Star of ’80s British crime drama reveals how he landed lead detective role

Michael Brandon shares his memories about getting the part in the series, “Dempsey and Makepeace“, confessing that neither he nor the producers knew how many seasons it would last.

In the 1980s, Brandon acted alongside his current spouse, Glynis Barber, in a crime drama set in New York. The series portrayed their characters, James Dempsey (played by Brandon) – a street-smart New Yorker – and Harriet Makepeace (portrayed by Barber), a refined British aristocrat, who were both employed by the London Metropolitan Police.

Over the course of three seasons and 30 episodes spanning from 1985 to 1986, the series ultimately came to an end when ITV decided to terminate it. However, on the Suddenly Single podcast, Brandon confessed that the run was longer than initially intended.

He reminisced about the event, stating that approximately 20 million viewers tuned in to watch. We weren’t sure how long it would last. Initially, I agreed to participate for 11 episodes. However, there was a second season, and this led to a bond with Barber.

As a gamer, I’d put it like this: “Many spectators saw the development of this bond. If you rewind and take a look, it’s quite apparent. I tried to share it with my son, but he didn’t seem to care. ‘That was how I met your mom,’ I told him, hoping to spark some interest!

Brandon, who now has minor parts in “Doctor Who” and “Death in Paradise,” additionally disclosed that he landed the role of Dempsey in an unusual manner. This was due to him proposing adjustments to the character’s backstory.

He mentioned that he was given a script to read, but his agent advised against it, saying, “That one wasn’t meant for you – they aren’t interested in seeing you.” However, his agent managed to arrange a meeting for him. As he stood in the doorway, two men were preparing to leave. He asked, “Are you under the impression that I don’t fit this character?

They were searching for a Californian millionaire named James Dempsey III, and I suggested that making him a New York City detective who rose from the streets might make the story more compelling instead.

The actor explained, “I departed, but they phoned from the airport. They informed me that they had altered their flight and desired to return to record my words. The remainder, I suppose you could say, became history.

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2025-06-17 08:49