Rough, tough and politically incorrect in the way that only the best 70's dramas can be, Regan was a pilot film for The Sweeney - one of the major television successes of the last fifty years. Featuring John Thaw as the irascible Detective Inspector Regan and Dennis Waterman as his loyal 'oppo' Detective Sergeant Carter, Regan was an immediate critical and ratings hit, resulting in four series of The Sweeney and two successful feature films. Jack Regan is a good copper, but his tough, intuitive style is becoming unfashionable in a Scotland Yard seeking a new image. When a policeman is mysteriously murdered, Regan breaks all the rules to find the killer - but he finds there are men in the Flying Squad prepared to break him.

The plot is set on a group of bank robbers, who are both violent and successful, strangely getting away each time with an amount around the £60,000 mark, and often leaving behind cash in excess of this sum. The robbers are willing to kill their own team, to get away. As Jack Regan himself puts it after the first raid in the film: "I've never seen so many dead people". Armed with gold-plated Purdey shotguns, they evaded Regan and the Flying Squad for quite some time, before Regan finds encouragement from his Detective Chief Superintendent who was sent down for corruption because Jack wouldn't testify in court for him.

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This is the incredible true story of John McVicar - a man who took on the entire prison system and refused to surrender. Roger Daltrey gives a powerful performance as McVicar in a film that is shocking, brutal and full of gritty violent realism. The film strongly depicts the brutal aspects of British prison life and follows McVicar into his eventual rehabilitation.

Richard Sharpe is a scrappy Sergeant with the second Battalion of the 95th Rifles. After bravely saving the life of the Sir Arthur Wellesley (the future Duke of Wellington), Sharpe is rewarded with a field commission, making him a lieutenant. In command of the 95th Rifles under Captain Murray, Sharpe soon finds that they are an undisciplined bunch. Neither Murray nor the men of the Rifles are prepared to accept Sharpe's command, because ‘proper’ officers are not raised from the ranks. His first mission is to go behind enemy lines to locate James Rothschild, an agent missing in Casa Antiga, with badly-needed funds for the British army. Sharpe has his first encounter with Commandante Teresa and Major Don Blas Vivar, on watch in the hills when Sharpe’s company is attacked. All except Sharpe and a small band of Chosen Men are killed. Sharpe continues with the mission he has been given, and Teresa and Blas Vivar agree to go with Sharpe to Casa Antiga if Sharpe will accompany them on their own mission to Torrecastro afterwards. When they find Casa Antiga, it has been attacked by the French under Colonel de l'Eclin, but there is no sign of Rothschild. Left behind are a Methodist couple, Mr. and Mrs. Parker and their daughter Louisa. The family are taken into Sharpe's protection. Sharpe discovers his real mission is to escort one of Spain’s holiest relics, an ancient flag, and he doesn't wish to continue to Torrecastro. But Vivar's request is reinforced by the appearance of Maj. Hogan, Wellington's 'exploring officer'. Sharpe is ordered to hold the town while the relic of St. James is flown to inspire the Spanish to rise up against the French.

Sir Arthur Wellesley takes the army into Spain. In camp, Sharpe and Harper watch the arrival of a new regiment - the South Essex. At its head is Col. Sir Henry Simmerson, accompanied by Simmerson's nephew Lt. Gibbons, Lt. Berry, Maj. Lennox (a veteran of the Indian Campaign), Capt. Leroy (a loyalist American) and Countess Josefina who is under the 'protection' of Lt. Gibbons. The South Essex is a battalion run by incompetents and filled with soldiers that have never been in battle. Wellesley is unimpressed by Simmerson and his regiment, but, as Simmerson is a political animal, he arranges a 'small victory' for him - blowing the bridge at Valdelacasa. Wellesley orders Sgt Richard Sharpe to see that the mission is a success in exchange for a promotion to captain. Simmerson is infuriated to learn that Sharpe is not a gentleman and was raised from the ranks by Wellesley. In revenge, he orders Sharpe to train his men to fire three rounds a minute by nightfall, or they will be flogged as punishment for failure. Sharpe and Harper succeed infuriating Simmerson even more. The following day, Simmerson orders Capt. Lennox to lead the South Essex across the bridge in an attempt to chase away a small French patrol. But the French cavalry appears as the new soldiers cross the bridge. They panic and are cut to pieces by the cavalry. Sharpe and the Chosen Men run to help the stricken unit. In his panic, Simmerson orders the bridge to be blown, leaving Sharpe and his men stranded. The French make off with the Colours, watched by Sharpe and the dying Lennox. Wellesley breaks up what is left of the South Essex and gives command of the Light Company to the newly promoted Captain Sharpe. Simmerson is outraged and threatens to use his influence in London to have Sharpe stripped of his rank. The only thing Sharpe can do to retain his rank is perform an act of outstanding valour. Sharpe vows to save the honour of the regiment by capturing a French Imperial standard: an eagle.

Spain 1812 After the siege of Cuidad Rodrigo, the Dule of Wellington plans to lay siege to Badajoz. Meanwhile, Teresa tells Sharpe he is now the father of their daughter, Antonia, who is in their target city of Badajoz. A new draft arrives from England with Col. Windham and Capt. Rymer. In charge of the men is Sgt. Hakeswill, a murderous figure from Sharpe's past in India. Hakeswill becomes obsessed with Teresa and plans to use her to revenge himself on Sharpe. Sharpe is told that the regiment no longer has a place for him as a captain, but he chooses to stay on as lieutenant and is made Quartermaster. In a bid for promotion he requests permission to lead the Forlorn Hope when the breach at Badajoz is stormed, but he is refused. Sharpe is given the task of guiding Capt. Rymer and the Forlorn Hope to the breach. He watches as they are repulsed leaving many, including Rymer, dead. Against his previous orders, Sharpe takes his Chosen Men to the breach and leads the storming. They are successful. Sharpe frantically looks for Teresa, but Hakeswill gets there first, intent on raping her. After a fight, Hakeswill is injured and flees. Sharpe has reason to be happy, he holds his daughter for the first time and is given command of the Light Company again, together with his captaincy. Burt will his happiness be short lived?

Portugal 1813 French, Portuguese and British deserters have banded together and taken over the village of Adrados. They are led by 'Marshal Pot au Feu' and Sharpe's old enemy, Obadiah Hakeswill, and they have two English women as hostages. Sarah Dubreton, wife of a French officer and Lady Isabella Farthingdale, the Portuguese wife of Sir Augustus Farthingdale. In Wellington's camp, Sharpe is putting Lt. Gilliland and his rocketeers through their paces. Sir Augustus Farthingdale arrives with the ransom for his wife but is appalled at the idea of Sharpe, raised from the ranks, taking it. Teresa escorts Sharpe and Harper part of the way to Adrados. When they get to the village, they spot two Frenchmen and assume they are deserters. They soon realise it is Sarah Dubreton's husband and his sergeant on the same rescue mission. The four men finally get to see the hostages, but Hakeswill has increased the ransom, giving Sharpe five days to come up with the extra money or the women will be raped. Dubreton tells Sharpe that Maj. Ducos, Napoleons spy master, has forbidden any extra payment. Sharpe decides to mount a rescue. Hakeswill escapes to wreak his revenge on Teresa. He is captured by Dubreton and handed over to the British to face justice. Nairn receives information that the French intend to invade Portugal from Adrados and decides to thwart the plan. Sharpe is promoted to Major and given command of the 60th Rifles in order to secure the safety of the women and prevent the French from taking the town.

Spain, Summer 1813 After a campaign battle, Sharpe discovers that a group of soldiers led by Sgt. Rodd are deserting. The provosts arrive too late to catch them, but arrest one of Sharpe's men for stealing a chicken. A relative of Wellington's arrives in camp, Mrs Bess Nugent and her daughter, Ellie, trying to find Mr Nugent who has become lost in Spain while searching for a hoard of Aztec gold, supposed to be buried in the hills. Wellington refuses to mount a search and orders the women home. Wellington is short of men, and agrees to exchange 52 British deserters, captured by the Spanish partisan El Casco, for Baker rifles. Sharpe is ordered to manage the exchange. On the journey, Sharpe and his men realise they are being followed. It is Bess and Ellie Nugent. The exchange takes place. One of the deserters is smoking Nugent's pipe. Unable to persuade Sharpe to continue the search, Bess and Ellie go alone. Sharpe cannot stop them, so he sends the provosts back with the deserters and he and his men go after Bess and Ellie. Bess and Ellie are ambushed by guerrillas, Bess is killed and Ellie is carried off into the mountains. Whilst in captivity, she sees her father who is also a prisoner, but he has lost his mind. Sharpe is left with no choice but to mount a rescue in the caves where Ellie and her father are held.

Pyrennees, September 1813 Lost in the Spanish hills, Sharpe's men come across the attacked remains of an English wagon train and then the sacked village of Casa Antiga. They find out that both were attacked by the Wolf Brigade, named after their commander, Brig. Gen. Guy Loup. Meanwhile, Wellington has been given the Royal Irish Company, led by their colonel, Lord Kiely, the palace guard of King Ferdinand VII of Spain. They are raw troops and of little use, so Wellington posts them next to the French lines and tasks Sharpe with knocking them into shape. He believes they will desert, and the sooner the better. Sharpe starts to teach them how to fight, and sure enough, the desertion starts. Intent on retrieving some ammunition captured by Loup from the wagon train, Sharpe and Kiely go to the town where Loup is based. They are attacked, losing many men. They also find the bodies of their deserters that have been butchered by Loup. Lord Kiely invites Sharpe to dinner. Also at the table are Kiely's wife and a Spanish partisan, Dona Juanita, who is Kiely's lover. After the dinner, Lady Kiely begs Sharpe to persuade her husband to end the affair. Loup attacks at night and a fearsome battle ensues. The Irish Company fights him off, and Sharpe wants to follow through with a counter-attack. Lady Kiely reveals to her husband that she is pregnant and he sends her home to safety. Instead, she is captured by Loup. Sharpe attacks Loup's town, but they ready for him. He has been betrayed.

Franco-Spanish Border, 1813 A carriage travelling through the countryside is ambushed by the French. Only a young nun escapes with her life, struck dumb with shock. Later, the same French company is attacked by the British. The French colonel shoots his captain and disguises himself in the captain's coat, claiming he is Capt. Dumas. Sharpe is suspicious, the man claims to trade in horses, but carries the best sword ever made - a Kliegenthal. He is also carrying papers covered in figures, which he says are bills, but could just as easily be codes. Col. Berkeley of the South Essex arrives and accepts Dumas' parole through an interpreter, Capt. Lord Jack Spears. The young nun gives herself up to Sharpe's protection. Unable to speak, she is given to Ramona to care for and given the name 'Lass'. Sharpe is told that a French colonel, Leroux, had been sent to capture a British agent, known only as El Mirador, whose identity is unknown. Sharpe is convinced that the captured captain is Col. Leroux, but he remains on parole instead of under guard. Sharpe is also convinced that the scraps of paper are a code and that the key lies somewhere in Voltaire's Candide, a copy of which was found when Dumas was captured. At Villafranca, Sharpe is re-united with his old adversary Sir Henry Simmerson. When Simmerson states the nearby French fort is no threat, a cannon is fired and Dumas escapes, proving he is Leroux after all. In the town, Sharpe meets Father Curtis who runs the hospital. When the fort is stormed, Sharpe is terribly wounded, Lass and Ramona refuse to give up and nurse him towards recovery. Meanwhile, Harris works hard in the library cracking the Voltaire code and Harper forges a new sword for Sharpe. If Sharpe recovers, there will be a spy to be found and a French agent to dispatch.

Sharpe is horrified to be told that his regiment,the South Essex,is to be disbanded and discovers a plot whereby corrupt war minister Fenner and other high ranking militarists auction off soldiers privately,keeping the profits but still claiming on paper that the regiments exist. Having gained the ear of the eccentric Prince of Wales who orders Fenner to give him a new regiment Sharpe is now in danger from Fenner and he and Harper survive an attempt to kill them. Putting it about that they are dead they enlist,using assumed names,in the South Essex,falling foul of vicious Sergeant Lynch and paranoid Colonel Girdwood who abuse the naive young recruits. After Harper is ordered to be shot he and Sharpe escape,helped by Jane Gibbons,whose sadistic,corrupt uncle Simmerson,who also benefits by the auction scam,intends to marry her to Girdwood. Jane knows that her uncle keeps a ledger containing all the illegal transactions,which Sharpe must obtain to bring down the miscreants.

Winter 1813 A pro-Bourbon Noble, the Compte de Maquerre is in Wellington's camp, arguing that Bordeaux is ripe for rebellion, but Maj. Gen. Ross is dubious. He suggests using the Compte's castle, 60 miles behind enemy lines, as a base. Maquerre is reluctant, saying his mother and sister had turned it over to Napoleon, so it must be captured. Col. Horace Bampfylde is to lead the attack, with Sharpe in support. There is sickness in the camp and Maj. Gen. Ross and Sharpe's new wife, Jane, succumb to it. The only cure is quinine which is in short supply. When they reach the castle, Col. Bampylde wants the glory, he sends Sharpe, Capt. Frederickson and the Rifles scouting, so he can take the castle alone. He fails in his mission, but gains heavy casualties. Sharpe sees what is happening from afar. He infiltrates the camp and forces the French to surrender. Bampfylde returns to the castle and sends Sharpe and his men away. Maquerre returns with the mayor. They tell Bampfylde that the region has changed sides, Gen. Calvet is on his way and Sharpe is dead. Bampfylde is persuaded that he has accomplished his mission and returns to tell Wellington. Sharpe and his men ambush a French convoy and capture a small supply of quinine. He also finds out that the region is far from ready to rise against Napoleon, and concludes that Maquerre is a double agent. When he returns to the castle, he finds it deserted except for the wounded, along with Maquerre's sister and sick mother. Gen. Calvet is heading towards the castle, and Sharpe and his men are desperately short of ammunition.

Toulouse - April 1814 In the French camp, Ducos watches as Napoleon's fortune is loaded on a cart. If Toulouse falls, the treasure will be removed before the British, or the Bourbons, can steal it. Sharpe writes a note giving Jane power of attorney over his money. She makes him promise this will be his last battle and that he will then return to England with her. On the battlefield, Calvet realises he is losing, as the British gain ground, and Ducos is ordered away with Napoleon's treasure. In the British camp, the officers celebrate their success with a dinner at which one of them, Col. Wigram, insults Sharpe. A duel is arranged with Capt. Frederickson acting as Sharpe's second. Ducos tests the loyalty of the men escorting the treasure by asking if they would consider stealing it. One officer, Maillot, declines and Ducos orders him back to his home in Normandy. In the British camp, Jane's friend, Molly Spindacre, tells Jane that Sharpe has challenged her 'protector', Col. Wigram, to a duel and broken his word to Jane. After finding out that Jane has power over Sharpe's money, she persuades Jane to return to punish Sharpe. Once there, they obtain all the money and start spending it. When it is discovered that Napoleon's treasure has been stolen, the French suspect Sharpe and he is arrested in his quarters. During his court martial, it is requested that Maillot give evidence. Ducos finds this out and has to prevent Maillot from accusing him, so he arranges his murder and has Sharpe set up. Then he sets sail to safety in Naples. In London, Jane is informed of Sharpe's arrest by Lord John Rossendale. She faints into his arms, and he falls for her 'charms'. Sharpe escapes from custody and makes for Normandy to find Maillot. Before he can reach Normandy, Maillot is killed and Sharpe is the suspect, getting shot by Maillot's sister, Lucille. When Frederickson, who accompanied Sharpe, explains what has happened, Lucille helps to nurse Sharpe back to health. In London, Jane has fallen for Rossendale and they are lovers. Harper sees them together and returns to France. Frederickson tries to track down Ducos and discovers Gen. Calvet on the same mission. They believe their man has gone to Naples, and once they have collected Sharpe and Harper, they agree to join forces to recover the treasure.

England, Summer 1814 The war is over, Napoleon is in exile on Elba, and Sharpe returns to England. He accepts a posting to Scarsdale, Yorkshire, the town where he grew up, to head the private militia raised by Sir Willoughby Parfitt, a self-made man. He is to protect Parfitt's mills from a 'rebellious' population. At the centre of the trouble is a man called Matt Truman, who Sharpe grew up with. In London, Jane is finding life as a mistress difficult. She is shunned by society, including Lady Anne Carmoynes (once a mistress herself). In Yorkshire, Sharpe and Harper are met by the local yeomanry and their commander, Capt. Wickham. On their way to Parfitt's home, Sharpe and Harper realise they are being followed. Sharpe shoots one pursuer and corners the other whom he recognises as Matt Truman. Parfitt blames Truman for the local unrest. At dinner, that evening, another mill owner, Sir Percy Stanwyck, is present. Stanwyck is soon to take delivery of a steam engine, something that will give Parfitt competition. Stanwyck has heard of Sharpe from his son, who died shortly after Talavera. Also in Scarsdale is Dan Hagman, out of the army and looking for work. He joins Truman. Rossendale and Jane are also there to view a property that Rossendale has inherited. Part of Sharpe's job is to break up illegal meetings. When they are informed of one, Sharpe tells Wickham to arrest Truman without loss of life. Wickham disobeys, Truman escapes, but there is a massacre. Sharpe and Harper are appalled, even Hagman turns away from them. Later Sharpe believes there is a plot to put Stanwyck out of business and he and Harper thwart it. After an unpleasant meeting with Jane, Harper returns to Ireland but where can Sharpe find justice?

Sean Bean is back as the swashbuckling hero in Sharpe's Challenge, an action packed mini-series to be shot on location in Rajasthan, India. Two years after the Duke of Wellington crushes Napoleon at Waterloo, dispatches from India tell of a local Maharaja, Khande Rao, who is threatening British interests there. Wellington sends Sharpe to investigate on what turns out to be his most dangerous mission to date. When a beautiful general's daughter is kidnapped by the Indian warlord, the tension mounts, leaving Sharpe no option but to pursue the enemy right into its deadly lair. Deep in the heart of enemy territory he also has to keep at bay the beautiful but scheming Regent, Madhuvanthi, who is out to seduce him. The fate of an Empire and the life of a General's daughter lie in one man's hands...

The Official Film of the 1982 FIFA World Cup. Brazil was expected to beat Italy with ease in a group decider, but did not count on Paolo Rossi wrecking their plans with two great opportunist goals, enabling Italy to win a classic game 3-2. The Italians eventually went on to win the tournament with a 3-1 victory over a West German side.

Spain 1813 Aided by Ducos, Napoleon is considering a plan. All it will take is one death and one imprisonment, and Britain will leave Spain. The Spanish nobility, generals and church will have to be in agreement and bring pressure on the deposed King of Spain to sign a treaty with France. In a French garrison in Spain, Ducos has impounded the carriages of La Marquesa Helene Mendora. La Marquesa is half-English, half-French and married to a Spanish General. She is also a French spy. Ducos promises the return of her carriages if she writes to her husband saying Richard Sharpe has forced his attentions on her. When the Marques receives the letter he is furious and demands an apology or a duel. Sharpe refuses to apologise as he says he doesn't know the Marquesa, and the duel is arranged. Duels are forbidden in Wellingtons army and when discovered, it is passed off as 'sword practice'. The same night the Marques is murdered in his bed, and the Spanish, believing Sharpe is responsible, demand retribution. Wellington has no choice and a court marshal takes place. Sharpe is found guilty and sentenced to hang. Wellington, however, does not plan to lose Sharpe. La Marquesa and her carriages are ambushed, the carriages taken and La Marquesa is put into a convent. Maj. Nairn takes Harper out of the camp and reunites him with Sharpe. Left with having to prove his honour, Sharpe and Harper are tasked with rescuing La Marquesa, so the British can discover the enemy’s next move.

France 1815 When Napoleon escapes from Elba, Sharpe is settled in Normandy with Lucille, but his sense of duty recalls him to the army, and he is promoted to Lt. Col. in the 5th (Belgian) Light Dragoons, under the command of William, Prince of Orange. Sharpe and Lucille head for Brussels where the Duke of Wellington is based, with Lord John Rossendale and Jane Sharpe nearby in the city. Out on reconnaisance, Sharpe sees a mass of French soldiers. He and the Prince's chief of staff, Rebecque, try to discover if it is a feint prior to Napoleon attacking Mons. Sharpe believes the French are heading to Quatre Bras, to split the Allied and Prussian forces. With French forces gathering, Sharpe knows he must tell Wellington and interrupts him at the Duchess of Richmond's ball. After delivering his message, Sharpe heads for the front, rejoined by Sgt. Harper (retired) and riflemen Hagman. After the battle at Quatre Bras, Sharpe and Harper are given their post, the farm at La Haie Sainte. Woefully undefended, the men there repulse attacks from the French in bloody combat. The Prince of Orange has made mistakes, ending in the senseless loss of life of good soldiers. Eventually, Sharpe has had enough of this. Not only must Sharpe deal with incompetent orders from the Prince of Orange, that lead to slaughter, he confronts his wife's lover, Lord Rossendale, in the midst of battle. The film climaxes as Wellington's small army 'holds the line' against Napoleon's veteran Imperial Guard.