"I.T.C" - Escapism TV.
by alexanderdavies-99382 | created - 22 Jan 2021 | updated - 10 months ago | PublicThe 1960s in particular, saw many a TV show on British screens - courtesy of TV mogul Lew Grade. Some of these are rightly considered classics - "The Saint," "The Prisoner," "Danger Man," "Thunderbirds," "Randall and Hopkirk" among others.
- Instant Watch Options
- Genres
- Movies or TV
- IMDb Rating
- In Theaters
- Release Year
- Keywords
1. 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
The first successful "I.T.C" show, in a contemporary setting.
2. 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: 1,540
Caught up in the Bond craze.
3. 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: 6,215
My all-time favourite.
4. 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: 15,044
Highly original but quality wildly uneven.
5. 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
The best series, in terms of regular cast.
6. 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
Gerry Anderson's most inventive puppet show.
7. 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: 461
A world away from 007.
8. 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
A more contemporary police drama. A classic.
9. Department S (1969–1970)
60 min | Action, Adventure, Crime
An elite department within Interpol, Department S inherits those cases which the other member groups have failed to solve.
Stars: Peter Wyngarde, Joel Fabiani, Rosemary Nicols, Dennis Alaba Peters
Votes: 583
Intriguing and interesting.
10. UFO (1970–1971)
TV-PG | 45 min | Action, Sci-Fi
The missions of the Supreme Headquarters Alien Defence Organization (SHADO), which defends Earth from extra-terrestrial threats.
Stars: Ed Bishop, Dolores Mantez, Michael Billington, Ayshea Brough
Votes: 4,132
11. The Persuaders! (1971–1972)
60 min | Action, Adventure, Comedy
Two worlds collide when Lord Brett Sinclair, a titled British man, and Danny Wilde, a Bronx-raised, self-made American, reluctantly join forces to right wrongs and protect the innocent.
Stars: Tony Curtis, Roger Moore, Laurence Naismith, Juliet Harmer
Votes: 5,900
12. The Adventures of Sir Lancelot (1956–1957)
30 min | Adventure, Family
In all of Arthurian legend, the most famous of the Knights of the Round Table is undoubtedly Sir Lancelot. This series, painstakingly researched by the History and Literature Departments of... See full summary »
Stars: William Russell, Cyril Smith, Ronald Leigh-Hunt, Robert Scroggins
Votes: 190
13. The Buccaneers (1956–1957)
30 min | Adventure, Drama
The Crown takes Tempest's stronghold. The ex-pirate wins a pardon and becomes a privateer. He and Deputy Gov. Beamish fight Spanish raiders despite their unease. They defend the Caribbean.
Stars: Robert Shaw, Paul Hansard, Brian Rawlinson, Edwin Richfield
Votes: 189
14. William Tell (1958–1959)
30 min | Adventure, Family, History
Depicts the legend of William Tell, who, as the stories say, shot an apple off of his son's head and lead the rebellion to free Switzerland.
Stars: Conrad Phillips, Willoughby Goddard, Jennifer Jayne, Richard Rogers
Votes: 212
15. Sir Francis Drake (1961–1962)
25 min | Adventure, Family
The adventures of Sir Francis Drake during the 1500's. Sir Francis is probably one of the most famous explorers of the high seas. The twenty six episodes of the series are about his ... See full summary »
Stars: Terence Morgan, Jean Kent, Michael Crawford, Milton Reid
Votes: 149
16. The Baron (1966–1967)
TV-PG | 49 min | Crime, Drama
Stories of an antique dealer who is really an undercover agent.
Stars: Steve Forrest, Sue Lloyd, Paul Ferris, Colin Gordon
Votes: 322
17. Sword of Freedom (1957– )
25 min | Adventure, Family
In sixteenth century Florence, Marco del Monte, a dashing Robin Hood-like figure, leads the Republicans against the tyrannical Duke de Medici and his minions.
Stars: Edmund Purdom, Martin Benson, Adrienne Corri, Roland Bartrop
Votes: 39
18. Torchy, the Battery Boy (1959–1961)
15 min | Family, Fantasy
A mechanical boy with a magical flashlight on his head has adventures on earth and in Topsy Turvy Land, which is located on a distant star.
Stars: Kenneth Connor, Olwen Griffiths, Jill Freud, Patricia Somerset
Votes: 56
19. Four Feather Falls (1960)
15 min | Action, Family, Fantasy
Sheriff Tex Tucker makes sure all is well in Four Feather Falls with the help of his dog Dusty and Rocky the horse. Done with puppets, even the animals talk and sing along with the humans as problems are quickly wrapped up.
Stars: Kenneth Connor, Nicholas Parsons, Denise Bryer, David Graham
Votes: 99
20. Supercar (1961–1962)
30 min | Family, Sci-Fi
The adventures of the crew of Supercar, an amazing land, sea, and air vehicle, based at a secret laboratory in the Nevada Desert in 1961.
Stars: David Graham, Graydon Gould, Sylvia Anderson, George Murcell
Votes: 393
21. 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
22. Stingray (1964–1965)
30 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
Follows the adventures of the World Aquanaut Security Patrol, particularly the crew of its most advanced combat submarine called Stingray.
Stars: Ray Barrett, David Graham, Robert Easton, Don Mason
Votes: 1,426
23. Thunderbirds (1965–1966)
TV-G | 50 min | Action, Adventure, Family
In the year 2065, the Tracy family run International Rescue - a top-secret organization whose ongoing mission is to rescue people trapped in extraordinarily dangerous situations using their advanced Thunderbirds machines.
Stars: Sylvia Anderson, Peter Dyneley, David Graham, Shane Rimmer
Votes: 5,112
24. Joe 90 (1968–1969)
TV-PG | 30 min | Action, Adventure, Crime
The adventures of nine-year-old Joe McClaine, who can have the expert skills, knowledge, and experiences of top experts downloaded into his brain by his scientist father, enabling him to become a secret agent code-named "Joe 90".
Stars: Keith Alexander, Sylvia Anderson, Rupert Davies, Len Jones
Votes: 665
25. The Secret Service (1969)
30 min | Action, Family, Sci-Fi
The adventures of an elderly vicar and his gardener, secret agents for B.I.S.H.O.P, who combat criminals and terrorists from overseas in the year 1969.
Stars: Stanley Unwin, Gary Files, Jeremy Wilkin, Sylvia Anderson
Votes: 211
26. The Champions (1968–1969)
60 min | Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller
After a plane carrying three UN Agents crashes in the Himalayas, they are rescued by an advanced civilisation secretly living in Tibet who grant them enhanced versions of the ordinary five senses, and intellectual and physical abilities.
Stars: Stuart Damon, Alexandra Bastedo, William Gaunt, Anthony Nicholls
Votes: 1,424
27. The Protectors (1972–1974)
TV-14 | 30 min | Action, Adventure, Crime
Challenges abound for worldwide crime-fighting team The Protectors. Organised into a global secret society, their mission is to protect the innocent and apprehend the guilty. Starring Emmy winner Robert Vaughn "The Man From U.N.C.L.E.".
Stars: Robert Vaughn, Nyree Dawn Porter, Tony Anholt, Yasuko Nagazumi
Votes: 572
28. Strange Report (1969–1971)
60 min | Drama, Mystery
Retired Scotland Yard commissioner Adam Strange investigates bizarre mysteries in "Swinging Sixties" London.
Stars: Anthony Quayle, Kaz Garas, Anneke Wills, Charles Lloyd Pack
Votes: 175
29. The Adventures of Robin Hood (1955–1960)
Approved | 30 min | Action, Adventure, Family
Robin of Loxley, otherwise known as Robin Hood, and his band of Merry Men protect England from the evil machinations of Prince John while King Richard the Lionheart is away fighting in the Crusades.
Stars: Richard Greene, Victor Woolf, Archie Duncan, Alexander Gauge
Votes: 878
30. Jason King (1971–1972)
60 min | Action, Adventure
A playboy novelist, who has had a spell of work with an intelligence agency as a sideline, leaves, but finds himself performing new missions around the world.
Stars: Peter Wyngarde, Anne Sharp, Ronald Lacey, Dennis Price
Votes: 333
31. Space: 1999 (1975–1977)
TV-14 | 50 min | Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi
The crew of Moonbase Alpha must struggle to survive when a massive explosion throws the Moon from Earths orbit and into deep space.
Stars: Martin Landau, Barbara Bain, Nick Tate, Zienia Merton
Votes: 9,437
32. Return of the Saint (1978–1979)
TV-PG | 60 min | Adventure, Crime
This series chronicles the swashbuckling exploits of Simon Templar, a modern-day Robin Hood of sorts.
Stars: Ian Ogilvy, Gayle Hunnicutt, Stratford Johns, Derren Nesbitt
Votes: 581
33. The Adventurer (1972–1974)
30 min | Adventure
Basically an updating of Gene Barry's "Amos Burke, Secret Agent" character, Gene Bradley is a wealthy government agent, who, posing as an American movie star, travels the globe in search of adventure, intrigue and danger.
Stars: Gene Barry, Barry Morse, Catherine Schell, Garrick Hagon
Votes: 106
34. Man of the World (1962–1963)
60 min | Crime, Drama
Michael Strait is a high-flying photo-journalist and a real Man of the World. His business takes him to every corner of the world and every corner of society and with his eye for trouble it proves to be an irresistible combination.
Stars: Craig Stevens, Tracy Reed, Paul Maxwell, Ricardo Montez
Votes: 57
35. Interpol Calling (1959– )
30 min | Crime, Drama
Follows inspector Paul Duval as he tracks his targets and risks his life in a global race against time.
Stars: Charles Korvin, Edwin Richfield, Roland Bartrop, George Pastell
Votes: 125
36. The Sentimental Agent (1963)
60 min | Crime, Drama
Argentinian shipping agent Carlos Varela (Carlos Thompson) finds that the people using his services often need a lot more of his help than purely shipping goods.
Stars: Burt Kwouk, Clemence Bettany, Carlos Thompson, John Turner
Votes: 44
37. Shirley's World (1971–1972)
30 min | Comedy
Shirley Logan (Shirley MacLaine) is a globe-trotting magazine writer-photographer, and Dennis Croft (John Gregson) her London-based editor.
Stars: Shirley MacLaine, John Gregson, Kim Smith, Burt Kwouk
Votes: 64
38. The Invisible Man (1958–1960)
30 min | Drama, Sci-Fi, Thriller
While working on an invisibility formula, British scientist Dr. Peter Brady (Tim Turner) suffers a tragic accident which turns him invisible. Unfortunately, there is no antidote, so while ... See full summary »
Stars: Tim Turner, Lisa Daniely, Deborah Watling, Ernest Clark
Votes: 445
39. Ghost Squad (1961–1964)
60 min | Crime, Drama
The adventures of the agents of Scotland Yard's secret undercover crime unit, dubbed "The Ghost Squad".
Stars: Anthony Marlowe, Claire Nielson, Michael Quinn, Neil Hallett
Votes: 76
40. The Scarlet Pimpernel (1955– )
30 min | Adventure, Family
Sir Percy Blakeney, Baronet, is a notorious fop and hedonistic member of the Prince Regent's court, but he is secretly "the Scarlet Pimpernel", a mysterious figure who rescues innocents ... See full summary »
Stars: Marius Goring, Stanley Van Beers, Patrick Troughton, Anthony Newlands
Votes: 81
41. Thriller (1973–1976)
TV-14 | 65 min | Crime, Drama, Fantasy
"Thriller" was an anthology series of self-contained episodes, with genres ranging from murder mystery to suspense to psychological and supernatural horror.
Stars: Donna Mills, Gary Collins, Derek Francis, Michael Jayston
Votes: 976
42. The Count of Monte Cristo (1956)
30 min | Adventure, Family
A TV series adaptated from the classic Alexandre Dumas novel. Edmond Dantes is falsely accused by those jealous of his good fortune, and is sentenced to spend the rest of his life in the ... See full summary »
Stars: George Dolenz, Nick Cravat, Robert Cawdron, Henry Corden
Votes: 65
Tell Your Friends