My favourite British TV programmes from the 50s and 60s.
by alexanderdavies-99382 | created - 20 May 2022 | updated - 7 months ago | PublicThe 50s and 60s were exciting times in Britain, regarding the medium of TV. Actors and writers were creating TV programmes that reflected everyday life and the people.
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1. The Plane Makers (1963–1965)
60 min | Drama
The day-to-day story of a multi-million pound aerospace company, its new jet plane, its test-pilot, its workers and its ruthless and hard-nosed managing director John Wilder, the embodiment of modern, unflinching capitalism.
Stars: Jack Watling, Patrick Wymark, Norma Ronald, Reginald Marsh
Votes: 44
2. The Largest Theatre in the World: Heart to Heart (1962 TV Movie)
80 min | Drama
A television interviewer is determined to get a coup on a dodgy cabinet minister.
Director: Alvin Rakoff | Stars: Kenneth More, Ralph Richardson, Angela Baddeley, Wendy Craig
Votes: 28
3. Theatre 625 (1964–1968)
90 min | Drama
Drama anthology series transmitted on BBC Two.
Stars: Michael Bryant, Judi Dench, Maurice Denham, Margery Mason
Votes: 48
4. Callan (1967–1972)
60 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
David Callan is the top agent/assassin for the Security Service (British counterintelligence), but he is an embittered man who performs his duties "for Queen and country" under duress. This... See full summary »
Stars: Edward Woodward, Russell Hunter, Lisa Langdon, Anthony Valentine
Votes: 856
5. It's Dark Outside (1964–1965)
60 min | Drama
Chief Inspector Rose (William Mervyn), previously seen in 'The Odd Man' and later to have his own series, investigates off-beat cases assisted by Detective Sergeant Swift (Keith Barron).
Stars: William Mervyn, Keith Barron, June Tobin, John Carson
Votes: 34
6. The Avengers (1961–1969)
TV-14 | 50 min | Action, Comedy, Crime
A quirky spy show of the adventures of eccentrically suave British Agent John Steed and his predominantly female partners.
Stars: Patrick Macnee, Diana Rigg, Honor Blackman, Linda Thorson
Votes: 8,886
7. Quatermass II (1955)
188 min | Drama, Sci-Fi, Horror
Professor Quatermass is trying to perfect a dangerously unstable nuclear-powered rocket engine. After a disastrous test firing in Australia, his soon-to-be son-in-law, Captain John Dillon, ... See full summary »
Stars: John Robinson, Monica Grey, Hugh Griffith, John Stone
Votes: 480
8. Quatermass and the Pit (1958–1959)
30 min | Drama, Sci-Fi, Horror
A team of scientists search for the origin and purpose of a mysterious capsule found on a building site.
Stars: André Morell, Cec Linder, Anthony Bushell, John Stratton
Votes: 1,204
9. Sherlock Holmes (1964–1968)
50 min | Crime, Drama, History
A series of Sherlock Holmes adaptations, based on the stories of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
Stars: Nigel Stock, Peter Cushing, Douglas Wilmer, Peter Madden
Votes: 589
10. Armchair Theatre (1956–1974)
60 min | Drama
This show was a British television drama anthology series of single plays that ran on the ITV network from 1956 to 1974. It was originally produced by Associated British Corporation, and from mid-1968 by Thames Television.
Stars: Harry H. Corbett, Paul Whitsun-Jones, Billie Whitelaw, Neil McCallum
Votes: 245
11. The Wednesday Play (1964–1970)
75 min | Drama
Series of one-off plays made by BBC television, which gave breaks to a wide range of writers and directors in the late 1960s, such as Dennis Potter, Ken Loach, David Mercer, and John ... See full summary »
Stars: Edwin Brown, Neville Smith, Tony Selby, Ken Jones
Votes: 131
12. BBC Sunday-Night Theatre (1950–1959)
Drama
Series of television plays performed live.
Stars: Richard Caldicot, George Woodbridge, Robert Brown, Michael Brennan
Votes: 179
13. Redcap (1964–1966)
50 min | Crime, Drama
The cases & adventures of tough Sergeant John Mann, officer of Her Majesty's Royal Military Police Special Investigation Branch.
Stars: John Thaw, Keith Barron, James Grout, James Kerry
Votes: 52
Before he was Regan, John Thaw was Sgt. Mann.
14. The Saint (1962–1969)
TV-PG | 50 min | Action, Crime, Drama
Simon "The Saint" Templar, a wealthy adventurer and 20th-century Robin Hood, travels the world in his white Volvo P1800S, solving unsolvable problems and righting wrongs.
Stars: Roger Moore, Ivor Dean, Leslie Crawford, Justine Lord
Votes: 6,214
Still the number 1 "ITC" show.
15. Secret Agent (1964–1967)
TV-PG | 49 min | Action, Adventure, Crime
John Drake is a special operative for M9, specializing in security assignments against any subversive element that threatens world peace.
Stars: Patrick McGoohan, Peter Madden, Frank Maher, Peter Brayham
Votes: 1,539
16. Danger Man (1960–1961)
TV-PG | 24 min | Action, Adventure, Crime
John Drake is a special operative for NATO, specializing in security assignments against any subversive element which threatened world peace.
Stars: Patrick McGoohan, Richard Wattis, Lionel Murton, Michael Ripper
Votes: 1,385
17. My Partner the Ghost (1969–1971)
Not Rated | 60 min | Action, Comedy, Crime
When Hopkirk gets killed, he reappears as a ghost - pretty handy to have around in this line of work.
Stars: Mike Pratt, Kenneth Cope, Annette Andre, Ivor Dean
Votes: 1,509
18. Man in a Suitcase (1967–1968)
60 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
McGill (known as "Mac") is a former U.S. intelligence agent based in London. After being thrown out of the agency for something he did not do, he finds his infamous reputation has preceded ... See full summary »
Stars: Richard Bradford, Ricardo Montez, Warren Stanhope, Frank Forsyth
Votes: 460
Tough and brutal.
19. Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons (1967–1968)
TV-PG | 25 min | Action, Crime, Drama
In 2068, the indestructible Captain Scarlet leads the agents of Spectrum in a war of nerves against the Mysterons from Mars.
Stars: Ed Bishop, Donald Gray, Francis Matthews, Sylvia Anderson
Votes: 1,900
20. Fireball XL5 (1962–1963)
TV-PG | 30 min | Animation, Action, Drama
The interplanetary adventures of the crew of the World Space Patrol (W.S.P.) spacecraft Fireball XL5, patrolling Sector 25 of the galaxy in the year 2062.
Stars: David Graham, Sylvia Anderson, Paul Maxwell, John Bluthal
Votes: 706
21. Oliver Twist (1962)
30 min | Adventure, Family
An orphan named Oliver Twist meets a pickpocket on the streets of London. From there, he joins a household of boys who are trained to steal for their master.
Stars: Bruce Prochnik, Max Adrian, Peter Vaughan, Carmel McSharry
Votes: 26
A faithful adaptation of the novel, brilliantly cast.
22. The Gold Robbers (1969)
60 min | Crime
Tough cop Detective Chief Superintendent Cradock is assigned to track down and bring to justice the criminals behind the daring theft of five and half million pounds worth of gold bullion from an airfield in the South of England.
Stars: Peter Vaughan, Artro Morris, Richard Leech, Frederick Bartman
Votes: 103
23. The Human Jungle (1963–1964)
60 min | Drama
Dr. Roger Corder, a gifted and compassionate psychologist, treats the mental disorders of his patients through a mix of Freudian and Laingian techniques.
Stars: Herbert Lom, Michael Johnson, Sally Smith, Mary Yeomans
Votes: 179
24. A Game of Murder (1966)
30 min | Thriller
The once famous athlete Bob Kerry dies mysteriously on a golf course. His son Jack, a detective, suspects murder and decides to investigate the case. He gets caught up in a web of intrigue ... See full summary »
Stars: Gerald Harper, David Burke, June Barry, John Harvey
Votes: 28
25. Gideon C.I.D. (1964–1966)
60 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Follows Commander George Gideon of Scotland Yard and his family life.
Stars: John Gregson, Alexander Davion, Daphne Anderson, Richard James
Votes: 312
26. The Prisoner (1967–1968)
TV-PG | 1,010 min | Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi
After he resigns, a secret agent is abducted and taken to what looks like an idyllic village, but is actually a bizarre prison. He refuses to give his warders information while attempting to escape.
Stars: Patrick McGoohan, Angelo Muscat, Peter Swanwick, Peter Brace
Votes: 15,042
Highly original but quality wildly uneven.
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