) was the "man from the ministry" overseeing their activities. For the second series, Pru had left the team and was replaced by Tessa Robinson (Tracy Louise Ward
).
was released as a single in 1985.
The cars in the series were loaned by Ford, and in series 2 and 3 Ford Escort RS Turbos were used (finished in Azure Blue, the only ones produced in that colour).
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
series made by TVS
Television South
Television South was the ITV franchise holder in the south and south east of England between 1 January 1982 and 31 December 1992. The company operated under various names, initially as Television South plc and then following reorganisation in 1989 as TVS Entertainment plc, with its UK...
for ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
between 1985 and 1987.
Premise
The series was a spin-off from The Gentle TouchThe Gentle Touch
The Gentle Touch is a British police drama television series made by London Weekend Television for ITV which ran from 1980-1984. Commencing transmission on 11 April 1980, the series is notable for being the first British series to feature a female police detective as its leading character, ahead of...
and saw Jill Gascoine
Jill Gascoine
Jill Gascoine is a British actress and novelist. She is most widely known for her role as Detective Inspector Maggie Forbes in the 1980s television series The Gentle Touch and its spin-off series C.A.T.S. Eyes...
reprise her role as Det. Insp. Maggie Forbes, having left the police force to join a private detective agency called "Eyes" that is actually a front for a Home Office
Home Office
The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency, and the Security Service . It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs,...
team called C.A.T.S. (Covert Activities Thames Section).
The team also comprised refined Oxford graduate Pru Standfast (Rosalyn Landor
Rosalyn Landor
Rosalyn Landor is an English film, television, and stage actress and audio book narrator.-Early life:Landor was born in London. She began her career at the age of seven, when she appeared in the Hammer Horror film The Devil Rides Out .-Career:In 1970 she appeared with Susannah York in Jane Eyre,...
) and computer expert Frederica "Fred" Smith (Leslie Ash
Leslie Ash
Leslie Ash is an English actress, best known for her role in the sitcom Men Behaving Badly. Her book My Life Behaving Badly: The Autobiography was published in 2007....
). Nigel Beaumont (Don Warrington
Don Warrington
Don Warrington, MBE is a Trinidadian British actor.-Personal life:Warrington was born in Trinidad and Tobago on 23 May 1951 and brought up in Newcastle upon Tyne, England from age five. His father was the Trinidadian politician, Basil Kydd, who died in 1958. He has two sons.His acting career...
) was the "man from the ministry" overseeing their activities. For the second series, Pru had left the team and was replaced by Tessa Robinson (Tracy Louise Ward
Tracy Louise Ward
Tracy Louise Ward, Marchioness of Worcester, frequently referred to as Tracy Worcester is a former actress, now an environmental campaigner.She is a daughter of the Hon...
).
Production and broadcast
C.A.T.S. Eyes was shown on Friday nights in the UK for its first series, before moving to a Saturday night slot for its second and third series. It was a ratings hit in the UK, regularly ranking within the top 20 throughout its run. The theme music from the first series by John KongosJohn Kongos
John Kongos is a singer-songwriter. He is best known for his 1971 Top 10 hit single, "He's Gonna Step On You Again".-Career:...
was released as a single in 1985.
The cars in the series were loaned by Ford, and in series 2 and 3 Ford Escort RS Turbos were used (finished in Azure Blue, the only ones produced in that colour).