Dempsey and Makepeace is a British television crime drama made by LWT for ITV, created and produced by Ranald Graham.

[1] 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.

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.

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.

[4] Episode 1 of series 2, "Silver Dollar", used London Weekend Television's own studio building and reception area as the location for the fictional company Consolidated Westmore.

A shot of Chief Superintendent Gordon Spikings (Ray Smith) in front of Cutty Sark was incorporated into the series' opening credit sequence.