Seven Deadly Virtues

Seven Deadly Virtues

1967 - United Kingdom

When 1966's Seven Deadly Sins proved popular with viewers, series producer Peter Willes decided to repeat the idea the following year. 

The series followed a similar format as the previous one with viewers deciding which virtue they were witnessing before the answer was revealed in the closing credits. The choice they had were justice, prudence, temperance, courage (standing in for fortitude in this series) as well as faith, hope and charity. Peter Willes told the TV Times article writer Sarah Snow; "Most people will agree that the so-called Seven Deadly Sins have changed their character over the centuries, and their words and meaning. Similarly, looking at the virtues, aren't these perhaps all a bit deadlier than they seem?" 

Writers included David Hopkins, Leo Lehman, Joe Orton, Bill MacIlwraith and Bill Naughton (author of the films Alfie and The Family Way). Actors included Donald Houston and Adrienne Corri (pictured above in the first tale Any Number Can Play). 

Published on February 12th, 2019. Written by Laurence Marcus for Television Heaven.

Read Next...

Court Martial

Court Martial was a British made production co-funded by ITC (in the UK) and Roncom Productions (in the USA) which aired on ITV in 1965 and on ABC in 1966.

Also tagged Drama Series

Moonbase 3

In the year 2003 humans have established a number of bases on the moon.

Also starring Donald Houston

Jemima Shore Investigates

TV investigative journalist Jemima Shore turns amateur detective to uncover blackmail and murder among the upper classes in this 1980s blend of cozy mystery and conventional crime thriller

Also starring Donald Houston

Seven Deadly Sins

Seven self-contained plays by different writers - each featuring one of the sins categorised by the founders of the Christian Church as "deadly."

Also tagged Anthology Series

Orson Welles' Great Mysteries

Anthology series of different tales introduced by a star considered one of the greatest filmmakers of all time

Also tagged Anthology Series

Sword of Vengeance

Under the flag of truce a Huguenot nobleman cannot refuse shelter, even to his catholic enemies. But he finds that under his roof lies the man who tortured and killed his wife in the massacre six years before

Also starring Donald Houston

Thora Hird as The First Lady

A female official takes her seat on a local council. But the no-nonsense councillor has to face up to the bureaucracy of both local and central government.

Also tagged Drama Series

No, That's Me Over Here

First starring vehicle for Ronnie Corbett who plays a little man (of course) with big ambitions.

Also released in 1967

Andy Robson

Based on Frederick Grice's 1969 novel, The Courage of Andy Robson, about a young boy who is uprooted from his life in the pit community of Easington, in 1910, when his father is killed in a mining accident.

Also tagged Drama Series