The Broken Horseshoe

30-minute British television series broadcast over 6 Saturday nights, which has the distinction of being the first thriller serial aired by the BBC. The Broken Horseshoe featured John Robinson (Professor Bernard Quatermass in Quatermass II) as public-spirited doctor Mark Fenton, who becomes reluctantly involved with a horse-doping gang when he gives shelter to a young woman (played by Barbara Lott - Sorry! & 2point4 Children) who is a witness to a murder carried out by the syndicate. As was common in those days the episodes went out live and no telerecording was made. 

The following year a film was made based on the series starring Robert Beatty. The Broken Horseshoe was written by Francis Durbridge, creator of the fictional crime novelist and detective Paul Temple. Between 1952 and 1980 Durbridge wrote 17 TV serials for the BBC. 

Published on November 30th, 2018. Written by Laurence Marcus for Television Heaven.