Sweeney's 50-stretch

"GET your trousers on, you're nicked!" Classic cop show The Sweeney celebrates its 50th birthday today.

- JAMES MOORE

Famous for its car chases, dodgy flares and kipper ties, the ITV series starred John Thaw and Dennis Waterman as straighttalking, hard-drinking detectives in the Met's Flying Squad.

Back in the 1970s it was the coolest thing on the box and still keeps millions entertained today.

Here, JAMES MOORE reveals fifteen arresting facts about the show...

1 The programme's name came from "Sweeney Todd", Cockney rhyming slang for Flying Squad. Sweeney Todd was a fictional murderous barber from 19thCentury tales. The Flying Squad is a real unit tasked with investigating crimes like armed robberies.

2 Inspired by movies like 1971's The French Connection, The Sweeney became known for its grittiness and punch-ups. Morality campaigner Mary Whitehouse complained about its violence.