Drama

When Does Softly, Softly Season 13 Come Out? Is It Renewed?

Softly, Softly ended after Season 12.

IMDb

7.0/10

Seasons

12

Episodes

269

Softly, Softly poster

Diagnostics

Network
BBC One
Genres
Drama, Crime
First aired
1966-01-05
Last aired
1976-12-15
Runtime
50 min

Predictive Logic Analysis

Softly, Softly has concluded its run. Production records list the series as ended, meaning the story has been brought to a planned close rather than left open. Barring a revival, there is no Season 13 in development.

What is Softly, Softly about?

Softly, Softly emerged in 1966 as a procedural drama that fundamentally shifted how British television depicted police work. Rather than focusing on uniformed officers patrolling beats, the series zeroed in on the unglamorous reality of plain-clothes detectives operating within regional crime squads. Set in the fictional Wyvern region near Bristol, the show offered viewers a gritty, methodical look at criminal investigation—the patient interrogations, the paperwork, the false leads, and the slow accumulation of evidence that actually solved crimes. This was detective work stripped of melodrama, which proved to be precisely what audiences craved during a period when television was maturing as a medium.

Created by Troy Kennedy Martin, Softly, Softly distinguished itself through its commitment to procedural authenticity and its ensemble approach to storytelling. Rather than elevating individual heroes, the series portrayed detection as collaborative work undertaken by functional teams of officers. The writing emphasized the psychological and intellectual dimensions of police work alongside its physical dangers, crafting narratives that felt rooted in real police practice rather than fantasy. This documentary-like sensibility became the template for countless crime dramas that followed, establishing a template of sober professionalism that would influence British television for decades.

Over twelve seasons and 269 episodes spanning a decade, Softly, Softly built a loyal audience and secured its place in the landscape of British crime drama. The show's longevity testified to its core appeal: viewers returned week after week not for shocking plot twists but for intelligent, well-crafted examinations of how police officers actually spent their days. While it may not have generated the cultural phenomenon status of some contemporaries, the series earned consistent critical respect for its craft and consistency, establishing itself as a touchstone for the police procedural genre.

The show's legacy extends far beyond its 1976 conclusion. Softly, Softly essentially created the template for the modern police procedural, proving that audiences would engage with procedurally sound, ensemble-based crime drama that prioritized authenticity over sensationalism. It demonstrated that British television could deliver sophisticated genre entertainment without imported models, paving the way for subsequent police dramas and establishing conventions that persist in contemporary crime television.

Created by Troy Kennedy Martin

Themes

spin offpolice procedural

Is Softly, Softly renewed or cancelled?

Working against it

high

The series is listed as ended

Softly, Softly Season 13 Release Date

No new season is expected. Softly, Softly has ended, so there is no upcoming release to anticipate unless a revival is announced.

Softly, Softly seasons

Series 11966 · 26 ep
  • 1. Off Beat1966-01-05
  • 2. A Local Touch1966-01-12
  • 3. The Misinformer1966-01-19
  • 4. It Doesn't Grow On Trees1966-01-26
  • 5. Talk To Me1966-02-02
  • 6. Screws And Drivers1966-02-09
  • 7. Take Over1966-02-16
  • 8. Over Take...1966-02-23
  • 9. Don't Push Too Hard1966-03-02
  • 10. The Key1966-03-09
  • 11. Tickle On Wheels1966-03-16
  • 12. A Spot Of Leave1966-03-23
  • 13. A - Z1966-03-30
  • 14. Blind Man's Bluff1966-04-06
  • 15. All The Flowers1966-04-13
  • 16. Do You Believe In Ghosts?1966-04-20
  • 17. There's A Lot Of It About1966-04-27
  • 18. The Gentle Touch1966-05-04
  • 19. The Short Cut1966-05-11
  • 20. Made In Britain1966-05-18
  • 21. Round Trip1966-05-25
  • 22. Extraction1966-06-01
  • 23. Best Out Of Three1966-06-08
  • 24. I Know What I Said1966-06-15
  • 25. Conspiracy (1) To Rob1966-06-22
  • 26. Conspiracy (2) To Corrupt1966-06-29
Series 21966 · 31 ep
  • 1. Inside Out1966-11-02
  • 2. All That Glitters1966-11-09
  • 3. The Jackpot1966-11-16
  • 4. Murder Reported1966-11-23
  • 5. Sleeping Dogs1966-11-30
  • 6. Heart Of Brass1966-12-07
  • 7. Find The Lady1966-12-14
  • 8. Barlow Was There (1) Allegation1966-12-21
  • 9. Barlow Was There (2) Enquiry1966-12-28
  • 10. Barlow Was There (3) Mischief1967-01-04
  • 11. Sing A Song Of Friendship1967-01-11
  • 12. James McNeil, Aged 231967-01-18
  • 13. The Next Voice You Hear1967-01-25
  • 14. An Eye For An Eye1967-02-01
  • 15. What Colour A Wolf ?1967-02-08
  • 16. Somebody Important1967-02-15
  • 17. The Informant (1) Rough Justice1967-02-22
  • 18. The Informant (2) The Man Inside1967-03-01
  • 19. The Same The Whole World Over1967-03-08
  • 20. Selection1967-03-15
  • 21. Appointment In Wyvern1967-03-22
  • 22. The Investors1967-03-29
  • 23. A Piece Of Waste Ground1967-04-05
  • 24. Proof Positive1967-04-12
  • 25. Cash On Deliverance1967-04-19
  • 26. On The Side Of The Law1967-04-26
  • 27. The Linkman1967-05-03
  • 28. Blackitt's Round1967-05-10
  • 29. See You Tomorrow1967-05-17
  • 30. The Hole (1) In the Road1967-05-24
  • 31. The Hole (2) In the Head1967-05-31
Series 31967 · 26 ep
  • 1. The Target (1) Sighted1967-10-04
  • 2. The Target (2) Point Blank1967-10-11
  • 3. Material Evidence1967-10-18
  • 4. Pieces Of Silver1967-10-25
  • 5. Something Unusual1967-11-08
  • 6. Never Forget A Face1967-11-15
  • 7. Inducement1967-11-22
  • 8. The Mind Of The Beholder1967-11-29
  • 9. The Hunt1967-12-06
  • 10. Measure Of Tolerance1967-12-13
  • 11. Who's Mr Smith?1967-12-20
  • 12. The Bombay Doctor1967-12-27
  • 13. Cause Of Death1968-01-04
  • 14. In Bulk1968-01-11
  • 15. Complaint1968-01-18
  • 16. Landing Whispers1968-01-25
  • 17. Major Incident1968-02-01
  • 18. Quicker By Rail1968-02-08
  • 19. The Good Girl1968-02-15
  • 20. Identity Unknown1968-02-22
  • 21. Unfinished Business1968-02-29
  • 22. Finger Of Suspicion1968-03-07
  • 23. If I Can Help Somebody1968-03-14
  • 24. Don't Tell Me, Let Me Guess1968-03-21
  • 25. Fortune On The Move (1) Payment1968-03-28
  • 26. Fortune On The Move (2) Refund1968-04-04
Series 41968 · 27 ep
  • 1. Theory1968-09-12
  • 2. Proof1968-09-19
  • 3. Bird Of Passage1968-09-26
  • 4. See The Rabbit1968-10-03
  • 5. Take Them In Singles1968-10-10
  • 6. Red Herring1968-10-17
  • 7. Five Pairs O' Hands1968-10-24
  • 8. Minor Incident1968-10-31
  • 9. An Old Song1968-11-07
  • 10. Big Boats, Little Boats1968-11-14
  • 11. For A Rainy Day1968-11-21
  • 12. Assistance1968-11-28
  • 13. Equal Status1968-12-05
  • 14. Obstruction1968-12-12
  • 15. Going Quietly1968-12-19
  • 16. On Christmas Day In The Morning1968-12-27
  • 17. Departure1969-01-02
  • 18. Cross Reference1969-01-09
  • 19. Run For The Hills1969-01-16
  • 20. Pressure1969-01-23
  • 21. A Quantity Of Gelignite1969-01-30
  • 22. Critical Path1969-02-06
  • 23. Persistence1969-02-13
  • 24. Second Chance1969-02-20
  • 25. How's The Wife Then ?1969-02-27
  • 26. Right To Search1969-03-06
  • 27. Proved Connection1969-03-13
Series 51969 · 26 ep
  • 1. Recovery1969-09-11
  • 2. Flash Point1969-09-18
  • 3. In At the Death1969-09-25
  • 4. Error of Judgement1969-10-02
  • 5. Dead Aboard1969-10-09
  • 6. One Thing Leads To Another1969-10-16
  • 7. General Post1969-10-23
  • 8. Wild Goose1969-10-30
  • 9. We Shall Miss You1969-11-06
  • 10. Write Off1969-11-13
  • 11. Arrival1969-11-20
  • 12. Exercise1969-11-27
  • 13. Diversion1969-12-04
  • 14. The Spoilt Ones1969-12-11
  • 15. To Protect The Innocent1969-12-18
  • 16. Any Other Night1970-01-01
  • 17. The Aggro Boy1970-01-08
  • 18. Standing Orders1970-01-15
  • 19. Private Mischief1970-01-22
  • 20. Open And Shut1970-01-29
  • 21. Sprats And Mackerels1970-02-05
  • 22. Like Any Other Friday1970-02-12
  • 23. Power Of The Press1970-02-19
  • 24. Trust A Woman1970-02-26
  • 25. The Hermit1970-03-05
  • 26. Escort1970-03-12
Season 61970 · 26 ep
  • 1. Baptism1970-09-16
  • 2. Sunday, Sweet Sunday1970-09-23
  • 3. Safe in the Streets?1970-09-30
  • 4. Good Listener1970-10-07
  • 5. Time Expired1970-10-14
  • 6. Lessons1970-10-21
  • 7. Without Favour1970-10-28
  • 8. Never Hit a Lady1970-11-04
  • 9. Its Ugly Head1970-11-11
  • 10. Who Wants Pride...?1970-11-18
  • 11. Collation1970-11-25
  • 12. Do Me a Favour1970-12-02
  • 13. Sweet Are the Uses of Adversity1970-12-09
  • 14. Bearings1970-12-16
  • 15. A World Full of Rooms1970-12-23
  • 16. The Lie Direct1970-12-30
  • 17. Ground Level1971-01-06
  • 18. Company Business1971-01-13
  • 19. Kick Off1971-01-20
  • 20. Final Score1971-01-27
  • 21. Something Big1971-02-03
  • 22. Games1971-02-10
  • 23. In the Public Gaze1971-02-17
  • 24. Held for Questioning1971-02-24
  • 25. Black Equals White1971-03-03
  • 26. Cash and Carry1971-03-10
Season 71971 · 26 ep
  • 1. Once Bitten1971-10-06
  • 2. Hostage1971-10-13
  • 3. The Floater1971-10-20
  • 4. Aberration1971-10-27
  • 5. Moving On1971-11-03
  • 6. An Inside Job1971-11-10
  • 7. The Bounty Hunter1971-11-17
  • 8. Marksman1971-11-24
  • 9. Copper Wire1971-12-01
  • 10. Man of Peace1971-12-08
  • 11. Good Touches1971-12-15
  • 12. Better Than Doing Porridge1971-12-22
  • 13. The Removal1971-12-29
  • 14. Priorities1972-01-05
  • 15. Resolution1972-01-12
  • 16. The Amateur1972-01-19
  • 17. Anywhere in the Wide World1972-01-26
  • 18. Flight1972-02-02
  • 19. The Big Tip-Off1972-02-09
  • 20. Woman's World1972-02-16
  • 21. Policeman's Lot:, A (1) The Row on the Stairs1972-02-23
  • 22. Policeman's Lot:, A (2) You Pays Your Money1972-03-01
  • 23. Policeman's Lot:, A (3) It Depends Where You're Standing1972-03-08
  • 24. Set Us Alight1972-03-15
  • 25. The Easy Job1972-03-22
  • 26. Conclusion1972-03-29
Season 81972 · 20 ep
  • 1. Spit and Polish1972-09-13
  • 2. Killer1972-09-20
  • 3. Surveillance1972-09-27
  • 4. Dog Eat Dog1972-10-04
  • 5. Bank Rate1972-10-11
  • 6. On the Third Day1972-10-18
  • 7. The Witness1972-10-25
  • 8. Run for Your Money1971-11-01
  • 9. New Broom1972-11-08
  • 10. Paper Chase1972-11-15
  • 11. Welcome to the Club1972-11-22
  • 12. Justice1972-11-29
  • 13. Conversion1972-12-06
  • 14. Needle1972-12-13
  • 15. Execution1972-12-20
  • 16. Time-Table1973-01-03
  • 17. Conspiracy1973-01-10
  • 18. Money for Sale1973-01-17
  • 19. For Love or Money1973-01-24
  • 20. Little Acorns1973-01-31
Season 91973 · 18 ep
  • 1. Errors1973-09-12
  • 2. Signed Off1973-09-19
  • 3. A Quiet Man1973-09-26
  • 4. No Way1973-10-03
  • 5. No Life for a Woman1973-10-10
  • 6. Twenty-Seven Pieces of Porcelain1973-10-17
  • 7. Night-Watch1973-10-24
  • 8. Catch As Catch Can1973-10-31
  • 9. The Loudmouth1973-11-07
  • 10. Interrogation1973-11-14
  • 11. Slip of the Tongue1973-11-21
  • 12. Trial1973-11-28
  • 13. Skipper's Walk1973-12-05
  • 14. Cover1973-12-12
  • 15. Observation1973-12-19
  • 16. Trouble-Maker1974-01-02
  • 17. The Raider1974-01-09
  • 18. Victim1974-01-16
Season 101974 · 13 ep
  • 1. Alert1974-09-04
  • 2. You Don't Have to Shout, I'm Listening1974-09-11
  • 3. Worth a Million1974-09-18
  • 4. Domestic Incident1974-09-25
  • 5. Pop Goes the Weasel1974-10-02
  • 6. Cat Among the Pigeons1974-10-09
  • 7. Pardon1974-10-16
  • 8. Little Boy Blue1974-10-23
  • 9. A Day's Work1974-10-30
  • 10. Paperwork1974-11-06
  • 11. See What You've Done1974-11-13
  • 12. We're in This Together1974-11-20
  • 13. Temptation1974-11-27
Season 111975 · 15 ep
  • 1. Feedback1975-08-25
  • 2. High Life1975-09-03
  • 3. Protection1975-09-10
  • 4. Grass1975-09-17
  • 5. Bargains1975-09-24
  • 6. The Talking Doll1975-10-01
  • 7. And with What Measure?1975-10-08
  • 8. Female of the Species1975-10-15
  • 9. A Person Unknown1975-10-22
  • 10. Homicide1975-10-29
  • 11. Dorothy's Birthday1975-11-05
  • 12. Whose Side Are You On?1975-11-12
  • 13. Choirboy1975-11-19
  • 14. On Call1975-11-26
  • 15. Blind Alley1975-12-03
Season 121976 · 15 ep
  • 1. Not with a Bang...1976-09-08
  • 2. There's Always Tomorrow1976-09-15
  • 3. Say It with Flowers1976-09-22
  • 4. The Trojan Horse1976-09-29
  • 5. Now You See It, Now You Don't1976-10-06
  • 6. As Good Cooks Go...1976-10-13
  • 7. The Visitor1976-10-20
  • 8. Baked Beans1976-10-27
  • 9. The Climber1976-11-03
  • 10. At Risk1976-11-10
  • 11. Got Him!1976-11-17
  • 12. Just a Whisper?1976-11-24
  • 13. A Shot in the Dark1976-12-01
  • 14. Communications1976-12-08
  • 15. Alarums and Excursions1976-12-15

AI Verdict

Ended0%high confidence
0%renewal
renewal probability
Verdict history0% → 0%
May 16May 17

Softly, Softly has ended. Its final season has already aired and no further seasons are expected.

Verdict updated 1 month ago

Softly, Softly latest news

Fan Verdict

No fan predictions yet

No predictions yet — be the first.

Final fan tally — voting closed

Reviews

No reviews yet — be the first.

    Comments (0)

    No comments yet — start the conversation.

    Similar shows →

    More from BBC One

    More Drama shows

    Frequently asked

    When does Softly, Softly Season 13 come out?
    Softly, Softly ended after Season 12.
    Is Softly, Softly renewed or cancelled?
    Softly, Softly has ended. Its final season has already aired and no further seasons are expected.
    How many seasons of Softly, Softly are there?
    Softly, Softly has aired 12 seasons so far.
    How many episodes of Softly, Softly are there?
    There are 269 episodes of Softly, Softly across 12 seasons.
    Who created Softly, Softly?
    Softly, Softly was created by Troy Kennedy Martin.
    What is Softly, Softly's IMDb rating?
    Softly, Softly holds an IMDb rating of 7/10 from 116 votes.