Take a Pair of Private Eyes is a British comedy crime television series which originally aired on BBC 2 in six episodes from 10 April to 15 May 1966.[1] It was written by Peter O'Donnell, best known as the creator of Modesty Blaise.[2] The title is a reference to the Gilbert and Sullivan song Take a Pair of Sparking Eyes. In the style of The Thin Man it focuses on Ambrose and Dominique Fraynes a husband and wife who run a private detective agency assisted by his father Hector.
| Take a Pair of Private Eyes | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Comedy crime |
| Written by | Peter O'Donnell |
| Directed by | Christopher Barry |
| Starring | Derek Fowlds Jeanne Roland Sam Kydd |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 6 |
| Production | |
| Producer | Alan Bromly |
| Running time | 55 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | BBC 2 |
| Release | 10 April – 15 May 1966 |
Cast edit
- Derek Fowlds as Ambrose Frayne
- Jeanne Roland as Dominique Frayne
- Sam Kydd as Hector Frayne
- Henry McGee as Charles
- Bridget Armstrong as Cornelia
- John Bryans as Feinster
- John Sharp as Crozier
- Peter Forbes-Robertson as Roger Curran
- Ivor Salter as M. Brienne
- Campbell Singer as Insp. Roth
- George Lee as Police constable
- Victor Maddern as Cokey Brock
- Jeanne Moody as Marian
- Margaret Nolan as Doreen
- John Cater as Lyall Sankey
- Yvonne Ball as Barmaid
- Alexandra Dane as Girl
- Roy Denton as Sam
- Peter Diamond as Thug
- James Fairley as Butler
- Clare Jenkins as Girl in pub
- Edward Jewesbury as Insp. Marshall
- Tom McCall as Musician
- Brian Moorehead as Police sergeant
- Derek Price as Musician
- John Quarmby as Detective sergeant
- John Rapley as Hearse driver
- Harry Tardios as Manzella
- Francesca Tu as Japanese girl
- Del Watson as Thug
- Gabrielle Wheeler as Maid
References edit
Bibliography edit
- Baskin, Ellen . Serials on British Television, 1950-1994. Scolar Press, 1996.
- Reilly, John M. Twentieth Century Crime & Mystery Writers. Springer, 2015.
