Detective (TV series)

Detective is a British mystery anthology television series adapted from stories by numerous prominent crime fiction writers, with each episode focusing on a particular detective character. Several prominent fictional sleuths were showcased, including Sherlock Holmes, Dr. John Thorndyke, Philip Trent, Sir Henry Merrivale, Roderick Alleyn, Father Brown, Albert Campion, C. Auguste Dupin, Sir John Appleby, Inspector Ghote, Nigel Strangeways and Gervase Fen.

Many of the episodes were introduced by Rupert Davies, in-character as Inspector Maigret, reprising his role from the eponymous BBC series that had aired from 1960 to 1963. Several episodes functioned as Backdoor pilots for potential future series. Of the 45 episodes, only three such shows were produced as a result: Cluff (1964–65) starring Leslie Sands, Thorndyke (1964) starring Peter Copley, and Sherlock Holmes (1965–68) starring Douglas Wilmer, and later, Peter Cushing.

Recurring cast
Characters who have appeared in more than one episode:
 * Glyn Houston and Bernard Horsfall as Nigel Strangeways (2 episodes)
 * David Horne and Martin Wyldeck as Sir Henry Merrivale (2 episodes)
 * Michael Hordern and John Welsh as Detective Inspector Rason (2 episodes)
 * Geoffrey Keen and Michael Allinson as Roderick Alleyn (2 episodes)
 * Dennis Price and Ian Ogilvy as Sir John Appleby (2 episodes)
 * Patrick Troughton and Colin Blakely as Jasper Shrig (2 episodes)
 * Jane Merrow and Penelope Horner as Eve Gill (2 episodes)
 * Lee Montague as Fred Fellows (2 episodes)
 * Derek Godfrey and Edward Woodward as Commissaire Bignon (2 episodes) (Woodward had previously played C. Auguste Dupin.)