Anthony Head Credits

The Detectives

Television guest star appearance (UK)

Series summary: Comedy series about bumbling police detectives, Bob Louis and Dave Briggs.

Role: Simon
Episode: 1.04 - Acting Constables
Original air date: February 17, 1993
Network: BBC
Availability: Currently available on DVD

Summary of Anthony Head's storyline: The bumbling detectives Bob Louis and Dave Briggs have been assigned as technical advisors on a police show. They interrupt a scene being shot with Simon, the lead actor, to point out a supposed technical error. The director, Derek, angrily points out that the script calls for the error. Simon's character wants the hostage in the scene to be killed because she has been blackmailing him over his secret (male) lover. Derek has a weak heart and this tension results in an episode. His wife, Jane (the show's makeup artist) rushes up to give him his pills. As everyone else leaves, Simon approaches Jane and it is revealed that the two are lovers. He comments that she was only a few moments away from true happiness - and a decent television series.

Louis and Briggs continue to cause problems, eventually talking their way into playing extras in a casino scene. Simon arrives into makeup while Briggs is also in there. Briggs talks about how he is going to ad lib lines and follow the 'rhythm method' of acting. Simon suggests that Jane tell Briggs all about Derek's heart condition, so the police don't think anything suspicious if Derek has another attack. After Briggs leaves, Simon pulls Jane into a passionate kiss and then shows her a bottle of placebos that he will exchange for Derek's pills.

During shooting of the casino scene, Louis and Briggs once again interrupt filming and Derek has another attack. He asks Jane for his jacket and while he is putting it on, Simon comes over to help him. 

Derek goes to his dressing room to take his pills and dies because they have been exchanged for the placebos. Louis and Briggs are called to the scene but the coroner declares it a natural death. Simon and Jane lie and say that they do not know where Derek's pills are. Louis and Briggs show the footage of their casino scene to the rest of the detectives and spot the pills being switched.

On set, the hostage scene from the beginning is being refilmed. But instead of the SWAT team coming though the door, it's Briggs and Louis. Simon yells "Cut", making it clear he has taken over the show. Briggs and Louis let Simon know they have figured it out. He runs off and they pursue him through various TV lots. It ends on the set of a show being hosted by Noel Edmonds. Simon pulls out a gun and holds it on Edmonds. But when he insults Edmonds, Edmonds pushes Simon into a chamber and dumps green glop all over him, saving the day.

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