Rockliffe's Babies is a British television police procedural devised by Richard O'Keefe, and starring Ian Hogg as maverick Detective Sergeant Alan Rockliffe, who is assigned to train seven young recruits to the CID, all fresh out of uniform. Under his irascible guidance, it is hoped that they will blossom into full-blown detectives. But Rockliffe is human – so human that he makes more mistakes than the 'Babies' he's supposed to be training. A follow-up series, Rockliffe's Folly, follows Rockliffe through his relocation to Wessex, dealing with rural crimes as part of a new team of investigators. The seven episode third series proved to be the last, with many citing a change in the programme's formula for the heavy ratings decline. Many viewers stated that the success of the two Babies series came not from Rockliffe himself, but from the popular ensemble cast.
Rockliffe's Babies (Season 1)
Sirens (Episode 1)
Writer: Richard O'Keefe
Air date: 1987-01-09
Runtime: 50 min
Overview: A hooded prowler, an armed robbery, a mugging on the notorious Dragon Estate - it's a busy week for the young PCs. But O'Dowd is in dead trouble. Will the oil-rich Sonia Souhami come to his rescue?
Sweet and Sour Revenge (Episode 2)
Writer: Richard O'Keefe
Air date: 1987-01-16
Runtime: 50 min
Overview: A murder has been committed and Rockliffe has been given the name of a suspect. The name revives old and bitter memories. But is it fifteen years too late to do any good?
It's All Happening (Episode 3)
Writer: Charlie Humphreys
Air date: 1987-01-23
Runtime: 50 min
Overview: Rockliffe complains about the work load. There are drug dealers, rapists, muggers, murderers, thieves and con-men around. What can turn up next? Joseph Maxwell, that's what.
A Bad Few Days (Episode 4)
Writer: Brian Thompson
Air date: 1987-01-30
Runtime: 50 min
Overview: ""This bloke's son is thirteen, has an assessed age of six, goes eleven stone on the scales and is a friend to every stranger he meets. What do you want me to do? Let him find his own way home in the cause of race relations?""
In the Bag (Episode 5)
Writer: Don Webb
Air date: 1987-02-06
Runtime: 50 min
Overview: Why has the habitually lazy Paul Georgiou activated himself and acquired an informant?
Ghetto-Blasters (Episode 6)
Writer: Richard O'Keefe
Air date: 1987-02-13
Runtime: 50 min
Overview: There's a tense situation in the black community. A man has died in police custody as a result of using a deadly drug. Rockliffe and Flight think they know who the dealer is, but if they act will there be worse trouble?
Up the Down Escalator (Episode 7)
Writer: Nick Perry
Air date: 1987-02-20
Runtime: 50 min
Overview: What arises for Rockliffe and the crime squad as a result of hunger pains?
Extra-curricular (Episode 8)
Writer: Don Webb
Air date: 1987-02-27
Runtime: 50 min
Overview: Rockliffe is surprised to learn that some members of his squad find him unapproachable. Doesn't he always come to their aid when they need him? And that's just what he has to do when Adams goes out on a limb.
Seasons
Episodes 8
Episodes 10