Softly, Softly was a police procedural drama which focused on the work of the newly-formed Regional Crime Squad (RCS), headed by Detective Chief Superintendent Barlow (played by Stratford Johns). The squad was made up of plain-clothed CID officers from different police forces in the fictional region of Wyvern, who worked together to tackle serious and complex crime.
The series was created as a spin-off of the long-running police procedural drama Z-Cars, and featured some of the same characters and locations. However, Softly, Softly had a more serious and realistic tone than its predecessor, and was praised for its attention to detail and authenticity.
Each episode followed the RCS officers as they investigated crimes such as drug trafficking, armed robberies, and murder. The cases often required the officers to use their intelligence and intuition, as well as their physical skills, to track down the culprits.
Softly, Softly was popular with audiences and ran for 6 seasons, with 188 episodes in total. It also spawned several spin-offs, including Softly, Softly: Task Force and Barlow at Large. The series is now regarded as a classic of British television drama, and is remembered for its gripping storylines, strong performances, and realistic portrayal of police work.