Season 1 premiered 30 December 1977 and contains 13 episodes. It sets the dramatic template for the entire series, drawing on themes of international espionage, political corruption, terrorism, assassination plots, and organised crime. Bodie and Doyle are repeatedly tasked with protecting controversial figures, intercepting assassination attempts, and dismantling dangerous criminal networks. The scripts are fast, elliptical, and often darkly humorous, reflecting the show’s Avengers pedigree.
Each bullet begins with a Guided Link so you can jump directly into deeper detail for any episode.
Private Madness, Public Danger — CI5 must stop Charles Nesbitt, a chemical‑weapons expert threatening London’s water supply with a hallucinogenic agent.
The Female Factor — A KGB agent uses a young woman to compromise a rising British political figure; CI5 uncovers the manipulation and its political stakes.
Old Dog With New Tricks — A gangster plans to free his brother by kidnapping the Home Secretary—unaware Cowley is impersonating him, with Bodie and Doyle ready to intervene.
Killer With a Long Arm — CI5 tracks a hitman using a long‑range rifle smuggled from Greece, aiming to assassinate visiting Greek royalty.
Heroes — After a newspaper irresponsibly publishes witness names to an assassination, CI5 must protect them while hunting the killers.
Where the Jungle Ends — Bodie’s former mercenary comrades return, committing violent crimes to impress a London gangster; CI5 must stop the rogue unit.
Close Quarters — Bodie is trapped in a vicarage with his girlfriend by a terrorist group; Doyle and Cowley race to locate him with almost no clues.
(Season 1 continues with 13 episodes total; TMDB and IMDb list the full set. )
CI5’s mandate: counter‑terrorism, espionage, and high‑profile crime beyond normal police capability.
Bodie & Doyle’s dynamic: Bodie’s ruthless ex‑SAS pragmatism vs. Doyle’s more compassionate, impulsive policing background.
Cowley’s leadership: uncompromising, strategic, and willing to bend rules to protect national security.
Tone: gritty action, Cold War paranoia, political stakes, and stylised 1970s violence.