|
The fledgling ITV relied heavily on the pulling power of star personalities,
with established variety acts such as Flanagan and Allan and Tommy Trinder
making up the core of its early 'big name attractions'. The channel, however,
clearly needed to create stars of its own - names that could be identified
solely with the commercial broadcaster.
Sidney Newman, who in late 1959 was appointed drama supervisor for the
Midlands-based ITV franchise ABC, was convinced that light entertainment was not
the only route to building an audience. He set about developing quality drama
output, and among these commissions was Police Surgeon (ITV, 1960), a vehicle
for actor Ian Hendry, who Newman believed was a potential star for the new
channel. Despite having little acting experience, Hendry was handed the lead
role of Dr Geoffrey Brent, a doctor attached to the Bayswater division of the
London Metropolitan Police.
Plot lines generally presented Brent with a case that blurred the line
between law and ethics - how best to deal with a broken family, an elderly
dementia sufferer, a crooked landlord - and his morally complex character was
frequently at odds with the 'by the book' Inspector Landon - a clash of
approaches that was intended to provide the series' core conflict. As actor John Warwick
told the TV Times, "My part is written to contrast Ian Hendry's. I must never
forget that a police surgeon is not, in fact, a policeman, and therefore he can
allow his emotions to govern his actions to a certain extent. For my part, I am
a policeman, for whom the law is always the law."
Despite high hopes, the show failed to click with audiences and after just 13
episodes it was cancelled. However, Newman clearly felt that the basic premise
was sound and ordered a revamp. A month after the final episode of Police
Surgeon aired Hendry was back on screen in The Avengers (ITV, 1961-69) as David
Keel, a doctor who ends up helping shady spy John Steed. Reinforcing the link
with the previous show was Keel's receptionist Carol Wilson, played by actress
Ingrid Hafner, who had portrayed Nurse Gibbs in Police Surgeon. Ironically,
however, given Newman's fond hopes of turning Hendry into a star, it was only
after the latter's departure from The Avengers that the series developed into
real a hit, making stars instead of Patrick McNee (as Steed), Honor Blackman
and, particularly, Diana Rigg.
Anthony Clark
|
1. A private consultation (1:58)
