Top 10 British Crime Fighting Duos

1. Bodie and Doyle (The Professionals)

The original lads with banter and morals, they’re the crime-fighting duo leaving not very discreet trails of car chases, gunshots and explosions around London in the ‘60s.

They’re just trying to protect us, OK?

2. Regan and Carter (The Sweeney)

They’re The Sweeney, and they haven’t had any dinner. Hungry men make scary men, which means the late John Thaw and Dennis Waterman as Regan and Carter are serious about fighting violent crimes and armed robberies in the ‘70s just so they could have a meal.

3. Rosemary Boxer and Laura Thyme (Rosemary and Thyme)

They both really love gardening. That’s what it boils down to, and it’s what’s brought them together. They don’t want to be catching crooks but if they can do anything to make the countryside that bit safer then by golly they will.

4. Andy Dalziel and Peter Pascoe (Dalziel and Pascoe)

London is well represented when it comes to being looked after, but the regions often get neglected. Alongside their TV neighbours Heartbeart (there’s only so much PC Nick Rowan can do in Aidensfield) these two are representing the north. It’s the classic story of two polar opposites being thrown together to make the world a better place. And they did, for 12 series.

5. Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson (Sherlock Holmes)

Thank you Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Now we can have our pick of Sherlocks and Watsons played out on TV and films over the years, but it’s unlikely heartthrobs Benny Batch and Tim out of The Office who have really made us swoon. They’re really good at solving stuff too.

6. Danger Mouse and Penfold (Danger Mouse)

There’s something for kids too from the patch-wearing secret agent Danger Mouse and his cheap-nylon-suited and be-spectacled hamster assistant Penfold. They’re saving the animal kingdom from monsters and thieves.  And us mortals too.

7. Jonathan Creek and Madeline Magellan (Jonathan Creek)

More ‘how-did-they-do-it’ than ‘whodunnit’, Alan Davies wraps up warm in his duffle coat to play a magician’s consultant and solve crimes with Maddy Magellan in the earlier series. She’s been away in America promoting her crime thriller books for years and Jonathan’s had a flurry of sidekicks ever since. Any Creek Geek will tell you Maddy is the original and the best. It’s time she came home.

8. John Steed and Emma Peel (The Avengers)

John Steed wore a nice suit (hello ladies) and Emma Peel wore a tight catsuit (hello gentlemen). Something for everyone before you’ve even watched it. She was only in the TV show for two series, but was iconic enough to lead in the incredibly boring ‘90s remake. Shame on you Uma Thurman and Ralph Fiennes.

9. Nicholas Angel and PC Danny Butterman (Hot Fuzz)

Second in the ‘Three Flavours Cornetto’ trilogy starring funnyman Simon Pegg and cuddlyman Nick Frost as partners Nicholas Angel and Danny Butterman. You would think moving to the countryside means a quiet life with low crime rates. You’re wrong. Take a look at this and you’ll see it’s actually the place for the perfect murder, or murders in this case. See also: Rosemary and Thyme, Midsomer Murders, Wycliffe.

10. Randall and Hopkirk (Randall and Hopkirk Deseased)

One of them is dead. Absolute genius. The American title was My Partner The Ghost. Again, absolute genius. Vic and Bob are questionable, but it depends how old you were.

Honourable mention:

Morse and Lewis (Inspector Morse)

It’s John Thaw again, this time with Shaun Evans solving murders. There are 33 episodes and each is practically a feature length film. Put some time aside.

Darren Jamieson

Darren has enjoyed an interest in film for many years, studying the subject at Newport Film School where he worked on the film ‘Cop on the Edge IX: Prelude to Justice‘ in a directing and acting capacity. The official site can be enjoyed here. Darren setup WhatDVD.Net in 2003 to further his love of films and to write passionately about the movies he enjoys, and about those that he doesn’t.

Although his day-to-day activities mean that he now has less time to review movies than he would ideally prefer, he still tries to review new releases, and DVDs from his extensive collection, whenever possible.
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