Paul Temple (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Paul Temple is a British-German television series which originally aired on the BBC
between 1969 and 1971. It features Francis Matthews
as Paul Temple
, the fictional detective created by Francis Durbridge
, who solves crimes with the assistance of his wife Steve. It aired in 52 episodes each with a running time of around fifty minutes.
This was a co-production by the BBC
and Taurus films of Munich
, West Germany
, which had no connection to the earlier BBC radio scripts, which was shown internationally. According to star Matthews, both Paul and Steve Temple became fashion icons of sorts, creating a style that was to be imitated in ITV's The Persuaders!
, while, in America, Drinkwater's role was reportedly emulated by Susan Saint James
in McMillan & Wife and Stefanie Powers
in Hart to Hart
. According to Matthews, Drinkwater chose her own "very expensive" designer
clothes for the part.
Paul Temple used overseas locations in France, Malta, Germany and elsewhere. The series was intended to last for five years, but, despite its popularity, especially in Germany, the BBC withdrew prematurely. Huw Wheldon
, the BBC's managing director for television, later explained to Matthews that it was really "Lew Grade
territory" and cited the BBC's preference for such historical dramas as The Six Wives of Henry VIII and Elizabeth R
. There also appears to have been some disagreement between the BBC and Taurus over the casting of Steve Temple (who had been played in the radio series of Paul Temple from 1945-68 by Marjorie Westbury
), the BBC wishing to drop Drinkwater, but Taurus favouring her retention.
The BBC has never repeated Paul Temple, but 11 surviving colour episodes were issued on a DVD
by Acorn Media
in 2009 and some were shown on the satellite channel UK Gold, in which the BBC had a stake, in the 1990s.
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
between 1969 and 1971. It features Francis Matthews
Francis Matthews (actor)
-Early life:Matthews attended St Michael's Jesuit College, Leeds and started his acting career with Leeds repertory theatre before service in the Royal Navy.-Career:...
as Paul Temple
Paul Temple
Paul Temple is a fictional character created by British writer Francis Durbridge for the BBC radio serial Send for Paul Temple in 1938. Temple is an amateur private detective and author of crime fiction...
, the fictional detective created by Francis Durbridge
Francis Durbridge
Francis Henry Durbridge was an English playwright and author. He was educated at Bradford Grammar School in Yorkshire where he was encouraged to write by his English teacher. He continued to do so whilst studying English at Birmingham University...
, who solves crimes with the assistance of his wife Steve. It aired in 52 episodes each with a running time of around fifty minutes.
This was a co-production by the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
and Taurus films of Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
, which had no connection to the earlier BBC radio scripts, which was shown internationally. According to star Matthews, both Paul and Steve Temple became fashion icons of sorts, creating a style that was to be imitated in ITV's The Persuaders!
The Persuaders!
The Persuaders! is a 1971 action/adventure series, produced by ITC Entertainment for initial broadcast on ITV and ABC. It has been called "the last major entry in the cycle of adventure series that had begun eleven years earlier with Danger Man in 1960", as well as "the most ambitious and most...
, while, in America, Drinkwater's role was reportedly emulated by Susan Saint James
Susan Saint James
Susan Saint James is an American actress and activist, most widely known for her work in television during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.-Early life:...
in McMillan & Wife and Stefanie Powers
Stefanie Powers
Stefanie Powers is an American actress best known for her role as Jennifer Hart in the 1980s television series Hart to Hart.-Early life:...
in Hart to Hart
Hart to Hart
Hart to Hart is an American television series, starring Robert Wagner and Stefanie Powers as Jonathan and Jennifer Hart, a wealthy couple who also moonlighted as amateur detectives. The series was created by writer Sidney Sheldon and produced by Aaron Spelling and Leonard Goldberg...
. According to Matthews, Drinkwater chose her own "very expensive" designer
Designer
A designer is a person who designs. More formally, a designer is an agent that "specifies the structural properties of a design object". In practice, anyone who creates tangible or intangible objects, such as consumer products, processes, laws, games and graphics, is referred to as a...
clothes for the part.
Paul Temple used overseas locations in France, Malta, Germany and elsewhere. The series was intended to last for five years, but, despite its popularity, especially in Germany, the BBC withdrew prematurely. Huw Wheldon
Huw Wheldon
Sir Huw Pyrs Wheldon OBE MC was a BBC broadcaster and executive.Wheldon was born in Prestatyn, Wales and educated at Friars School, Bangor. His father, Sir Wynn Wheldon, was a prominent educationalist, who had been awarded the DSO for gallantry in the First World War...
, the BBC's managing director for television, later explained to Matthews that it was really "Lew Grade
Lew Grade
Lew Grade, Baron Grade , born Lev Winogradsky, was an influential Russian-born English impresario and media mogul.-Early years:...
territory" and cited the BBC's preference for such historical dramas as The Six Wives of Henry VIII and Elizabeth R
Elizabeth R
Elizabeth R is a BBC television drama serial of six 85-minute plays starring Glenda Jackson in the title role. It was first broadcast on BBC2 from February to March 1971, through the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in Australia and broadcast in America on PBS's Masterpiece Theatre.- Episodes...
. There also appears to have been some disagreement between the BBC and Taurus over the casting of Steve Temple (who had been played in the radio series of Paul Temple from 1945-68 by Marjorie Westbury
Marjorie Westbury
Marjorie Westbury was an English radio actress and singer. Her career lasted over fifty years.Born in Oldbury, Worcestershire, she studied Voice at the Royal College of Music in London between 1927 and 1930. During the 1930s she made many radio broadcasts as a soprano from the BBC studios at...
), the BBC wishing to drop Drinkwater, but Taurus favouring her retention.
The BBC has never repeated Paul Temple, but 11 surviving colour episodes were issued on a DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
by Acorn Media
Acorn Media UK
Acorn Media UK is a DVD publisher which distributes and sells home video products with a particular focus on British television.- Company history :The company was founded in 1997 when Lesley Fromant set up a branch of parent company Acorn Media in the UK....
in 2009 and some were shown on the satellite channel UK Gold, in which the BBC had a stake, in the 1990s.
Main cast
- Francis MatthewsFrancis Matthews (actor)-Early life:Matthews attended St Michael's Jesuit College, Leeds and started his acting career with Leeds repertory theatre before service in the Royal Navy.-Career:...
... Paul Temple - Ros DrinkwaterRos DrinkwaterRos Drinkwater is a Scottish-born actress, best known for her portrayal of Paul Temple's wife, Steve, in the eponymous television series, based on the character created by Francis Durbridge. She later moved into photojournalism....
... Steve Temple - June EllisJune Ellis-Selected filmography:* The Angel Who Pawned Her Harp * Sky West and Crooked * Quatermass and the Pit * Ring of Bright Water * Anne of the Thousand Days * Frenzy * Yanks...
... Kate Balfour - George SewellGeorge SewellGeorge Sewell was an English actor.-Early life and early career:The son of a Hoxton printer and a florist; Sewell left school at age 14 and worked briefly in the printing trade before switching to building work, specifically the repair of bomb-damaged houses...
... Sammy Carson - Blake ButlerBlake ButlerBlake Butler was a British actor best known for his regular role as Mr. Wainright during the first three series of Last of the Summer Wine between 1973 and 1976...
... Eric - Derek MartinDerek MartinDerek Martin is a British actor who is best known for his role as Charlie Slater in the British soap opera EastEnders which he played from 2000 to 2011.-Personal life:...
... Paddy