Percy the Policeman - Full Series

Aimed at children, this madcap comedy features Bruno Lawrence as a wily burglar, and Bill Stalker as the inept policeman on his tail. The five short episodes feature silent movie style chases and physical comedy. The NZ Broadcasting Corporation refused to screen the show, worried that it ridiculed the police. Percy the Policeman was a collaboration between Goodbye Pork Pie director Geoff Murphy and Pacific Films founder John O'Shea. The big chase in episode two ropes in John Clarke in a wheelchair, along with many of the people who worked on the show. Percy began as a series of books Murphy created for his primary school classes, when he was a teacher. Check out the episode guide here.

  Percy was not happy. He enjoyed being a policeman, except for one thing: his coat. He'd asked the Chief of Police several times for a new one, but each time the Chief had said 'No!'

– Narrator Ian Watkin introduces the story of Percy's old coat, in episode one

Key Cast & Crew

Bruno Lawrence

Musician, As: Burglar Bill

Martyn Sanderson

As: Chief of Police

Geoff Murphy

Director, Writer

John O'Shea

Producer

Bill Stalker

As: Percy the Policeman

Ian Watkin

Narrator