Department S (TV series)
A division of Interpol solving baffling international cases.
Department S is a British spy-fi adventure series from ITC Entertainment, running for 28 episodes that first aired in 1969 and 1970. The show centres on a specialised Interpol unit that tackles cases too strange for standard agencies. The team is headed by Sir Curtis Seretse (Dennis Alaba Peters) and includes three agents: American field investigator Stewart Sullivan (Joel Fabiani), adventure novelist Jason King (Peter Wyngarde), and computer expert Annabelle Hurst (Rosemary Nicols).
The series was created by Dennis Spooner and Monty Berman, though neither wrote episodes; scripts came from ITC regulars like Terry Nation and Philip Broadley. Many directors had worked on other ITC shows such as *The Saint*, *Danger Man*, and *Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)*. Shot on 35mm colour film, it was designed for the US commercial format. Episodes open with a cold start after the 'S' logo, but unusually, the title, writer, and director credits appear before the opening title sequence, after the theme begins. The principal cast was mostly studio-bound, with exteriors often represented by studio buildings or second-unit footage using doubles. Outside locations were largely limited to Hertfordshire countryside near Borehamwood, though Peter Wyngarde filmed on the streets of Vienna for at least one foreign location; otherwise, stock footage established foreign settings. The opening and closing credits were designed by Chambers and Partners, who also worked on *The Baron* and *Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)*. Edwin Astley composed the music.
The plots involve bizarre discoveries, such as a plane landing at Heathrow with no pilot or passengers ("One of our Aircraft is Empty") or a government official whose chauffeur finds him turned into a skeleton ("The Bones of Byrom Blain"). Stewart Sullivan, a former FBI agent, leads the team and takes direction from Seretse; he is pragmatic and hands-on, doing much of the legwork. Jason King is the ideas man, an adventure novelist who uses case details for his books, funding a hedonistic lifestyle often involving beautiful women but no permanent love interest; in one episode he mentions being a widower whose wife died in a plane crash. He also provides comic relief, frequently getting subdued in fights. Annabelle Hurst is a computer expert and analyst who also works in the field, sometimes using seductive disguises; she appears in her
- genre
- Spy-fi adventure
- episodes
- 28
- original_run
- 1969–1970
- network
- ITV (ATV Midlands)
- production_company
- ITC Entertainment
- creators
- Dennis Spooner and Monty Berman
- main_cast
- Peter Wyngarde, Joel Fabiani, Rosemary Nicols, Dennis Alaba Peters
Lore & Background
Department S was created by Dennis Spooner and Monty Berman, though neither wrote any episodes; scripts were provided by ITC regulars such as Terry Nation and Philip Broadley. The series was shot on 35mm colour film and designed for the US commercial format. Episodes begin with a cold open, and the episode title, writer, and director credits appear before the opening title sequence. The principal cast was mostly studio-bound, with exteriors represented by studio buildings or second-unit footage using doubles. Outside locations were largely restricted to the Hertfordshire countryside near Borehamwood, with at least one foreign location featuring Peter Wyngarde on the streets of Vienna. The opening and closing credits were designed by Chambers and Partners, and the music was composed by Edwin Astley.
Reader's Guide
Department S is notable as a late-1960s ITC production that blends espionage with science fiction elements, focusing on bizarre mysteries such as a plane landing with no pilot or passengers. The series is significant for introducing the character Jason King, played by Peter Wyngarde, who later starred in his own spin-off series, Jason King. The show's format—a three-person team with distinct roles (the pragmatic American, the hedonistic novelist, and the computer expert)—influenced later ensemble crime dramas. Its legacy includes repeated broadcasts on ITV4 and London Live, and comprehensive home media releases on DVD and Blu-ray, including high-definition transfers. The series remains a cult favorite among fans of vintage British television.
Did You Know?
- The series was created by Dennis Spooner and Monty Berman, though neither wrote any episodes.
- The music for the series was composed by Edwin Astley.
- At least one foreign location was used, featuring Peter Wyngarde on the streets of Vienna.
- The episode 'A Small War of Nerves' features Anthony Hopkins.
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