Editing Dempsey and Makepeace (section)

==Premise==
The premise of ''Dempsey and Makepeace'' is the oddball pairing of two police detectives: an elegant British [[noblewoman]], Sgt (Lady) Harriet Makepeace, and a streetwise [[working-class]] New Yorker, Lt James Dempsey, both working for an elite and armed unit of the [[London Metropolitan Police]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/09/26/arts/dempsey-and-makepeace.html |title=Dempsey and Makepeace|first=John J.|last=O'Connor|date=26 September 1985|work=The New York Times}}</ref>

When his partner Joey dies in a botched drugs operation and he uncovers police corruption at the highest level, Dempsey is under threat of assassination. With help from his colleagues, he hurriedly leaves New York for London, on the pretence of an undercover international police exchange programme.

Harriet "Harry" Makepeace is the daughter of Lord Winfield ([[Ralph Michael]]), who owns an English [[stately home]].<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |last=Mangan |first=Lucy |date=19 May 2008 |title=Cable girl: Dempsey and Makepeace |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/tvandradioblog/2008/may/20/cablegirldempseymakepeace |work=The Guardian}}</ref> Reference is made to his having formerly been in the Army or the Secret Service. Makepeace's grandfather is mentioned as having been a Victorian collector of antiques and rare items. Makepeace's mother is mentioned only once, by her maternal uncle Duffy, and it would seem she had died some time ago; also mentioned is her best friend, who had an affair with Makepeace's ex husband and now lives with him. Makepeace has made her way up through the ranks of the police force, despite sexism by her male counterparts and the physical demands of the job.

Although there is initial reluctance on both sides, Dempsey and Makepeace work as partners in a specialised task force, SI 10, and they make a good team. SI 10 is under the command of Gordon Spikings, played by [[Ray Smith (actor)|Ray Smith]]. A fourth regular role is that of Chas, played by [[Tony Osoba]], who provides useful research and communications in the SI 10 office and occasionally has a more active role.

Two double-length episodes were produced, the first being the pilot ("Armed and Extremely Dangerous"), with the second the series 3 two-part opener ("The Burning").

At the height of the series' popularity, and during season 2 particularly, the British tabloid press hounded the lead actors for off-screen stories regarding their then-budding personal relationship.

Much of the show's draw came from the good-natured "will they or won’t they" interplay and a slowly evolving romance between the main protagonists, made possible by the obvious chemistry between the two lead actors.<ref name="auto"/> The show ended with an episode directed by Michael Brandon himself where Dempsey and Makepeace are forced to confront at least some of their feelings for one another. Makepeace leaves the force after having a vision of Dempsey being shot and killed in the line of duty. Dempsey tries to get her to return, after Dempsey's new partner—an old female friend of Makepeace—visits Makepeace to have a chat with Harry, it is implied from the conversation Makepeace is in love with Dempsey and can't bear to see anything happen to him. Dempsey gets her to help him when his new partner is injured. In the final scene it looks like they are going to join up as partners again as a call comes over the police radio they both smile at each other.