Bellamy (TV series)

"Bellamy" is an Australian television series made by the Reg Grundy Organisation for the Ten Network in 1981.

The series focused on a maverick cop named Steve Bellamy (John Stanton). His partner was Detective Mitchell (Tim Elston). Recurring characters in the series were the disapproving Daley (James Condon) who appeared in 21 episodes, the forensics technician Clem (Brian Young) who was in 15 of the episodes. Adam Garnett as Ginger, a street-wise child who befriended Bellamy, appeared in six early episodes but was phased-out of the series. Later in the run Tom Richards appeared as Detective Burns over five episodes. In the story Burns was ultimately revealed to be corrupt.

The series was noticeably more violent than previous Australian police series such as those made by Crawford Productions during the 1970s.

"Bellamy" was unique in the Australian media in portraying a violent, corrupt and misogynist NSW police culture during the time that Roger Rogerson was leading the Armed Holdup Squad and Robert Askin was barely cold in his grave. Of the 'factual' news outlets, only The National Times would touch these stories at the time.

"Bellamy" attracted only mediocre ratings and was shifted around the schedules several times. The series was not renewed beyond the initial series of 26 one-hour episodes.

External links

* [http://colsearch.nfsa.afc.gov.au/nfsa/search/display/display.w3p;adv=yes;group=;groupequals=;holdingType=;page=0;parentid=;query=138256;querytype=;rec=0;resCount=10 Bellamy at the National Film and Sound Archive]