"Ghost Squad" (1961)TV series

Directors:

Phil Brown
James Ferman
(more)

Writers:

Brad Ashton (writer)
Geoffrey Bellman (writer)
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3

Release Date:

9 September 1961 (UK)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Plot:

The adventures of the agents of Scotland Yard's secret undercover crime unit, dubbed "The Ghost Squad".

Cast

Anthony Marlowe	...	Geoffrey Stock (32 episodes, 1963-1964)
Claire Nielson	...	Jean Carter (32 episodes, 1963-1964)
Michael Quinn	...	Nick Craig (30 episodes, 1961-1963)
Neil Hallett	...	Tony Miller / ... (22 episodes, 1962-1964)
Angela Browne	...	Helen Winters (13 episodes, 1961-1963)
Donald Wolfit	...	Sir Andrew Wilson (13 episodes, 1961-1963)

(more)

Series Directed by
Peter Sasdy		(10 episodes, 1963-1964)
Don Sharp		(6 episodes, 1961-1962)
Robert Lynn		(5 episodes, 1961-1963)
Norman Harrison		(2 episodes, 1961)
Antony Kearey		(2 episodes, 1963)
John Nelson-Burton		(2 episodes, 1963)
Dennis Vance		(2 episodes, 1963)
Phil Brown		(1 episode, 1963)
Hugh Rennie		(1 episode, 1963)
James Ferman		(unknown episodes)
Christopher Morahan		(unknown episodes)
Geoffrey Nethercott		(unknown episodes)
Eric Price		(unknown episodes)
William G. Stewart		(unknown episodes)

Series Writing credits
John Gosling		(52 episodes, 1961-1964)
Lindsay Galloway		(4 episodes, 1961)
Gerald Kelsey		(3 episodes, 1961-1963)
Dick Sharples		(3 episodes, 1961-1963)
Bill Craig		(3 episodes, 1963)
John Lucarotti		(3 episodes, 1963)
Peter Yeldham		(2 episodes, 1963)
Patrick Campbell		(1 episode, 1961)
Brian Clemens		(1 episode, 1961)
Lewis Davidson		(1 episode, 1961)
Max Marquis		(1 episode, 1961)
Robert Holmes		(1 episode, 1962)
Geoffrey Bellman		(1 episode, 1963)
Leon Griffiths		(1 episode, 1963)
Philip Levene		(1 episode, 1963)
Louis Marks		(1 episode, 1963)
John Whitney		(1 episode, 1963)
Brad Ashton		(unknown episodes)
Julian Bond		(unknown episodes)
Dave Cummin		(unknown episodes)
Anthony Dawson		(unknown episodes)
Basil Dawson		(unknown episodes)
Reed De Rouen		(unknown episodes)
Larry Forrester		(unknown episodes)
Tudor Gates		(unknown episodes)
Lewis Greifer		(unknown episodes)
Richard Harris		(unknown episodes)
Kenneth R. Hayles		(unknown episodes)
Malcolm Hulke		(unknown episodes)
Bill MacIlwraith		(unknown episodes)
Guy Morgan		(unknown episodes)
Maurice Murphy		(unknown episodes)
Nicholas Palmer		(unknown episodes)
Robert Stewart		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
Connery Chapell	....	producer (13 episodes, 1961-1963)
Denis Holt	....	associate producer (13 episodes, 1961-1963)
Antony Kearey	....	producer (11 episodes, 1963)
Dennis Vance	....	producer (unknown episodes, 1964)

Series Original Music by
Philip Green		(2 episodes, 1961-1963)

Series Cinematography by
Nicolas Roeg		(1 episode, 1961)
Reginald H. Wyer		(1 episode, 1961)

Series Film Editing by
Len Walter		(2 episodes, 1961)

Series Production Design by
Eric Shedden		(3 episodes, 1963)
Tom Lingwood		(2 episodes, 1963)
Vic Symonds		(2 episodes, 1963)

Series Art Direction by
Lionel Couch		(1 episode, 1961)

Series Makeup Department
Trevor Crole-Rees	....	makeup artist (1 episode, 1961)
John Wilcox	....	makeup artist (1 episode, 1961)

Series Production Management
Donald Toms	....	unit manager (2 episodes, 1961)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Kip Gowans	....	assistant director (1 episode, 1961)
Frank Hollands	....	assistant director (1 episode, 1961)

Series Sound Department
Peter Davies	....	sound mixer / sound recordist (8 episodes, 1961-1963)
Lionel Selwyn	....	dubbing editor / sound editor (2 episodes, 1961)

Series Stunts
Peter Diamond	....	fight arranger (1 episode, 1963)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Nicolas Roeg	....	camera operator (1 episode, 1961)
Alex Thomson	....	camera operator (1 episode, 1961)
H.A.R. Thomson	....	camera operator (1 episode, 1961)

Series Editorial Department
Peter Saunders	....	supervising editor (1 episode, 1961)

Series Music Department
John Beaton	....	music editor (1 episode, 1961)

Series Other crew
Joy Mercer	....	continuity (2 episodes, 1961)
Brian Clemens	....	story editor (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Associated Television (ATV)

Distributors

• Independent Television (ITV)

Also Known As:

G.S.5 (UK) (third season title)

Runtime:

60 min (52 episodes)

Country:

UK

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:PG (video rating)

Filming Locations:

Independent Artists Studios, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company:

Associated Television (ATV)

A great film noir series

Ghost Squad was a British series that commenced in 1961. The first 13 episodes were shot on high quality film and still look great today.Unfortunately the second, longer series suffered from a strike at the time and was therefore shot on video tape and it shows.The first series starred Michael Quinn as Nick Craig, special Ghost Squad operator.Also starring as his boss was the legendary theatre actor, Donald Wolfit.This first series is a gem. Espionage, murder, robbery, international intrigue and Nick Craig was always there.Great to see so many British upcoming actors, Honor Blackman, Douglas Wilmer, Roger Delgado, John Cairney, William Hartnell, so many more.The entire series has now been released on DVD in the U.K. I recommend it strongly to the t.v. collector.The second series gave Craig a new boss , Donald Wolfit was gone. Neil Hallett came in as another agent and his stories generally rotated with Craig's.It's still a good show but the loss of quality really does show on video tape.Michael Quinn was an American actor with only a few bit parts to his name when he landed the lead. In the beginning his inexperience shows but to his credit he vastly improves quickly and for me despite other actors appearing as agents , Craig is always the interesting one.Neil Hallett is fine and probably the better actor of the two. However there is something about Quinn as Nick Craig that really does convey the life of a lonely agent.Some sources state that Craig is blown up in the episode "A first class way to die". This is untrue, he is alive and well at the end of series 2.However when the series returned a year later under the title, GS.5 , Nick Craig was gone and Miller ( Neil Hallett) sets out to avenge his death, but Craig's demise is never shown to the audience. Was Quinn dropped or did he leave? We shall never know.Quinn went back to America and only managed small roles in shows like Bewitched and Dallas. I have heard he then went to Australia and appeared in Neighbours as a doctor. I have been unable to verify this, so if anyone could help, please do let me know.Would be interesting to know if he is still alive, if he is it seems a shame he is not there giving a commentary on a landmark t.v. series.Ghost Squad was the first British one hour dramatic show and to this day the majority of the stories stand up well, give it a whirl.