Series synopsis
The Prisoner is a British drama sci-fi & fantasy mystery television series that premiered on ITV1 on September 29, 1967. It ended on February 2, 1968. It was created by Patrick McGoohan, George Markstein. It stars Patrick McGoohan, Peter Swanwick, Fenella Fielding and Colin Gordon.
After resigning, a secret agent is abducted and taken to what looks like an idyllic village, but is really a bizarre Kafkaesque prison. His warders demand information. He gives them nothing, but only tries to escape.
Premise
After resigning, a secret agent is abducted and taken to what looks like an idyllic village, but is really a bizarre Kafkaesque prison. His warders demand information. He gives them nothing, but only tries to escape.
Premise: No man is just a number.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Patrick McGoohan as Number Six
- Peter Swanwick as The Supervisor
- Fenella Fielding as Loudspeaker Announcer
- Colin Gordon as Number Two
- Leo McKern as Former Number Two
- Derren Nesbitt as New Number Two
- Eric Portman as Number Two
- Ronald Radd as Rook
Supporting cast
- David Bauer as The Judge / Number Two
- Paul Eddington as Cobb
- John Sharp as Number Two
- Mary Morris as Number Two
- Anton Rodgers as Number Two
- Donald Sinden as The Colonel
- Nigel Stock as The Colonel / Number Six / Seltzman
- Alexis Kanner as Number Forty Eight / The Kid
- Nadia Gray as Nadia Rokovsky, Number 8
- George Baker as The New Number Two
- George Coulouris as Man with the Stick
- Justine Lord as Sonia
Guest cast
- Colin Gordon as Number Two
- Leo McKern as Former Number Two
- Derren Nesbitt as New Number Two
- Eric Portman as Number Two
- Ronald Radd as Rook
- David Bauer as The Judge / Number Two
- Paul Eddington as Cobb
- John Sharp as Number Two
- Mary Morris as Number Two
- Anton Rodgers as Number Two
- Donald Sinden as The Colonel
- Nigel Stock as The Colonel / Number Six / Seltzman
Episodes
This series spans 2 seasons with 48 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 0 | 31 | September 29, 1967 | |
| Season 1 | 17 | September 29, 1967 | February 2, 1968 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Arrival (Original Edit) A preliminary edit of the first episode, "Arrival", was broadcast by accident on one PBS station in the 1970s. Although the original negative of this edit has been lost, a videotape copy was discovered and released on DVD in 2002. Among the major differences from the officially broadcast version: * Different theme music and differently edited opening credits (same as the alternate version of "Chimes of Big Ben.") * Slight differences in the sequence where No. 6 wakes up in the Village for the first time. * A longer version of the sequence where No. 6 tours The Village by taxi. * When Rover is introduced, it does not kill a villager as it does in the televised version. * Longer version of the sequence where No. 6's radio-controlled helicopter returns to the Village. * Different closing credits, ending with an image of Earth and the universe turning into the pennyfarthing bicycle logo. Also, Wilfred Josephs is credited as musical director. |
|
| 2 |
The Chimes of Big Ben (Original Edit) Pre-edit version of Chimes of Big Ben. Was reported to have aired in Canada. Different closing sequence. |
|
| 3 |
Bernie Williams Interview Interview with original series production manager Bernie Williams. In this discussion, Bernie reveals man behind-the-scenes facts and observations, as well as what it was like to work with the elusive Patrick McGoohan. |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Arrival After resigning, a secret agent finds himself trapped in a bizarre prison known only as The Village. |
September 29, 1967 |
| 2 |
The Chimes of Big Ben A new Number 8 named Nadia arrives in The Village, and together Number 6 and she plot their escape. |
October 6, 1967 |
| 3 |
A., B. and C. Number 2 believes that Number 6 resigned because he was going to sell out. Using dream manipulation, Number 2 tries to determine which one of three possible candidates Number 6 was dealing with. |
October 13, 1967 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | ITV1 |
|---|---|
| First aired | September 29, 1967 |
| Last aired | February 2, 1968 |
| Runtime | 60 minutes |
| Status | ended |
| Schedule | Sunday at 20:00:00 |