Sir Francis Drake (TV series)

Sir Francis Drake (aka The Adventures of Sir Francis Drake) is a 1961–1962 British adventure television series starring Terence Morgan as Sir Francis Drake, commander of the sailing ship the Golden Hind. As well as battles at sea and sword fights, the series also deals with intrigue at Queen Elizabeth's court.

Production
The series was a joint ABC/ATV production, made at Associated British Elstree Studios and on historical sites in England.

A replica of the Golden Hind was constructed at a cost of £25,000 and was used for filming in and around the bays of Torbay and Dartmouth. In 1963 the ship was permanently moored in Brixham harbour in Devon where it became a tourist attraction. The ship was destroyed in a storm in 1987, after which it was towed to Dartmouth and replaced with the current replica.

Additional production staff
Historical research was provided by E. Hayter Preston. Beatrice Dawson designed the many period costumes worn in the show. Ian Stuart Black was story editor. The fight scenes were arranged by Peter Diamond, who also appeared in four episodes.

Broadcast history
The series was originally shown on UK network ATV from 12 November 1961, until 20 May 1962. It later aired in the US on NBC from 24 June 1962, to 9 September 1962 as a summer replacement for Car 54, Where Are You?. In 2020, it began being broadcast on Talking Pictures TV.

Cast and characters

 * Terence Morgan as Sir Francis Drake
 * Jean Kent as Queen Elizabeth I
 * Michael Crawford as John Drake
 * Roger Delgado as Count Bernardino de Mendoza
 * Patrick McLoughlin as Trevelyan
 * Alex Scott as Don Pedro
 * Milton Reid as Diego
 * Richard Warner as Walsingham
 * Ewan Roberts as Munro
 * Howard Lang as Richard Grenville
 * Glynn Edwards as Will Martin
 * Peter Diamond as Bosun

Guest appearances

 * David McCallum as Lord Oakeshott
 * Delphi Lawrence as the Countess
 * Raymond Huntley as Dr John Dee
 * Noelle Middleton as Mary Queen of Scots
 * Michael Anderson Jr. as John Harington
 * Clive Morton as English Ambassador
 * Ronald Leigh-Hunt as Hawkins
 * Nanette Newman as Yana
 * Olive McFarland as Jenny Smellitt
 * Michael Ripper as Almighty Jones
 * Mark Eden as Agila
 * Anthony Bushell as Tom Doughty
 * Frederick Jaeger as Vicary
 * William Lucas as Count Julio
 * Neil McCallum as Sir Martin
 * Francesca Annis as Mariella of Naples
 * Ferdy Mayne as Joos
 * Mary Merrall as Duchess
 * Nigel Davenport as Miguel de Cervantes
 * Reginald Beckwith as Sir Henry Rainsford
 * Brian Bedford as Estaban
 * Barry Morse as Governor
 * Pamela Brown as Catherine de' Medici
 * Patrick Allen as Henry of Navarre
 * Natasha Parry as Countess Inez

Episode list
Airdate is for ATV London ITV regions varied date and order.

DVD release
The complete series is out on DVD and includes a still showing Terence Morgan as Sir Francis Drake playing bowls, alluding to the famous incident when the Spanish Armada was sighted.