''Virgin of the Secret Service'' is a British television series which ran for one season in 1968, produced by the
ITV
ITV or iTV may refer to:
ITV
*Independent Television (ITV), a British television network, consisting of:
** ITV (TV network), a free-to-air national commercial television network covering the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islan ...
franchise,
Associated Television
Associated Television was the original name of the British broadcaster ATV, part of the Independent Television (ITV) network. It provided a service to London at weekends from 1955 to 1968, to the Midlands on weekdays from 1956 to 1968, and ...
. The series was created by
Ted Willis
Edward Henry Willis, Baron Willis (13 January 1914 – 22 December 1992) was an English playwright, novelist and screenwriter who was also politically active in support of the Labour Party. In 1941 he became the General Secretary of the Young Co ...
.
The show was a tongue-in-cheek adventure series set in the early 1900s, and followed the adventures of Captain Robert Virgin (
Clinton Greyn
Clinton Greyn (29 September 1933 – 19 March 2019) was a Welsh-born actor noted for his appearances in British television series of the 1960s and 1970s.
After graduating from RADA in 1957, Greyn worked in rep at Ipswich, Chesterfield and the ...
), a gentleman officer working for the British Secret Service. Each episode would see him dispatched to different parts of the world by Colonel Shaw-Camberley (
Noel Coleman
Noel Coleman (26 November 1919 – 12 October 2007) was a RADA-trained English actor who appeared in many television roles. He appeared in the 1969 '' Doctor Who'' serial ''The War Games'' as General Smythe and he appeared in '' Red Dwarf'' as ...
) to do battle with enemies of the
British Empire
The British Empire was composed of the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates, and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom and its predecessor states. It began with the overseas possessions and trading posts esta ...
. He was aided by his
escapologist
Escapology is the practice of escaping from restraints or other traps. Escapologists (also classified as escape artists) escape from handcuffs, straitjackets, cages, coffins, steel boxes, barrels, bags, burning buildings, fish-tanks, and oth ...
batman Sergeant Doublett (
John Cater
John Edward Cater (17 January 1932 – 21 March 2009) was an English actor.
His television credits include: ''Danger Man''; ''Z-Cars''; '' The Avengers''; '' The Baron''; ''Doctor Who'' (in the serial '' The War Machines''); '' Follyfoot''; ' ...
) and Mrs. Cortez (
Veronica Strong
Veronica Strong (born 1938) is a British actress, best known for her roles in television series of the sixties and seventies including '' It's Dark Outside'' (1965), '' Virgin of the Secret Service'' (1968) and ''Children of the Stones'' (1977) ...
), an emancipated female photographer and part-time secret agent. Virgin's principal adversary was always Karl Von Brauner (
Clinton Greyn
Clinton Greyn (29 September 1933 – 19 March 2019) was a Welsh-born actor noted for his appearances in British television series of the 1960s and 1970s.
After graduating from RADA in 1957, Greyn worked in rep at Ipswich, Chesterfield and the ...
*Mrs. Virginia Cortez -
Veronica Strong
Veronica Strong (born 1938) is a British actress, best known for her roles in television series of the sixties and seventies including '' It's Dark Outside'' (1965), '' Virgin of the Secret Service'' (1968) and ''Children of the Stones'' (1977) ...
*Sergeant Fred Doublett -
John Cater
John Edward Cater (17 January 1932 – 21 March 2009) was an English actor.
His television credits include: ''Danger Man''; ''Z-Cars''; '' The Avengers''; '' The Baron''; ''Doctor Who'' (in the serial '' The War Machines''); '' Follyfoot''; ' ...
*Karl Von Brauner -
Alexander Doré
Alexander Joseph Doré (28 August 1923 – 16 April 2002) was a British actor, director and screenwriter. He was best known for his appearance as the First Spy in the 1968 film '' Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.''Noel Coleman
Noel Coleman (26 November 1919 – 12 October 2007) was a RADA-trained English actor who appeared in many television roles. He appeared in the 1969 '' Doctor Who'' serial ''The War Games'' as General Smythe and he appeared in '' Red Dwarf'' as ...
*Klaus Striebeck -
Peter Swanwick
Walter Peter Swanwick (29 September 1922 – 14 November 1968) was a British actor best remembered as the "Supervisor" (sometimes called the Controller) in the 1967 TV series, ''The Prisoner''.
Swanwick's film career began with bit parts in f ...