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The Best Episodes of Z-Cars

Every episode of Z-Cars ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Z-Cars!

Binge this in 27d 17h•Peaking at 9.5/10

Z-Cars or Z Cars is a British television drama series centred on the work of mobile uniformed police in the fictional town of Newtown, based on Kirkby, Merseyside. Produced by the BBC, it debuted in

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BBC One
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Seasons12

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    Z-Cars Season 3 Episode 3 - A La Carte
    9.5/10(31 votes)

    #1 - A La Carte

    S3:E3

    Chief Inspector Barlow is known locally as something of a gourmet, but not even the chef believes that he is interested only in food.

    Director:Shaun Sutton
    Writer:Elwyn Jones

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  2. Z-Cars Season 4 Episode 6 - Somebody Said...
    9.5/10(31 votes)

    #2 - Somebody Said...

    S4:E6

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. Z-Cars Season 8 Episode 1 - Inspector Lynch
    8.6/10(10 votes)

    #3 - Inspector Lynch

    S8:E1

    Bert Lynch has been promoted to Inspector. But is he still one of the lads?

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Leslie Duxbury

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  4. Z-Cars Season 9 Episode 14 - Boy In Blue
    7.9/10(15 votes)

    #4 - Boy In Blue

    S9:E14

    The men at Newtown question their own stability when the past catches up with a lady called Gwen Newcombe.

    Director:Michael Hayes
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. Z-Cars Season 9 Episode 7 - Quiet As The Grave
    7.8/10(8 votes)

    #5 - Quiet As The Grave

    S9:E7

    Sunday night duty is traditionally quiet, but on this occasion it's too quiet for Miller's comfort.

    Director:Derek Martinus
    Writers:Bob Baker, Dave Martin

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  6. Z-Cars Season 8 Episode 2 - Nuisance
    7.7/10(10 votes)

    #6 - Nuisance

    S8:E2

    Alexandra is always complaining to an already overworked police force about her next door neighbour Percy. But is she just a nuisance? Or should Inspector Lynch take her complaints seriously?

    Director:Julia Smith
    Writer:Unknown

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Z-Cars

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  7. Z-Cars Season 8 Episode 6 - Pieces
    7.7/10(10 votes)

    #7 - Pieces

    S8:E6

    A house is broken into and Skinner grabs at the opportunity to improve his record. But he grabs too hard and a man suffers.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. Z-Cars Season 1 Episode 20 - People's Property
    7.6/10(23 votes)

    #8 - People's Property

    S1:E20

    It's a busy night for Smith, Weir and Sergeant Watt when burglary is rife.

    Director:John McGrath
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. Z-Cars Season 8 Episode 7 - The Cinder Path
    7.6/10(9 votes)

    #9 - The Cinder Path

    S8:E7

    Goss is back! In court he finds himself in an unfamiliar role. Against Quilley... twice!

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. Z-Cars Season 10 Episode 8 - A Preacher In Passing
    7.6/10(18 votes)

    #10 - A Preacher In Passing

    S10:E8

    A quiet Sunday and Moffat finds himself in church. But not praying!

    Director:Derrick Goodwin
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. Z-Cars Season 12 Episode 3 - Debris
    7.6/10(22 votes)

    #11 - Debris

    S12:E3

    Newtown Marriage Guidance Centre has been burned down, so Haggar and Bowker start investigating its clients. They are looking for a man or woman with a grudge - a man or woman who will strike again.

    Director:Christopher Barry
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. Z-Cars Season 1 Episode 6 - Friday Night
    7.4/10(23 votes)

    #12 - Friday Night

    S1:E6

    ""It's going to be one of those nights"", pronounced Sgt. Percy Twentyman, and he wasn't far wrong. Steele and Lynch have to cope with the aftermath of a traffic accident in which a drunken driver has killed a motor cyclist and his pillion passenger. Small time felon Grandpa Maddigan blows up the safe in the Gas Company office, Watt and DCS Robins are hot on the trail of the notorious Comber gang, and Twentyman himself gets more than he bargained for when he tries to break up a free-for-all in the Tabernacle pub.

    Director:John McGrath
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. Z-Cars Season 1 Episode 26 - Contraband
    7.4/10(19 votes)

    #13 - Contraband

    S1:E26

    The prospect of a 'finder's reward' in a dockland smuggling case makes Smith and Weir eager volunteers for extra duty.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Allan Prior

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  14. Z-Cars Season 3 Episode 2 - Made For Each Other
    7.4/10(8 votes)

    #14 - Made For Each Other

    S3:E2

    Two arrests, two court cases - and also two people, in one of whom Fancy Smith takes a personal interest.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:John Hopkins

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  15. Z-Cars Season 10 Episode 6 - Kidnap
    7.4/10(21 votes)

    #15 - Kidnap

    S10:E6

    A rag week kidnap for charity starts out all right, but...

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. Z-Cars Season 10 Episode 24 - Thanks But... No Thanks
    7.4/10(20 votes)

    #16 - Thanks But... No Thanks

    S10:E24

    Quilley is up for promotion, but personal circumstances may hinder his path. At the same time, a troublesome thief is causing him severe problems.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. Z-Cars Season 11 Episode 10 - Attack
    7.4/10(22 votes)

    #17 - Attack

    S11:E10

    Coppers are fair game and copper-baiting is a good sport - unless the copper you pick on happens to be an expert in unarmed combat. In that case the game's called mayhem.

    Director:Derrick Goodwin
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. Z-Cars Season 1 Episode 3 - Handle With Care
    7.3/10(32 votes)

    #18 - Handle With Care

    S1:E3

    An explosion in a quarry disturbs two lovers. It also disturbs Detective Sergeant John Watt when he finds out what caused it.

    Director:Shaun Sutton
    Writer:Allan Prior

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  19. Z-Cars Season 1 Episode 14 - Found Abandoned
    7.2/10(25 votes)

    #19 - Found Abandoned

    S1:E14

    Smith and Weir answer a call and find an abandoned baby. They bring it along to the station, where Inspector Dunn is in charge in Barlow's absence.

    Director:John Llewellyn Moxey
    Writer:John Hopkins

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  20. Z-Cars Season 1 Episode 22 - Incident Reported
    7.2/10(20 votes)

    #20 - Incident Reported

    S1:E22

    Fancy Smith first meets Stan Carron in the Tabernacle pub where Carron is causing a disturbance. They have an argument. The second time they meet Carron is in no state to argue and Smith starts a long night's work.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:John Hopkins

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  21. Z-Cars Season 11 Episode 2 - Rage
    7.2/10(23 votes)

    #21 - Rage

    S11:E2

    It's not like Arthur Scarsdale to be violent. He's normally a peaceful little villain, but in the Newtown nick it takes three policemen to hold him down - and all Bowker did was offer him a cup of tea.

    Director:Derrick Goodwin
    Writer:Anthony Read

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  22. Z-Cars Season 11 Episode 4 - Transit
    7.2/10(26 votes)

    #22 - Transit

    S11:E4

    Crime Squad from Cardiff want Inspector Moffat to lodge a prisoner overnight in the Newtown cells - and no-one must know about it. But someone has to know, even if it's only another policeman.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. Z-Cars Season 1 Episode 21 - Hi-Jack!
    7.1/10(17 votes)

    #23 - Hi-Jack!

    S1:E21

    At Pete's Caff Steele and Lynch report ""off watch for refreshments"". While they are eating and talking to Steele's friend Les Fielding his lorry is hi-jacked.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Allan Prior

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  24. Z-Cars Season 11 Episode 1 - The Man Who Killed Songbirds
    7.1/10(26 votes)

    #24 - The Man Who Killed Songbirds

    S11:E1

    Young Colin's route home from school lies across a grubby parkland. Hiding in the bushes is a man with sweets... and a knife.

    Director:Fiona Cumming
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. Z-Cars Season 11 Episode 11 - Skeletons
    7.1/10(23 votes)

    #25 - Skeletons

    S11:E11

    Excavating for a swimming pool a young couple come across an old trunk buried in their garden. For the police it means old files, old memories and old wounds must all be re-opened.

    Director:Gerald Blake
    Writer:Anthony Read

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Best Episodes Summary

"A La Carte" is the best rated episode of "Z-Cars". It scored 9.5/10 based on 31 votes. Directed by Shaun Sutton and written by Elwyn Jones, it aired on 9/18/1963. This episode scored 0.0 points higher than the second highest rated, "Somebody Said...".