YMMV / Z Cars

• Retroactive Recognition:
  • One of BRIAN BLESSED!!!!!'s first TV roles, and one of the few times he's appeared without his trademark beard.
  • David Jackson (Gan from Blake's 7) had a recurring role as DC Braithwaite from 1972-78, having previously appeared in a number of guest roles.
  • Arthur Lowe (Captain Mainwaring in Dad's Army) appears in the third ever episode "Handle with Care" as Jakey Ramsden.
  • A young woman who's just barely recognisable as Judi Dench appears in the 1963 episode "Made for Each Other".
  • Elisabeth Sladen guest starred in the 1972 episode "Day Trip"^note She had previously appeared in the now-lost episode "Who Were You With" (1971), but of course nobody has since had the chance to retroactively recognise her in it!, which put her in the sights of the Doctor Who production team.
  • Sally Knyvette appeared in the episodes "Say Goodbye to the Horses" (1976) and "Skeletons" (1977), shortly before she found fame as Jenna Stannis from Blake's 7.
  • Three guest roles in the early '60s were played by Angela Douglas, who would later be best known for her roles in the Carry On... Series.
  • Shiela Clowes from "Domestic" is played by Anna Dawson, who would later be best known for playing Violet in Keeping Up Appearances.
  • Sammy Grebb from "Threats and Menaces" and "Sunday Morning" is played by Anthony Booth, who would later be best known for playing Mike Rawlins in Till Death Us Do Part and Sid Noggett in the Confessions of a... Series.
  • Mick Bentley from "You Can't Win 'Em All!: Part 1" is played by Anthony Jackson, who would later be best known for playing Trevor Lewis in Bless This House and Fred Mumford in Rentaghost.
  • A gardener from "I Never Meant to Drop Him: Part 1" is played by Arnold Ridley, who would later be best known for playing Private Godfrey in Dad's Army.
  • Frank Jevons from "Further Enquiries" and Josh Oldroyd from "Checkmate" are played by Arthur Brough, who would later be best known for playing Mr. Grainger in Are You Being Served?.
  • Pet from "Contraband" is played by Barbara New, who would later be best known for playing Mabel Wheeler in You Rang, M'Lord?.
  • Ted Griffin from the "Punch-Up" two-parter is played by Bob Grant, who would later be best known for playing Jack Harper in On the Buses.
  • Three guest roles between 1962 and 1974 were played by Brenda Cowling, who would later be best known for playing Mrs. Lipton in You Rang, M'Lord?.
  • Wallace Brackett from "Friday Night" and "Family Feud" is played by Brian Murphy, who would later be best known for playing George Roper in Man About the House and George & Mildred.
  • Three guest roles from between 1963 and 1965 were played by Brian Wilde, who would later be best known for playing Mr. Barrowclough in Porridge and Foggy Dewhirst in Last of the Summer Wine.
  • A woman from "Down and Out" is played by Carmen Silvera, who would later be best known for playing Edith Artois in 'Allo 'Allo!.
  • Mr. Cowper from "Members Only" is played by Colin Bean, who would later be best known for playing Private Sponge in Dad's Army.
  • A man at a bus stop from "A Woman's Place" is played by Christopher Fairbank, who would later be best known for playing Moxey in Auf Wiedersehen, Pet.
  • A student from "Love's a Dead Lumber: Part 1" and Bob from the "Funny Creatures, Women" two-parter is played by Christopher Mitchell, who would later be best known for playing Gunner Parkin in It Ain't Half Hot, Mum.
  • Hazel Jay from "House to House" and Annie Smythe from "Deserter" were played by Darlene Johnson, who would later be best known for playing Emily Weiss in Shock Treatment.
  • Pearson from the "No Questions Asked" two-parter is played by David Griffin, who would later be best known for playing Clive Dempster in Hi-de-Hi! and Emmet Hawksworth in Keeping Up Appearances.
  • Joe Barnes from "Hi-Jack" and Harry from "Pasttime" are played by David Janson, who would later be best known for playing Ken Richardson in Get Some In!, Michael the postman in Keeping Up Appearances, and the second Herr Flick in 'Allo 'Allo!.
  • Six guest roles from between 1962 and 1967 were played by Diana Coupland, who would later be best known for playing Jean Abbott in Bless This House.
  • Dukes from "Out of the Frying Pan: Part 1" is played by Edward Sinclair, who would later be best known for playing the Verger in Dad's Army.
  • Thurston from "Teamwork" and Mr. Stanfield from "Light the Blue Paper" are played by Frank Williams, who would later be best known for playing The Vicar in Dad's Army.
  • Major Philpot from "Pressure" is played by Gavin Richards, who would later be best known for playing Captain Bertorelli in 'Allo 'Allo! and Terry Raymond in EastEnders.
  • Four guest roles from between 1968 and 1974 are played by Geoffrey Hughes, who would later be best known for playing Onslow in Keeping Up Appearances and Twiggy in The Royle Family.
  • Three guest roles from between 1964 and 1969 are played by George Layton, who would later be best known for playing Paul Collier in Doctor in the House and Bombardier Solomons in It Ain't Half Hot, Mum.
  • Janet Hurt from "Juvenile" is played by Gwyneth Strong, who would later be best known for playing Cassandra Trotter in Only Fools and Horses.
  • A detective constable from "Sheena: Part 2" is played by Hilary Minster, who would later be best known for playing General von Klinkerhoffen in 'Allo 'Allo!.
  • An extra from "A Place of Safety" is played by Jack Haig, who would later be best known for playing the first LeClerc in 'Allo 'Allo!.
  • Eight guest roles from between 1962 and 1969 are played by Jack Smethurst, who would later be best known for playing Eddie Booth in Love Thy Neighbour.
  • A constable from "The Five Whistles" is played by James Beck, who would later be best known for playing Private Walker in Dad's Army.
  • Five guest roles from between 1962 and 1968 are played by Janet Davies, who would later be best known for playing Mrs. Pike in Dad's Army.
  • Ginny from "The Legacy" is played by Janine Duvitski, who would later be best known for playing Jane Edwards in Waiting for God and Pippa Trench in One Foot in the Grave.
  • Sergeant Culshaw is played by John Challis, who would later be best known for playing Boycie in Only Fools and Horses and The Green Green Grass.
  • Eward Wendover from "Incident Reported" is played by John Louis Mansi, who would later be best known for playing Von Smallhausen in 'Allo 'Allo!.
  • Three guest roles from between 1961 and 1968 are played by Josephine Tewson, who would later be best known for playing Elizabeth Warden in Keeping Up Appearances.
  • Mr. Harris from "Who Was That Lady: Part 2" and Tommy Jefferson from the "In and Out" four-parter are played by Keith Marsh, who would later be best known for playing Jacko in Love Thy Neighbour.
  • Richie from "The Share Out" and Frankie Hancock from "The Great Art Robbery" two-parter are played by Kenneth Cope, who would later be best known for playing Marty Hopkirk in Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased).
  • Len Fordham from "Routine" is played by Kenneth MacDonald, who would later be best known for playing Gunner Clark in It Ain't Half Hot, Mum and Mike Fisher in Only Fools and Horses.
  • Four guest roles from between 1963 and 1977 are played by Kenneth Waller, who would later be best known for playing Old Mr. Grace in Are You Being Served? and Grandad in Bread.
  • Tom from "Threats and Menaces" is played by Larry Dann, who would later be best known for playing Sergeant Peters in The Bill.
  • A milkman from "One Day in Spring Street" and Freddie from the "Hudson's Way" two-parter are played by Larry Martyn, who would later be best known for playing Mr. Mash in Are You Being Served?.
  • Six guest roles from between 1962 and 1976 are played by Leslie Dwyer, who would later be best known for playing Mr. Partridge in Hi-de-Hi!.
  • A factory girl in "Stop Over: Part 1" and a woman at a bus stop in "A Woman's Place" are played by Linda Regan, who would later be best known for playing April Wingate in Hi-de-Hi!.
  • Bobo from "Week Off" and Trev from "Bits an' Bats" are played by Michael Angelis, who would later be best known for narrating Thomas & Friends from 1991 to 2012.
  • Three guest roles from between 1963 and 1967 are played by Michael Robbins, who would later be best known for playing Arthur Rudge in On the Buses.
  • Vera from the "Calling the Tune" two-parter is played by Mollie Sugden, who would later be best known for playing Mrs. Slocombe in Are You Being Served?.
  • Madge Kenton from "Search" is played by Patricia Routledge, who would later be best known for playing Hyacinth Bouquet in Keeping Up Appearances.
  • Denny Kerry from "Cop and Blow" is played by Patrick Mower, who would later be best known for playing Rodney Blackstock in Emmerdale.
  • Jim Blackitt from "Celebration" is played by Richard O'Callaghan, who would later be best known for his two roles in the Carry On films.
  • Roubicec from "Two Hundred Tartan Teddy Bears" is played by Richard Marner, who would later be best known for playing Colonel von Strohm in 'Allo 'Allo!.
  • Sharon Young from the "A Day Like Every Day" two-parter is played by Sally Geeson, who would later be best known for playing Sally Abbott in Bless This House.
  • Billie Stevens from the "Finch and Sons" two-parter and Anne Weston from the "Playing for Keeps" two-parter are played by Sheila Fearn, who would later be best known for playing Audrey Collier in The Likely Lads and Ann Fourmile in George & Mildred.
  • Betty from the "Hold Up" two-parter and Agnes from "First Offender" are played by Shirley Stelfox, who would later be best known for playing the first Rose in Keeping Up Appearances and Edna Birch in Emmerdale.
  • Three guest roles from between 1964 and 1970 are played by Talfryn Thomas, who would later be best known for playing Private Cheeseman in Dad's Army.
  • Three guest roles from between 1962 and 1969 are played by Trevor Bannister, who would later be best known for playing Mr. Lucas in Are You Being Served?.
  • Morrie Morris from "The Five Whistles" is played by Warren Mitchell, who would later be best known for playing Alf Garnett in Till Death Us Do Part.
  • Six guest roles from 1967 to 1973 are played by Windsor Davies, who would later be best known for playing Sergeant Major Williams in It Ain't Half Hot, Mum.
  • Three guest roles from 1962 to 1964 are played by Yootha Joyce, who would later be best known for playing Mildred Roper in Man About the House and George & Mildred.
• Values Dissonance: One episode saw the cops bust a child-porn ring engaged in making dubious home movies. The series screened in the early evening, just after teatime. In the 1970s, long before the emergence of the modern frenzied hysteria about paedophilia, this passed by a British TV audience without undue comment.

---