Danger Man [1960-1968]

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 the British 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, although the final season only comprised two
episodes, as McGoohan then went off to make 'The Prisoner'. Each episode typically featured Drake travelling to a country
on a perilous mission, such as getting another agent out of a hostile country or destroying a top-secret submarine in
hostile territory. The series was revamped for the second season, with Drake becoming an agent for Britain's MI9. The
episodes were also extended from the original 30 minutes to one hour.

'Danger Man' featured guest appearances by many actors who were well-known at the time, or would become famous
for later roles. Roger Delgado appeared in the 37th episode of the first season, entitled 'Under the Lake', although each
episode had no on-screen title. First broadcast on ITV1 on 30 December 1961, it saw Drake being sent to investigate
General Von Klaus and his daughter, who are believed to be linked to a counterfeiting operation which has led to the
European market being flooded with $25m worth of fake greenbacks. Delgado played Von Golling, the manager of a hotel
in Europe, who is assisting Von Klaus to recover "treasure" hidden in a lake. The treasure turns out to be a hoard of fake
US dollars that was created by the Nazis during the war. The episode opens with Von Golling and his henchmen killing a
NATO agent who is investigating the counterfeiting scam. Roger Delgado is superb in this episode, and although he is
given little screen time, he generates an air of quiet menace that was not unlike his portrayal of the Master.