The Adventures of Sir Lancelot

The Adventures of Sir Lancelot

1956 - United Kingdom

Another in the series of ITC's 'Adventures Of...' historicals. Sir Lancelot du Lac was played by William Russell, who would later star in Doctor Who as original travelling companion Ian Chesterton. 

The series was lavishly filmed being the first British series to be shot in colour (although not in its entirety) and, using background information researched at Oxford University, featured accurate 14th Century settings, even though the legend of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table hailed from the 6th century. 

An Anglo-Saxon village with huts, sheep, goats and costumes transporting one into a world of pre-Norman Conquest days was constructed at Nettlefold Studios and used in most of the ITC series', beginning with The Adventures of Robin Hood. Outside location work was shot in Kent, where the company requisitioned Allington Castle, a fitting site for such activity since its long history included settlement by Ancient Britons, Romans and Saxons. 

Writers for the series included expatriate Americans blacklisted by the McCarthy subcommittee investigating allegations of communism in (amongst other areas) the US entertainment industry. Patrick McGoohan had a minor role in one of the episodes, and it was here that he first met writer/director Ralph Smart, who would later create Danger Man, the role that would propel McGoohan to stardom. 

Skeleton

Published on November 26th, 2018. Written by Laurence Marcus for Television Heaven.

Read Next...

Cookery Lesson TV programme

Cookery Lesson was a series of twelve programmes that introduced viewers to the basic principles of cooking, working from the assumption that the TV audience didn't even know how to boil an egg.

Also released in 1956

The White Queen

Three different, yet equally relentless women vie for the throne in 15th-century England

Also tagged Historical Adventure

The Adventures of Hiram Holiday

The Adventures of Hiram Holliday appeared on British television screens in 1960, three years after it had been cancelled by the US network NBC.

Also released in 1956

Vikings

Ragnar Lothbrok, a legendary Norse hero, is a mere farmer who rises up to become a fearless warrior and commander of the Vikings...

Also tagged Historical Adventure

Danger Man

Patrick McGoohan starred as NATO agent John Drake a character based on Ian Fleming's James Bond

Also tagged Itc Series

The Daleks

Daniel Tessier reviews the first two Doctor Who Dalek stories...the start of a television phenomenon.

Also starring William Russell

Circus Boy

A ten-year old boy is adopted by a circus clown after his trapeze artist father is killed in a tragic accident.

Also released in 1956

Billy Cotton

Big band, big sound and big big personality - with a rousing call of "Wakey-Wakey" Billy Cotton introduced an inexhaustible 50 minutes of non-stop music, dancing and comedy in the essential weekend variety revue that was a stalwart of BBC programming for 12 years.

Also released in 1956

Dick Turpin

Turpin, cheated out of his wealth while on duty in Flanders, decides to regain his money using his own, not so lawful methods.

Also tagged Historical Adventure