Campion (BBC Crime, Peter Davison, Brian Glover)

Charming period detective drama series Campion takes us back to the 1930’s where private detective for hire Albert Campion (Peter Davison) tackles all manner of fiendish villains and murderers. Campion is helped by tough, one time petty thief, middle aged manservant Magersfontein Lugg (Brian Glover) who is more than helpful for Campion when it comes to mixing with some of the less salubrious members of society. Campion also has a prime contact with the police too in the shape of Chief Inspector Stanislaus Oates (Andrew Burt).

Wealthy and erudite Campion gets around in a gorgeous Lagonda, he is a man of many surprises too, it is revealed in the first story Look To The Lady that he likes to spend time living with a group of gypsys where he is known as Orlando.

A high quality series, similar in tone to the BBC’s own beautiful adaptations of the Miss Marple novels by Agatha Christie. Each of the stories spanned two episodes and there were eight altogether (four to each season), production values were of a very high standard and with all star casts (that included the likes of Gordon Jackson, Lysette Anthony, Timothy West, John Fortune, Michael Gough, Isabel Dean and the brilliant Iain Cuthbertson to name just a few) Campion is very much a show to be savored.

Margery Allingham, on whose novels the series is based, was one of the big three crime writers from the golden age of detective fiction alongside Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers. Campion appeared in 26 of her novels.

Opening narration: “Albert Campion, born May 20th 1900, name known to be a pseudonym, education priveliged, embarked on adventurous career 1929 justice neatly executed, nothing sordid deserving cases preferred, police no object, business address 17 Bottle Street, Piccadilly, London W1, specialist in fairy stories”

Cast: PETER DAVISON as Albert Campion; BRIAN GLOVER as Magersfontain Lugg; ANDREW BURT as Chief Inspector Stanislaus Oates

Developed for TV by John Hawkesworth / Novels: Margery Allingham / Script Editor: Devora Pope / Music: Nigel Hess / Producer: Ken Riddington

UK / BBC One – Consolidated Productions / 16×50 minute episodes / Broadcast 22 January 1989 – 16 March 1990

THE EPISODES (all two part stories)
SEASON ONE 22 January – 12 March 1989
LOOK TO THE LADY
POLICE AT THE FUNERAL
THE CASE OF THE LATE PIG
DEATH OF A GHOST

SEASON TWO 19 January – 16 March 1990
SWEET DANGER
DANCERS IN MOURNING
FLOWERS FOR THE JUDGE
MYSTERY MILE