Z Cars - 'Pressure' 1978 Final Episode. 

That's how you do the finale to a British TV legend. No histrionics, no tears, no explosions, no deaths of major characters. 16 years, 800+ episodes (plus all the Softly Softly/Barlow spinoffs), and this is how it ends. Stiff upper-lip to the end, the mundanity of a life in the police, a friendly handshake, a quick chat about when you can get your pension, 'safe journey, John', and James Ellis rolling his eyes at the absurdity of it all as the shutter comes down. The only nod to sentiment is the original theme tune. Perfect.

Listening to the original theme song for this show transports me back to the early 1960's as a very young kid, memories of members of my family long past. It's amazing what a song, or a smell or a visual can evoke. Thanks for posting.

I just started watching these and have been enjoying them. I'm really glad that this wasn't the first episode I watched. I might have bailed.

Fantastic! 45 years since I have seen that on its first transmission - end of one of my favourite TV shows as a kid! Amazing how much I remembered, but, of course, didn't remember what an amazing cast - packed with future coppers! - because that was all to come for Alun Armstrong, Philip Jackson and Kevin Lloyd, as were greater things for Del Henney and Tom Georgeson, while Colm Meaney was to have the longest voyages of all - to Deep Space 9! I did feel then and still do now that Gavin Richards was at times a bit over the top - getting ready too soon for Allo Allo perhaps! I do remember thinking the idea of a police station being attacked and needing an armoured shield was very far-fetched - I think it took just 6 years for it to happen, and Gavin Richard's speech predicted the circumstances with some accuracy, because let's not forget what a great writer Troy Kennedy Martin was.

Now it's LBGTXYZ Cars

First 10 minutes a British parade of TV stars..incredible list.

Havent seen this in 40 years thanks for the upload. The BBC cancelled quite a few dramas in the couple of years before Z Cars finished including ironically the spin off Softly Softly and iit was quite surprising it lasted until September 1978 given the fact it probably should have finished 2 maybe three years earlier. Was a lovely touch to bring some original characters back for the finale albeit some of them playing different characters. the final shot could ONLY have been of James Ellis

Back before coppers arrested people for wearing a poppy and a union jack flag 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

It should be appreciated that this is a self-lampooning episode, not intended to be taken too seriously.

Nice of them to bring back the original theme for the final episode/series as a tribute. During it's 1970s run there had been variations of it though the original was always by far the best & as said it's return was welcome.

Brian Blessed played the bearded man who walked into the police station then left at the start of the episode. He is listed as Man in Public in the credits. Brian Blessed was a fine actor. In 1976 he played Augustus Caesar in the BBC series " I, CLAVDIVS ". I suppose he just wanted to be in this last episode of this series.

I remember watching this when I was seven. Had no idea it started in the 1960s

Brilliant writing which captures the general malaise in Britain at the time - and a superb finale.

Last time I saw this was on the original I remembered quite a bit, the lad in the car on the radio, the shutter, and Dad smiling at four familiar faces from the past… Happy days.

I remember watching this show on Saturday evening's with my parents way back in the 1970s , Back in those days the BBC was still worth watching and Saturday night telly was worth the licence fee on it's own today it's not worth a toss ,

I remember watching this final episode on a Saturday night way back in 1978.

Frank Windsor (born July 1928) and Brian Blessed (born October 1936) are the only surviving leading cast members of the original series.

You know, I only found this because I was looking for the youngest image of Colm Meaney and this is one of his first acting credits

wow , all those familiar faces . thanks so much .

Thank you for posting this series

An intesting mixture of 16mm film and OB in the exterior scenes, which were often utilized in the later series of Z Cars. Film was used for action segments which were too difficut to shoot with the OB equipment at the time, or on the odd occasion when OB equipment was unavailable.

Fast forward to twenty five minutes for the unmistakable sound of the Austin maxi.

Bert Lynch isn't much of a copper. He didn't recognise any of the people that he had worked with for years.

Something struck me in the opening scenes: even though the duty sergeant was rather put upon, at least he only had the noise of the teletypewriter and the telephone bell droning on - _real_ sounds...gentle sounds. My whole lifetime ago, this.

25:23 That good old British Leyland hydrolastic suspension doing its job there.

Sometimes the last ever episode of a show being an anti-climax is a good idea as you are left with things being entirely uninteresting which is better than ending on a drama the outcome of which will never be revolved.

Now there's a symbolic ending. All it needed was Frank Windsor turning into a tree.

would love to see more z cars have only found 4 on you tube Thanks for this one

Brian Blessed looks like he's in pain from holding his voice down.

Love the optics of that final scene, a steel door coming down between the police and their community, and the the final curtain on the show

another prediction come true shutter are used on shop fronts not all but some of them in the high street

A shame the great Chief Superintendent Barlow wasn't in it....but I understand Stratford Johns was starring in the musical "Annie" at the time.

Brilliant in so many aspects.

We call this Zee Automobiles in the USA.🤣🤣🤣

One could argue the only time the BBC put the shutters down on a series and filmed it

2:37 Is it me or is Brian Blessed really trying hard not to laugh when he meets James Ellis?!

Always been a big police fan, Z cars probably initiated that, like the early sixties black and white shows, with fancy Smith

Dear Mr AA What time was ZCars on at 1974-75? I was sent to bed at the theme tune and I'm looking to sue my poor mum.

Coppers in the pub having a pint. Brilliant.

This last episode of the long running series about the police force in a fictional town called,,new town was not aired on September, it was aired in Scotland on the 14th of June when I was giving my oath,as a very young police cadet/constable in Pitt street police department, head quarters, and another fact that the program was not seen by most of the United Kingdom and beyond,,,and most people missed the final episode of Z CARS POLICE SERIES, it,whent out on the Tuesday evening in Scotland, and because it was loved by serving police, and the ordinary people in the street, Joe public, so they after public demand, the BBC,,,,HAD TO, REPEAT THE SAME EPISODE AGAIN THE VERY NEXT EVENING, SO THAT IS HOW POPULAR THE PROGRAMME WAS, THE VERY, VERY BEST POLICE SERIES IN THE BBC'S TELEVISION HISTORY, AND NEVER GOES OUT OF DATE YET THE BBC CANNOT EVEN PUT A FEW OF THE BEST EPISODES ON DURING THIS BIRTHDAY, OF THE BRITISH BROADCASTING COMPANY, THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE IT ON THE BBC'S WEBSITE, THAT IS A CRIME ON ITS OWN,,EXCELLENT POLICE SERIES WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN. GARRISON SERGEANT MAJOR MCINALLY

Lynch driving round in an Austin Maxi...after Brexit, disaster cars like that could make a come back in UK!

Yes without doubt The Sweeney was the best 70's cop show!

Hello little boy, I’m a social worker, now you’re in real danger.

Jasus, was that Colm Meaney about 45 mins in?

I remember watching this episode back in 1978 - it's good to see it again after so long. Definitely had fallen behind The Sweeney and the American imports that existed at the time. This show was a bit too tame in comparison and had ran it's course.

My God it's in color.

Why on earth was this episode not released on DVD.I watched Z Cars for many years and wanted to be a policeman because of it.I saw this episode at the time and was heartbroken as I listened to the familiar theme tune and said a sad farewell to Z Cars police drama at its finest Walter Homma Co Durham.

I’m going to bring back Z Cars soon!

This one was the best :)

Thank you 😊

Pressure, Season 13, Episode 13 aired 20 September 1978. Alun Armstrong as Det. Supt. Boley; Brian Blessed, Member of Public; Joseph Brady, Scotsman; Chris Darwin as Charlie; James Ellis as Insp. Bert Lynch; Douglas Fielding as Sgt. Quilley; Tom Georgeson as Jim; John Gordon as Terry; Michael Gordon as Danny; Christine Hargreaves as Maggie; Tony Haygarth as Ferris; Del Henney as Big John; Philip Jackson as Red William; Jeremy Kemp, Vagrant; Kevin Lloyd as Tank Top; Colm Meaney as McGlin; Julie North, Girl at Hostel; Allan O'Keefe as PC Render; John Phillips as Chief Constable Robins; Robert Putt, Bus Driver; Gavin Richards as Major Philpot; Neville Smith as Maguire; Paul Stewart as Sgt. Chubb; Colin Welland, Angry Northerner; Frank Windsor as Det. Chief Supt. John Watt.

Proper coppers, not like the excuses we have now...............................!

The union jack is not necessary here, apart from that, the flag is upside down. Philistine

Funny enough I never saw an episode of this until now

Tony Haygarth Rip had few drinks with him in Sandon Anfield were he was born me brother in laws mate

lol every single person who reports the gas leak is a cameo by the cast of the first episode. They're the original z cars team.

Colm Meaney?! Wow.

The good British bobby. Times before the optional solicitors were introduced. Times when cops beat a confession out of you even though you were innocent.

Hi I heard that Paul usher was in z cars does anyone know what episodes he's in

Do you have any more episodes of Z Cars at all?

Why did Bert Lynch not recognise Fancy Smith - lol!

I only managed to get this episode with timecode at the top of the screen. However it does have the VT Clock at the beginning showing the recording number has /ED/ED a double ED suffix after so at one point there was two early edits of the final episode. I have often wondered if they still exist, however I suspect that they were wiped and this transmission version is the only one that survived.

"Well. what do you think of it?" "It's Colditz!"

Gordon's Alive?

I remember this last episode was considerably criticised at the time, for the weak storyline and the pointless cameos which they did nothing with. Stratford Johns flatly refused to do it. He was appearing on stage in 'Annie' at the time, as Daddy Warbucks, and had his head shaved for the part.

I wish I had been born in 1962 instead of 1969

20th September 1978

Pity the flag's upside down...

So what does the term , " Z Car ", mean in GB?

is that an Austin allagro

Since when was Z cars set in Liverpool???

WHEN MAJOR TRY TO PUT SHUTTER DOWN AND IT DIDN'T WORK DID HE SAY WATTA MISTAKEA TO MAKEA OR SHOUT NO LIKE IN THE GAS LEAK AD

it would have been better if brian blessed, colin welland, jeremy kemp, joseph brady, had come back from cameos as the original characters in the series not different roles. geoffrey whitehead had the unique distinctinon of playing two different characters in both incarnations one of the characters he played desrved him a cameo also and some of the actors who played characters in the second incarnation of z cars. brideing the gap between both eras of the show ron craddock and david e. rose were better producers than roderick graham who i believed to blame for the downfall of z cars because he did too many storylines about firearms and guns being used. or storylines where they were used in the episodes. the regular characters were more in thebackground to the guest characters no balance like before maybe it's me. and what thisproducer lost sight of was viewers do tune in to see the regular characters. the guest characters do found the basis of the storylines in the show. but not to be central stage put it another way you don't have an episode of causuality where charlie make a 5 minute cameo? there were some good episodes in the final series a woman's place z cars could have been ahead of the game by having the first female police officer in male dominated police series steeleye span arrangement of thetheme tune was pants and the final series went back to something that resembled the original arrangement in the 60s. high rise flats in the 60s that were built caused problems years later. startford johns took the character of barlow as far as he could in z cars and softly softly maybe decided not to turn back the clock not even for the one story.

Tom George's on talking on the police radio to the kid?

A stellar cast in this one for sure, but it crawls along like a hearse with a puncture.

the working class poet.....OI OI forever !

the actors include guest stars alun armstrong later of new tricks kelvin lloyd tosh lines in the bill. and colm melaney in star trek ds9 and flims like under siege and the snapper and a stabbing is less than impressive for the finale. too graphic the script editor was graham williams who took over from phillip hinchcliffe as producer in dr who which was criticitsed for violence so it is ironic that even those williams brought more comedy to dr who under baker tenure the same cant be said for his slint as script editor on z cars.

Craig cash singing at begining 😂

WHAT HAPPENS IFTHE REPORT FALLS INTO THE WRONG HANDS? WHATA MISTAKEA TO MAKEA !!!!!!! THEN HE GOES HOME WITH HIS WIFE TO FIND THERES A GAS LEAK IN THEIR HOUSE I,LL PHONE BRITISH GAS!

it's me Twat hat ha ha

He's the Rap master

Hill Street Blues with an English accent.

GORDONS ALIVE!!!

I've always loved English shows better than American! 🤷‍♀️ I apologize if sounds racist, but I'm an an American myself, jus always loved their shows an cartoons better than ours!🤷‍♀️🥳🤗❤😊

This is like an excuse to do one long cigarette commercial on TV back in the day.

Incisive writing/storytelling, editing, acting and characterisation of britain in the 70s. Like Mulberry, Bergerac, The Owl Service, Children of the Stones, The Prisoner, Pennies from Heaven... the basic art of theatrical/novel techniques for a transient medium like TV seems to have been lost now and replaced with ultraviolence and ai-cgi and formulaic structures. It's the connecting of threads - like Seinfeld - in a short, tight story style - that seems to have been lost.

36:53 P.C. Steele's rather come down in the world.

This was not a good episode it was a very weak storyline not up the great episodes we were used too

11:09 Jock Weir in a blond wig! 😄

The cop cars back then. They have changed a bit.

Is it really necessary to have such an intrusive and large logo on the screen. Completely unnecessary and really annoying.

EFC

Alan Partridge is very good.

Herbert Lynch haha!

Your flag is upside down.

reading the comments it seems this program put everyone in a bad mood. I couldn't follow it. several story lines and not tied together. just a jumble.

Strange disjointed episode………

This tired old , once excellent programme was, on the evidence of this, long due to be put out of it's misery.

What on Earth is this rubbish?

Pressure, Season 13, Episode 13, aired 20 September 1978. Alun Armstrong as Det. Supt. Boley; Brian Blessed, Member of Public; Joseph Brady, Scotsman; Chris Darwin as Charlie; James Ellis as Insp. Bert Lynch; Douglas Fielding as Sgt. Quilley; Tom Georgeson as Jim; John Gordon as Terry; Michael Gordon as Danny; Christine Hargreaves as Maggie; Tony Haygarth as Ferris; Del Henney as Big John; Philip Jackson as Red William; Jeremy Kemp, Vagrant; Kevin Lloyd as Tank Top; Colm Meaney as McGlin; Julie North, Girl at Hostel; Allan O'Keefe as PC Render; John Phillips as Chief Constable Robins; Robert Putt, Bus Driver; Gavin Richards as Major Philpot; Neville Smith as Maguire; Paul Stewart as Sgt. Chubb’ Colin Welland, Angry Northerner; Frank Windsor as Det. Chief Supt. John Watt.