The Governor	King and Castle	The Chinese Detective	Law and Order

The Governor (1997-1998) - Gary Marshall
In this hard hitting series portraying the effects of prison life for both prisoners and the officers Derek played the part of Gary Marshall. The series highlighted the conflicts between prison staff and prisoners and also the affect a female governess had in this male dominated world.

What was this series like to make ?
" I made this series in Dublin, Eire and enjoyed working with the great actress Janet McTeer."
What was your favorite episode ?
"My favorite episode was the first episode of the second series. In which a close friend and colleague (Ron Donachie) is taken hostage by a prisoner (Gerard Murphy). The officer is threatened with death while I as Gary had to try and coax the prisoner into releasing the officer unharmed. It was a harrowing episode whose plot had repercussions for all concerned during the second series."
What was your fondest memory of the series ?
"I made many friends during the production and still keep in contact with many of them on a regular basis."
And your saddest ?
"Both myself and the other actors were very dissapointed and sad that the series didn't continue"

King and Castle(1988-1989) - Ronald King
This Drama/Comedy series written by Ian Kennedy Martin was about a corrupt ex-policemen who turns debt collector, his partner played by Nigel Planer (The Young Ones). This series also ran for two years.

What was this series like to make ?
"I made this series in and around London. We had many leading actors in as guest stars for each episode which was frankly a real honour"
What was your favorite episode ?
"I enjoyed each and every episode. Trying to find a favorite among them would be almost impossible. Although in just about each episode I was getting into scrapes, including being thrown from a bridge and out of a two storey house, having cars set on fire, being beaten up. In one episode I even had the difficult task of trying to knock out ex Middleweight Champion Terry Downes, but as he reminded me it was only make believe."
What was your fondest memory of the series ?
"This series was great fun to make and a milestone in my career. This was largely because the part of Ronald Oscar King was written with me in mind by Ian Kennedy Martin. Friends were made and kept."
And your saddest ?
"My saddest was the fact that the series had to end. This was because 'The Bill' had started production. Still I don't have sour grapes over it and have even been employed by 'The Bill' many times."

The Chinese Detective (1981-1982) - D.C.I. Berwick
In this series which higlighted the controversial issue of racism in the police Derek protrayed the racist Detective Chief Inspector Berwick. One of Berwicks officers (D/S Ho) was chinese and whose use of unorthadox methods but ability to gain results was much to the annoyance of Berwick.

What was this series like to make ?
"This was made in and around one of my old haunts - East London. So I'd often see many friends from days gone by."
What was your fondest memory of the series ?
"David Yip and myself became good friends during the series, this friendship continues to this day."
And your saddest ?
"I was frequently attacked by old ladies in supermarkets who believed me to actually be Berwick."

Law and Order (1977) - Fred Pyle
A highly controversial series which for the first time showed the corrupt side of the police to the population. This was a series of four films. 'A Detectives Tale' 'A Villains Tale' 'A Briefs Tale' and 'A Prisoners Tale'. Shot in a documentary style format while using actors who were then largely unknown. It caused great concern among the public with the BBC's switchboard being jammed due to complaints about showing a corrupt policeman, whose acts included taking Bribes and 'Fitting Up' innocent men.

What was this series like to make ?
"It was shot on location around London. This series really started off my career. I did not know just how big the part I had was until we had finished filming because scripts were always delivered the morning of the shoot. I only discovered I had the lead when it was shown to an invited audience. Because of this last minute changes in dialogue have never fazed me."
What was your fondest memory of the series ?
"The strangest thing about Law and Order is that has never left me. Not a week goes by without someone approaching me in the street. Calls me by the characters name and talks about the series"
And your saddest ?
"Due to the controversy it recieved the series has never been repeated."