Genres
Networks
Ghost Squad
Overview
Ghost Squad, known as G.S.5 for its third series, was a crime drama series about an elite division of Scotland Yard that ran between 1961 and 1964. Each episode the Ghost Squad would investigate cases that fell outside the scope of normal police work. Despite the show and characters being fictional, an actual division did exist within the Metropolitan Police Service at the time. Inspiration for the series was taken from a book of the same name, written by John Gosling — a retired police officer and former member of the team. Although the real-life squad only operated in London, the fictionalised team travelled internationally; however — as was typical of the time — most foreign locations were actually a combination of stock footage and sets at Independent Artists Studio at Beaconsfield and Elstree Studios. Music was by Philip Green. The show was produced by ITC Entertainment, along with Rank Organisation TV and ATV. It was the first ITC show filmed to fit the one hour time-slot — setting the trend for the majority of ITC's future output. Another common ITC trait was to feature an American, in this case Michael Quinn, in a leading role so as to increase the chances of international sales. At 6' 3", Quinn often towered over his co-workers. This was especially noticeable in the first series title sequence showing him walking through a crowd walking in the opposite direction. He frequently smoked in the show as did many others. The second series had a different title sequence and Neil Hallett sometimes replaced Quinn. Hallett looked more like a spy while Quinn looked a bit like a playboy. Quinn was replaced by Australian actor, Ray Barrett in the third series. Ray Austin played Billy Clay in and was also Stunt Director on all series bringing the action to life. Austin went on to become a renowned TV director in Hollywood and the UK.
Top Cast
Seasons
Season 1 (1961)
No overview available.
10 episodes
Episodes
Episode 1: Ticket for Blackmail
1961-09-09Craig exposes illegal diamond traffic in South France.
Runtime: N/A minEpisode 2: Bullet with My Name on It
1961-09-16Craig impersonates an American lawyer whose life is threatened in Rome.
Runtime: N/A minEpisode 3: Hong Kong Story
1961-09-23Episode 4: High Wire
1961-09-30Craig infiltrates a traveling circus to track down a war criminal involved in French bank raids.
Runtime: N/A minEpisode 5: The Broken Doll
1961-10-07Episode 6: The Eyes of the Bat
1961-10-14Episode 7: Still Waters
1961-10-21Episode 8: Assassin
1961-10-28Episode 9: Death from a Distance
1961-11-04Episode 10: Million Dollar Ransom
1961-11-11Season 2 (1962)
No overview available.
29 episodes
Episodes
Episode 1: The Green Shoes
1962-12-29Craig investigates a scientist at a nuclear research center.
Runtime: N/A minEpisode 2: Catspaw
1963-01-05Episode 3: The Princess
1963-01-12Episode 4: The Big Time
1963-01-19Episode 5: Death of a Sportsman
1963-01-26Episode 6: Interrupted Requiem
1963-02-02Episode 7: East of Mandalay
1963-02-09Miller investigates the sale of arms to a revolutionary group in a Far East country.
Runtime: N/A minEpisode 8: Escape Route
1963-02-16Episode 9: The Last Jump
1963-02-23Episode 10: Polsky
1963-03-02Episode 11: The Heir Apparent
1963-03-09Episode 12: The Magic Bullet
1963-03-16Episode 13: The Menacing Mazurka
1963-03-23Miller guards a troupe of girl dancers.
Runtime: N/A minEpisode 14: The Retirement of the Gentle Dove
1963-03-30Episode 15: Mr. Five Percent
1963-04-06Miller investigates arms smuggling.
Runtime: N/A minEpisode 16: Gertrude
1963-04-13Craig rescues a double agent from a hostile country.
Runtime: N/A minEpisode 17: Sabotage
1963-04-20Miller goes to the Phillimores to help end riots there.
Runtime: N/A minEpisode 18: The 13th Girl
1963-04-27Episode 19: Sentences of Death
1963-05-04Episode 20: The Grand Duchess
1963-05-11Episode 21: The Desperate Diplomat
1963-05-18Episode 22: Hot Money
1963-05-25Episode 23: Quarantine at Kavar
1963-06-01Episode 24: The Golden Silence
1963-06-08Episode 25: Lost in Transit
1963-06-15Episode 26: The Man With the Delicate Hands
1963-06-22Episode 27: The Missing People
1963-06-29Episode 28: PG7
1963-07-06Episode 29: A First Class Way to Die
1963-07-13Season 3 (1964)
No overview available.
13 episodes
