Name: Wilde Alliance
Genre: Comedy, Mystery, Crime
Released: 1978-01-17
Rating: 5.5
Cast: John Stride, Julia Foster

Married detectives who'd rather bicker than solve crimes — and it's glorious chaos.

Mini Series

Cozy chaosBantery1970s British charm

Latest Episode

60 min

Season 1 • Episode 13

Latest

Some Trust in Chariots

Apr 11, 1978

Although Annette is in America, her sister Debbie keeps seeing her in the UK. In order to convince people that she isn't losing her mind, Debbie takes a photograph of her sister, but when this is developed, Annette is nowhere to be seen...

Overview

Comedy Mystery Crime

Wilde Alliance is a 1978 British television programme created by Ian Mackintosh and produced by Yorkshire Television for l ITV. The light-hearted mystery series follows husband-and-wife amateur detectives Rupert and Amy Wilde.

Content warning

comedy thriller amateur detective

Marriage as partnershipClass and mannersAmateurism vs. professionalism

Standout Aspects

Acting

Stride and Foster's prickly, lived-in chemistry.

Writing

Ian Mackintosh's snappy domestic banter.

Best for:Solo·Background

Creator

Ian Mackintosh

First AiredJan 17, 1978

StatusEnded

Vibe

Pacesteady

Intensitylow

Tonelight

Feellight

Seasons1·Episodes13

Top Cast

John Stride

Rupert Wilde

Julia Foster

Amy Wilde

Ask about Wilde Alliance

Opens AI chat

Deep Dive

Trivia, insights & behind the scenes

Trivia

Creator Ian Mackintosh mysteriously disappeared in 1979 while flying over the Gulf of Alaska, making this his only completed series. The unsolved mystery of his fate eerily mirrors the show's unresolved finale.

Cultural

The Wildes' posh flat and lifestyle reflected late-70s British anxiety about class mobility — they're wealthy amateurs playing at crime while real police work happens off-screen.