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 2)
Go for It (Episode 1)
Writer: Richard O'Keefe
Air date: 1988-01-08
Runtime: 50 min
Overview: It's Dorset wedding bells for Keith Chitty and best man Gerry O'Dowd decides to enter into the swing of things. Gerry's taking no chances and neither is Sgt. Rockliffe. When their paths cross back in town they both get more than they bargained for.
A Trip to the Zoo (Episode 2)
Writer: Richard O'Keefe
Air date: 1988-01-15
Runtime: 50 min
Overview: Members of Rockliffe's crime squad make hasty character assessments. Wayne is an animal, Chris is a charmer. Both judgments have to be revised on closer inspection.
In Too Deep (Episode 3)
Writer: Don Webb
Air date: 1988-01-22
Runtime: 50 min
Overview: Why are the officers of Church Street police station tuning in to a local radio station? And why does Rockliffe allow himself to be involved in a situation which causes so much disapproval from on high?
Looking After Your Own (Episode 4)
Writer: Brian Thompson
Air date: 1988-01-29
Runtime: 50 min
Overview: It is not a crime to photograph police activity, but when it happens during an investigation into serious assaults on women Sgt. Rockliffe is suspicious. What he discovers puts him into the most disagreeable situation of his career.
Easy Meat (Episode 5)
Writer: Don Webb
Air date: 1988-02-12
Runtime: 50 min
Overview: Rockliffe's team is in hospital. They are watching for someone who is frightening the nurses. But when a nurse is hurt in their full view, they realise they have a different and more urgent situation on their hands.
A Very Diplomatic Incident (Episode 6)
Writer: Terry Hodgkinson
Air date: 1988-02-19
Runtime: 50 min
Overview: It is a night of routine surveillance for the Crime Squad. All is quiet, but not for long. Sgt. Rockliffe and his team soon find themselves in areas of enquiry that are foreign to them and where there are choices to be made between public justice and private revenge.
Top Man (Episode 7)
Writer: Nick Perry
Air date: 1988-02-26
Runtime: 50 min
Overview: Acting on information received seems more important to Rockliffe than taking notice of a memo from the Chief Superintendent. Embarrassment results. Except for Georgiou, who volunteers for a very risky adventure.
Black Arrow (Episode 8)
Writer: Don Webb
Air date: 1988-03-04
Runtime: 50 min
Overview: The two married members of Rockliffe's team have a dinner engagement, but the demands of duty put paid to their plans. An entirely different night out on the town is arranged for them - spiced with an element of risk.
Hearts and Flowers (Episode 9)
Writer: Richard O'Keefe
Air date: 1988-03-11
Runtime: 50 min
Overview: Rockliffe thinks WPC Walsh is too preoccupied with the problems of a homeless family. But he is not entirely impartial himself when it comes to associating with an attractive titled woman who seems to be unattached.
The One That Got Away (Episode 10)
Writer: Richard O'Keefe
Air date: 1988-03-18
Runtime: 50 min
Overview: Before Rockliffe and his team can start to look for three villains who got away they must find out who they were. It's a challenge that exercises all their ingenuity and certain members of the team have other things on their minds: three of them have selection boards for the Detective Training School.
Seasons
Episodes 8
Episodes 10