Department S
2289806
215751240
2008-05-29T15:26:46Z
82.71.224.213
{{otheruses1|the TV series}}
{{Infobox ITC|
| show_name = Department S
| image =
| caption =
| format = Spy-Fi Action Adventure
| runtime = 50 min.
| creator = [[Dennis Spooner]]<br>[[Monty Berman]]
| starring = [[Peter Wyngarde]]<br>[[Joel Fabiani]]<br>[[Rosemary Nicols]]<br>Dennis Alaba Peters
| country = [[United Kingdom|UK]]
| network = [[Associated Television Network|ATV]]
| first_aired = [[September 9]], [[1969]]
| last_aired = [[March 17]], [[1970]]
| num_episodes = 28
| prod_co_img =
| prod_co = [[ITC Entertainment]]
}}
'''''Department S''''' was a [[United Kingdom|British]] [[espionage]]/[[science fiction]] adventure series produced by [[ITC Entertainment]]. The series lasted for 28 episodes, which aired in 1969-70. The series starred [[Peter Wyngarde]] as Jason King (who later went on to star in his own, [[Jason King (TV series)|eponymous]], [[spin-off]] series), [[Joel Fabiani]] as Stewart Sullivan and [[Rosemary Nicols]] as Annabelle Hurst. The trio were agents for a fictional special department (the 'S' of the title) of [[Interpol]]. The head of Department S was Sir Curtis Seretse (played by [[Dennis Alaba Peters]]).
The series was created by [[Dennis Spooner]] and [[Monty Berman]], although neither wrote any of the episodes, which were instead written by ITC veterans such as [[Terry Nation]] and [[Philip Broadley]]. Many of the directors on the show had also worked on a number of ITC shows – ''[[The Saint (TV series)|The Saint]]'', ''[[Danger Man]]'', ''[[The Protectors]]'' and ''[[Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)]]''. Like many of the ITC shows, ''Department S'' has gained [[Cult television|cult]] status.
"''When a case proves too baffling for the minds of Interpol, they turn to the talents of Department S.''" - from the ITC trailer for the series.
[[Austin Powers]] is believed to have been based upon the flamboyant Jason King character{{Fact|date=March 2007}}. Jason King was also the basis for Jason Bentley, played by [[Peter Richardson]] in the 1993 [[The Comic Strip|Comic Strip Presents]] film ''[[Detectives on the Edge of a Nervous Breakdown]]''
The first two episodes of the series were released on a now deleted [[DVD]] in Britain by [[Carlton Television]] (now [[ITV plc]]). Repeats began airing on [[ITV4]] in November 2005, alongside a large number of similar ITC productions.
The series has also been released on DVD by Umbrella Entertainment in a box set. This version is in PAL with no region code. Network has also released this series on DVD in the [[UK]] [http://www.networkdvd.net/product_info.php?products_id=523] featuring many exclusive extras including commentaries and part of a documentary series also covering Jason King; Wanna Watch a Television Series? Chapter One: Variations on a Theme.
==Cast==
*[[Peter Wyngarde]]....[[Jason King (television)|Jason King]]
*[[Joel Fabiani]]....Stewart Sullivan
*[[Rosemary Nicols]]....Annabelle Hurst
*[[Dennis Alaba Peters]]....Sir Curtis Seretse - listed as Dennis Alba Peters in first series credits.
==External links==
*{{imdb title|id=0063893|title=Department S}}
*[http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/512800/index.html British Film Institute Screen Online]
[[Category:ITV television programmes]]
[[Category:Science fiction television series]]
[[Category:Espionage television series]]
[[Category:ITC Distributions]]
[[Category:1960s British television series]]
[[Category:1970s British television series]]
{{ITCDistributions-stub}}
[[fr:Département S]]