Michael Brandon has recalled how he landed the role on Dempsey and Makepeace, admitting that he and producers had "no idea" how long it would run for.
Brandon starred opposite his now-wife Glynis Barber in the 1980s crime drama, which depicted "streetwise" New Yorker James Dempsey (Brandon) and "elegant British noblewoman" Harriet Makepeace (Barber) as they work for the London Metropolitan Police.
After running for three seasons and 30 episodes across 1985 and 1986, the show was eventually cancelled by ITV, though Brandon admitted on the Suddenly Single podcast that this was longer than originally planned.
"There were 20 million people who tuned in to watch," he recalled. "We didn't know how long it was going to go. I signed on to do 11 episodes. And then there was a second [season] and this became a relationship [with Barber].
"And people were watching this relationship. You go back and you watch it, and there it is happening. I tried to show it to my son. He had no interest. 'That’s how I met your mom, you know!'"
Related: Best film and TV tours for 2025
What to Read Next
Brandon, who has since had small roles in Doctor Who and Death in Paradise, also shared that he attained the part of Dempsey in peculiar fashion after he suggested that changes be made to the character's background.
"I read the script but my agent said, 'we shouldn't have sent you that one – they don't want to see you.' But they got me a meeting and these two guys were packing their bags to leave," he recalled. "I'm [stood] in the doorway and said, 'I understand that you think I'm not right for this character?'
Related: Radio star details "extraordinarily difficult" impact of life decision: "I do feel a bit guilty"
"They were looking for a California millionaire, James Dempsey III. And I said, 'I don't think those dynamics are really as interesting as if you made this guy a New York homicide detective right out of the gutter.'"
"And I left. They called me from the airport [and] said, 'we've changed our flight and we want to come back and put what you said on tape,'" added the actor, who concluded by saying that the rest was "history".
Digital Spy's first print magazine is here! Buy British Comedy Legends in newsagents or online, now priced at just £3.99.
Reporter, Digital Spy George is a freelance writer who specialises in Movies and TV. After graduating with a degree in Film Studies and Journalism from De Montfort University, in which he analysed the early works of Richard Linklater for his dissertation, he wrote for several websites for GRV Media. His film tastes vary from blockbusters like Mission: Impossible and John Wick to international directors such as Paolo Sorrentino and Hirokazu Kore-eda, and has attended both the London and Berlin film festivals.
