Roger Moore as The Saint

The Saint

1962 - United Kingdom

Simon Templar had charmed his way through a series of best-selling novels and a modestly successful series of 1940's Hollywood movies, before ultimately finding his immensely successful home on the television screen. 

Leslie Charteris originally tried to develop his modern day Robin Hood character for television some years before, but it was Robert S. Baker and Monty Berman, backed by TV mogul Lew Grade, who finally secured the rights for the series (See accompanying article for a more in-depth account). After offering the part to televisions Danger Man - Patrick McGoohan, it was finally decided that ex-knitting pattern model Roger Moore would don the famous Saintly halo. Moore, who had previously starred in the 1958 children's swashbuckling series Ivanhoe, played the part of Simon Templar (the initials ST giving rise to his nom de plume), with great style and panache from 1962 to 1969, in the process helping to ensure that the series became one of the flagship successes of Grade's television empire, as well as bestowing almost overnight international stardom on its innately charming and handsome leading man.

When the series finally reached the end of its natural life, Moore went on to star as Lord Brett Sinclair, in a brief series with Hollywood legend Tony Curtis (The Persuaders 1971-72), before finally taking over from Sean Connery as Ian Fleming's James Bond in the movies. (A move which would earn him the distinction of being the longest serving, and most financially successful incarnation of the Bond character to appear in the series thus far). 

The Saint did not appear in colour until 1966 when Moore co-purchased the rights to the show. Seen in numerous countries around the world it is believed that the series earned in excess of £350 million. Two subsequent television attempts to revive the series starring different actors (Return of the Saint 1978-79 by ITC, starring Ian Ogilvy and The Saint 1989-90 by LWT, starring Simon Dutton), and an ill-received big screen version starring Val Kilmer have each failed to recapture the public's imagination in the way that the original series did, leaving Roger Moore's portrayal as the definitive version.

Published on January 27th, 2019. Written by Laurence Marcus & SRH (1999) "So, you're the famous Simon Templar!" for Television Heaven.

Read Next...

Animal Magic

Presented by the inimitable Johnny Morris, the man who not only spoke to the animals, but also for them, Animal Magic was a firm children's favourite on BBC television for no less than 21 years.

Also released in 1962

Maverick

An adventurous gambler roams the Old Wild West in search of thrills and spills and some easy money.

Also tagged Roger Moore

Ivanhoe

Roger Moore in his TV series debut starred as Sir Walter Scott's 19th century hero Wilfred of Ivanhoe.

Also tagged Roger Moore

The Beverly Hillbillies

Classic US sitcom following the adventures of Jed Clampett and his family who, after discovering oil at the back of their Ozark ranch, pack up their things and move to Beverly Hills, much to the consternation of the local populace.

Also released in 1962

Compact

Compact was the BBC's third adult soap opera.

Also released in 1962

The Persuaders

"Take two relatively harmless compounds, say nitro and glycerine, mix them together and you have a very potent combination."

Also tagged Roger Moore

Already It's Tomorrow

After a road accident, an attractive girl recovers consciousness in a strange room. With her is a young man she has never seen before.

Also released in 1962

The Bulldog Breed

A single series of seven comedies about Tom, the perennial optimist, as he wanders through life leaving chaos in his wake totally oblivious to the problems he causes for everyone.

Also released in 1962