Series synopsis
Callan is a British action & adventure drama television series that premiered on ITV1 on July 8, 1967. It ended on May 17, 1972. It stars Edward Woodward, Russell Hunter, Patrick Mower and Anthony Valentine.
Callan is the title of a British television series set in the murky world of espionage. Originally produced by ABC Weekend Television and later Thames Television, it was aired on the ITV network over four seasons spread out between 1967 and 1972. The series starred Edward Woodward as David Callan, a reluctant professional killer for a shadowy branch of the British Government's intelligence services known as 'the Section'.
Premise
Callan is the title of a British television series set in the murky world of espionage. Originally produced by ABC Weekend Television and later Thames Television, it was aired on the ITV network over four seasons spread out between 1967 and 1972. The series starred Edward Woodward as David Callan, a reluctant professional killer for a shadowy branch of the British Government's intelligence services known as 'the Section'.
Premise: David Callan, only good at one thing, well maybe two, killing people and collecting toy soldiers.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Edward Woodward as David Callan
- Russell Hunter as Lonely
- Patrick Mower as Cross
- Anthony Valentine as Mears
- William Squire as Hunter
- John Savident
- Jerome Willis
- Betty Marsden
Supporting cast
- Bernard Archard
- Peter Cellier
- Kathleen Byron
- Hilary Dwyer
- Conrad Phillips
- Vladek Sheybal
- Nicholas Selby
- Derek Waring
- Tessa Wyatt
- Gerald Flood
- Joseph Fürst
- Derek Newark
Guest cast
Episodes
This series spans 5 seasons with 46 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 0 | 2 | February 7, 1981 | February 7, 1981 |
| Season 1 | 7 | February 6, 1967 | August 12, 1967 |
| Season 2 | 15 | January 8, 1969 | April 16, 1969 |
| Season 3 | 9 | April 8, 1970 | June 24, 1970 |
| Season 4 | 13 | March 1, 1972 | May 17, 1972 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Wet Job Ten years on, David Callan hasn't changed much. Retirement has brought a new identity, a new mistress, and a new business in the form of a militaria shop. But once a secret-service operative, always a secret-services operative, as he discovers when a call summons him to headquarters and a meeting with the fourth 'Hunter' of his career. Callan thought the past was dead and buried - reactivating it is no pleasure, but it has to be done. |
February 7, 1981 |
| 2 | Callan (Movie) | March 5, 1974 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
A Magnum for Schneider (pilot) Hunter, head of the Section, requires the services of his best operative, David Callan. Callan had been 'retired' from the service due to his growing conscience, disrespect for orders, and concerns about the people he was ordered to eliminate. Callan now working as a bookkeeper, a job he despises, is offered to be reinstated into the Section if he kills Schneider, an international arms dealer. |
February 6, 1967 |
| 2 |
The Good Ones Are All Dead Under threat of being placed in a red file, Callan is coerced into helping the Section hand over an ex-SS officer, Strauss, to the Israelis. |
July 8, 1967 |
| 3 |
Goodbye, Nobby Clarke Callan must stop an old friend, Clarke, from going back to Africa, where he was training mercenaries, else Hunter will have Clarke killed. |
July 15, 1967 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Red Knight, White Knight The Section's new Hunter has Callan pulled from the field. |
January 8, 1969 |
| 2 |
The Most Promising Girl of Her Year Callan must prove that a young biochemist is not giving information to the East. |
January 15, 1969 |
| 3 |
You're Under Starter's Orders Callan apparently turns renegade. A ruse to trap the head of a ‘pipeline' for smuggling foreign agents and defectors out of the country. |
January 22, 1969 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Where Else Could I Go? The new Hunter cannot decide if Callan is to return to the Section or not. |
April 8, 1970 |
| 2 |
Summoned To Appear When Cross kills an innocent bystander it's up to Callan to cover for him, but even he cannot decide if it was an accident or murder. |
April 15, 1970 |
| 3 |
The Same Trick Twice An exchange of captured agents with the Soviets goes sour. |
April 22, 1970 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
That'll Be the Day Callan is dead. Or so the KGB would have you think. |
March 1, 1972 |
| 2 |
Call Me Sir! Lonely is used as bait to retrieve Callan from the KGB. |
March 8, 1972 |
| 3 |
First Refusal Callan has become the new Hunter. And his first job is to retrieve a list of British undercover agents. |
March 15, 1972 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | ITV1 |
|---|---|
| First aired | July 8, 1967 |
| Last aired | May 17, 1972 |
| Runtime | 50 minutes |
| Status | ended |
| Schedule | Saturday at 21:00:00 |