The lowdown: ''Every government has its Secret Service branch. America, the CIA; France, the Deuxieme Bureau
and England, MI5. NATO also has its own. A messy job? That's when they call on me - or someone like me. Oh yes, 
my name is Drake, John Drake.' These words were the introduction to the first series of ITC's spy series starring 
Patrick McGoohan as an American NATO agent who was sent on missions around the world. 'Danger Man' ran for 86
episodes and four seasons between October 1960 and December 1968. Each episode typically featured Drake assisting
somebody in trouble, with most of his cases having political or national security implications.

Patrick Troughton made his first 'Danger Man' appearance in episode eight of season one, entitled 'The Lonely Chair'. 
First broadcast on ITV1 on 30 October 1960, it featured Troughton as Brenner, the leader of a criminal group that has 
kidnapped the daughter of a wealthy and reclusive New York industrialist, Patrick Laurence, who is disfigured and
confined to a wheelchair due to an accident some years ago. Drake impersonates Laurence in order to get close to 
the kidnappers and the girl. Rather than money, they want the plans to a new nuclear plant that has been designed 
by Laurence. Drake of course foils this plot and the girl is reunited with her father. Troughton only appears in the last
few minutes of the episode, playing yet another baddie (he seemed to specialise in such characters during the ITC era). 
He also appeared in episode 28, entitled 'Bury the Dead.'
 
  Video Clip:
Drake confronts Brenner  (7.2mb)


 


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