Devil in the Fog

Devil in the Fog

1968 - United Kingdom

"In the beginning this tale tells how I, George, eldest born son of Master Salathiel Treet, strolling player and man of genius, came to have greatness thrust upon me." 

When writer Leon Garfield submitted his first book-the pirate novel Jack Holborn to a publisher, an editor saw its potential as a children's novel and persuaded him to adapt it for a younger audience. It was published in 1964 and was followed two years later by Devil in the Fog which won the first ever Guardian Children's Fiction Prize, an award that has been given annually ever since for works of children's literature by British or Commonwealth authors. 

Two years later Devil-in-the-Fog was dramatised for television by Stanley Miller. The series tells of the adventures of the Treet's - a family of 18th century strolling players who travel around England entertaining at various hostelries. One night a stranger visits the head of the family, Salathiel Treet, with a message. One of Salathiel's children is not a Treet at all, but in fact the son of a nobleman, Baron Dexter. With the old Baron dying it is time to tell George that he is heir to a baronetcy. George returns home but is soon entangled in a bitter family feud which threatens his very life. 

Devil in the Fog
The strolling Treet players and their caravan.

The story includes scenes in a manor house, which had to be so old it could have been inhabited in 1750. But finding such a place to order presented producer Michael Currer-Briggs with a headache. For days he toured Sussex but the ideal place eluded him. Just as he was despairing of finding a suitable place, he read of Ightham Mote, a 14th century manor house near Sevenoaks, Kent. "I'd been motoring since dawn," said Michael, "then the fog came down. I was lost...suddenly, after an hour of circling aimlessly through swirling mists I spotted Ightham Mote. It was empty and deserted looking. It's eeriness sent chills through me. Immediately I knew this was it." 

Apart from Devil-in-the-Fog many of Garfield's books (all of which have a historical setting) have been adapted for film or television: His next novel, Smith, was made in 1970; The Strange Affair of Adelaide Harris was made into a 6 part BBC serial in 1979 and Black Jack was made into a feature film by Ken Loach. Devil-in-the-Fog was first broadcast on Friday 21 June 1968 at 5.20pm. 

Published on December 7th, 2018. Written by Laurence Marcus for Television Heaven.

Read Next...

Hallelujah TV series

For over forty years, Salvation Army Captain Emily Ridley has fought the Devil. But after a series of mishaps, her superiors have decide to move her to the quiet little Yorkshire town of Brigthorpe...

Also starring Patsy Rowlands

The Gaffer

The owner of a run-down small engineering firm is struggling for survival and constantly under threat from the taxman, union officials, customs and excise and his bank manager. He also doesn't care much for traffic wardens!

Also starring Milton Johns

Flight of the Heron

Epic period drama made by Scottish Television and based on D.K. Broster's 1925 novel centred round fictional events at the time of the non-fictional Jacobite Rebellion of 1746 and leading up to the battle of Culloden.

Also released in 1968

Oppenheimer 1980 tv series

BBC biographical drama of the American physicist who led the U.S. effort to develop the atomic bomb during World War II

Also starring Milton Johns

Journey to the Unknown

Psychological suspense, medical experimentation and science fiction, with a little murder mystery thrown in for good measure

Also released in 1968

Counter Attack

Three young rebels plan their own counter-attack when foreign troops occupy part of the British Isles-the Channel Islands-for the first time since 1066.

Also tagged Teenage Adventure

Garry Halliday

Teen adventure series similar to 'Biggles' about the owner/pilot of a commercial airline company who gets involved with all kinds of adventures. Garry Halliday was a huge hit for the BBC over 50 episodic broadcasts of which only one survives

Also tagged Teenage Adventure

The Growing Summer

Alex, Penny, Robin and Naomi come home from school one day to find their predictable secure pattern of life completely changed.

Also released in 1968

Smith

Meet Smith: Apprentice highwayman, living in fear of being nubbed by the hangman on Tyburn Tree. He lifted a document from a man's pocket and shortly after, the man was murdered. Now Smith is on the run from the law and in mortal danger of his life...

Also tagged Teenage Adventure