Ghost Squad (TV series)

For the unrelated arcade game of the same name, see Ghost Squad.
Ghost Squad
Also known as G.S.5
Created by John Gosling
Anthony Kearey
Starring Michael Quinn
Donald Wolfit
Angela Browne
Anthony Marlowe
Neil Hallett
Claire Nielson
Ray Austin
Composer(s) Philip Green
Country of origin United Kingdom
No. of series 3
No. of episodes 52
Production
Running time 50 minutes
Production company(s) ITC Entertainment
Release
Original network ATV
Original release 9 September 1961 – 16 May 1964

Ghost Squad, known as G.S.5 for its third series, was a crime drama series about an elite division of Scotland Yard that ran between 1961 and 1964. Each episode the Ghost Squad would investigate cases that fell outside the scope of normal police work.[1] Despite the show and characters being fictional, an actual division did exist within the Metropolitan Police Service at the time.[2]

Inspiration for the series was taken from a book of the same name, written by John Gosling — a retired police officer and former member of the team.[2] Although the real-life squad only operated in London, the fictionalised team travelled internationally (sometimes to small countries with fictional names); however — as was typical of the time — most foreign locations were actually a combination of stock footage and sets at Independent Artists Studio at Beaconsfield and Elstree Studios. Music was by Philip Green.

The show was produced by ITC Entertainment, along with Rank Organisation TV and ATV. It was the first ITC show filmed to fit the one-hour time-slot (with 2 ad breaks) — setting the trend for the majority of ITC's future output. Another common ITC trait was to feature an American, in this case Michael Quinn, in a leading role so as to increase the chances of international sales. At 6' 3", Quinn often towered over his co-workers. This was especially noticeable in the first series title sequence showing him walking through a crowd walking in the opposite direction. He frequently smoked in the show as did many others. The second series had a different title sequence and Neil Hallett sometimes replaced Quinn. Hallett looked more like a spy while Quinn looked a bit like a playboy. Quinn was replaced by Australian actor, Ray Barrett in the third series. Ray Austin, stunt director for the entire series, played Billy Clay in Series 3; he went on to become a renowned TV director in Hollywood and the UK.

Cast

Episodes

The show was produced for three consecutive series.[3] The Rank Organisation co-produced the first series, which was shot on 35 mm film. Subsequent series were made multi-camera on videotape with filmed location inserts, with telerecordings being made for overseas sales. Series two survives complete this way, but no complete episode exists from series three.

Series Premiere Finale Episodes
Series One 9 September 1961 22 November 1962 13
Series Two 19 January 1963 13 July 1963 26
Series Three 22 February 1964 16 May 1964 13

Series one

Series two

Series three

Availability

The series has not been broadcast since the 1960s.[1] The 39 surviving episodes are available on a 10-disc DVD set from Network DVD, who have also released several other ITC productions.

References

  1. 1 2 "Ghost Squad". Network DVD. Retrieved 2008-04-21.
  2. 1 2 Laurence Marcus (30 January 2001). "Ghost Squad". Television Heaven. Retrieved 2008-04-21.
  3. ↑ However, as a typical ITC series lasted for 13 episodes, it can be argued that the second series of 26 episodes can be split into two shooting blocks making a total of four series of 13.
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