Police Surgeon was a short-lived tape series set in London’s Bayswater, featuring a young police surgeon, Dr Geoffrey Brent (Ian Hendry), who was unable to resist turning investigator on his cases.
So-so crime show, but assured of a place in the TV annals as the origin of famed spy caper The Avengers, since actor Ian Hendry carried on his white coat and magnifying glass – under the new name of Dr David Keel – into that show’s opening episodes.
Police Surgeon aka Dr Simon Locke was also title for a Canadian series (1972, syndicated) about a doctor attached to a police emergency unit who, like Hendry’s Brent, had the sleuthing habit. Sam Groom played the said Dr Simon Locke. The concept of a medical detective, of course, was most successfully exploited by Quincy ME.
Cast: IAN HENDRY as Dr Geoffrey Brent; JOHN WARWICK as Inspector Landon; INGRID HAFNER as Amanda Gibbs
Producers: Julian Bond, Leonard White
UK / ITV – ABC / 13×50 minute episodes / Broadcast 10 September – 3 December 1960
THE EPISODES
1. EASY MONEY
Dr Geoffrey Brent agrees to give an opinion on a young man arrested for robbery but the police officer who asked him to get involved isn’t too sure he should have.
guest cast
ALISTAIR WILLIAMSON as Sgt Manning / MICHAEL CRAWFORD as Young Thief / JOHN WARWICK as Inspector Landon
WRITER: Julian Bond
DIRECTOR: John Knight
2. UNDER THE INFLUENCE
Dr Brent tries to prove that a man arrested for driving under the influence is innocent and tangles with a fellow GP whilst doing so.
guest cast
BERNARD ARCHARD as Herbert Drew / HERON CARVIC as Barrister
WRITER: Julian Bond
DIRECTOR: Don Leaver
3. LAG ON THE RUN
Brent turns ‘tec to solve a crime that a girl (obviously innocent) has confessed to committing.
guest cast
OLIVE McFARLAND as Jean Young / HARRY H. CORBETT as George Drake
WRITER: Julian Bond
DIRECTOR: Don Leaver
4. SMASH BUT NO GRAB
Dr Brent gets caught up in the case of Sally HUghes who is claiming extensive damages after being injured in a road accident.
guest cast
JOYCE HERON as Sally Hughes / NEIL WILSON as PC Gregson / GEOFFREY PALMER as Peter Hughes
WRITER: Julian Bond
DIRECTOR: Don Leaver
5. WILFUL NEGLECT
Brent tries to discover why two children have been abandoned by their seemingly respectable parents.
guest cast
NIGEL STOCK as Harry Davis / HAZEL HUGHES as Jean davis / PATIENCE COLLIER as Mrs Carver
WRITER: Julian Bond
DIRECTOR: Don Leaver
6. YOU WON’T FEEL A THING
Brent helps a girl, certain to die unless she receives an injection, overcome her fear of needles.
guest cast
MAVIS RANSOM as Helen Graham / IVOR SALTER as PC Robinson
WRITER: Julian Bond
DIRECTOR: Robert Hartford-Davis
7. A HOME OF HER OWN
Brent gets involved when a family try to get their elderly mother in law placed into a nursing home.
guest cast
JANE ECCLES as Mrs Lamond / DONALD MORLEY as George Lamond
WRITER: Bill MacIllwraithe
DIRECTOR: Don Leaver
8. SUNDAY MORNING STORY
Dr Brent investigates the highly suspicious death of a female refugee, he knows who the guilty party is but can’t gather the evidence needed to prove it.
guest cast
JEAN ANDERSON as Miss Pears / DONALD CHURCHILL as PC Jordan / MICHAEL HARRISON as 2nd Police Surgeon
WRITER: Julian Bond
DIRECTOR: Don Leaver
9. THREE’S A CROWD
Dr Brent crosses swords with a barrister after taking on an assault case involving a mother and daughter-in-law.
guest cast
ELIZABETH BEGLEY as Mrs Carroll / MAUREEN O’REILLY as Kathy Baker / PERCY HERBERT as Baker
WRITER: Julian Bond
DIRECTOR: Don Leaver
10. MAN OVERBOARD
Brent tries to prove that one of two women was involved in a murder when a body is discovered at the bottom of a balcony.
guest cast
ANNE CASTLE as Miss Perkins / HELEN LINDSAY as Mrs Perkins
WRITER: Bill MacIllwraithe
DIRECTOR: Guy Verney
11. OPERATION MANGLE
A group of tenants decide to take action against their none too nice landlord, Brent finds himself caught in the middle.
guest cast
DUDLEY FOSTER as George Bates / EDNA PETRIE as Alice Bates
WRITER: W. F. Woodlands
DIRECTOR: James Ormerod
12. THE BIGGER THEY ARE
Whilst helping an injured night watchman who has been attacked by crooks, Brent and Landon discover another injured man on the edge of a roof but are unsure whether he is with the crooks or not.
guest cast
BLAISE WYNDHAM as Night watchman / JAMES CLIFFORD as West
WRITER: Richard Harris
DIRECTOR: Don Leaver