The plot synopsis of The Sweeney episode Tomorrow Man (27 Sep. 1976), reads: “Technophobe Regan is initially all at sea when he comes up against the clever computer expert Tony Gray.
“Gray is bent on revenge against Dennis Longfield, intending to steal his gold bullion consignment with the help of a little computer trickery but, at the end of the day, it’s Regan’s old-fashioned policing methods that get the results.”
What it fails to mention is that Dennis Longfield is played by George Cole, who went on to star in ITV’s Minder. In Tomorrow Man, George acts with Dennis Waterman, who went onto become his Minder in the hit TV show.
You read that right.
The Sweeney and Minder brought together by computers. No wonder this episode is rarely shown on TV, if we dwelt upon this momentous union it would be sure to tear a hole in the fabric of the universe.
Garfield Morgan (detective chief inspector Frank Haskins in The Sweeney) was also in several episodes of Minder – as Superintendent Mason.