Virgin of the Secret Service

Virgin of the Secret Service

1968 - United Kingdom

Welsh-born Clinton Greyn played the very English agent Captain Robert Virgin of the Royal Dragoons, who was intent on defending the British Empire, or what little remained of it, on behalf of the British Secret Service. But for 007 read 1907 as the series was set in a time when it was "not quite the thing" to have spies working for you - even if they were both an officer and a gentleman. 

Greyn had previously gone to Loughborough College to study for a B.Sc. but resigned after a year when he realised he was doing more acting than studying. He took himself off to R.A.D.A., where his fellow pupils included Diana Rigg and Albert Finney. As Captain Virgin he was accompanied by Col. Shaw-Camberley played by Noel Coleman and Mrs Virginia Cortez (Veronica Strong), one of the Edwardian women who used emancipation to become a photographer. The glamorous lady was (fictionally) a well known figure in London society of the early 1900s. Diplomats, statesmen and royalty visited her studio - and often uttered useful indiscretions during their sittings. Then there was the faithful Fred Doublett (John Cater). He was Virgin's batman, an amateur escapologist, expert at picking locks and a man who enjoyed a bet or two. Finally, there was Karl Von Brauner, Virgin's constant enemy (Alexander Dore). Brauner is cruel, ruthless, indefatigable, brilliant and ingenious and a worthy match to his opponent. But unlike Virgin, he would descend to lies and all manner of ungentlemanly conduct to attain his objectives. But then again, he wasn't British, was he? Nothing was too much for Virgin, whether it be travelling by balloon to the North-West Frontier in a bid to outwit an old adversary and save India and the Empire, crossing the burning sands of Arabia alone, to meet a cruel usurper face to face or travelling to St. Petersburg to face a web of villainy. 

Guest stars - villains and heroes - included Desmond Llewelyn, Gabrielle Drake, Jenny Linden, Roger Delgado, Rodney Bewes and John Challis. 

Published on February 11th, 2019. Written by Laurence Marcus (April 2008 - based on original TV Times articles) for Television Heaven.

Read Next...

A Man of Our Times

Unsentimental drama about a middle-aged man whose life is enmeshed in domestic turmoil of his own making

Also starring Gabrielle Drake

The Buccaneers

Future Hollywood actor Robert Shaw (The Sting, Jaws) made his small screen debut as ex- pirate Dan Tempest, the leader of a small band of freebooters who roamed the Caribbean Seas in the 1720's on their ship The Sultana.

Also starring Roger Delgado

Dad's Army

"If the quality of the writing was a major factor in Dad's Army's resounding success, then that quality was more than matched by a cast which not so much interpreted the writing, as physically embodied it."

Also released in 1968

Roger Delgado

His sinister charm and twinkling eyes captivated audiences. A timeless villain, forever etched in our hearts

Also starring Roger Delgado

The Onedin Line

A 19th century seaman sets about building a business empire.

Also tagged Period Drama

Dickens of London

The excellent scriptwriter Wolf Mankowitz has surpassed himself in 'Dickens of London', a miniseries recounting the life of Charles Dickens from early boyhood till his death.

Also tagged Period Drama

The Silver Sword

When a Polish schoolteacher is arrested and taken to a German labour camp, his wife has to support her three young children. But when she is arrested on a similar charge, the children are forced to live in a ruined cellar whilst depending on each other for survival.

Also starring Roger Delgado

The Queens Champion

Loyalty and treason on the eve of the Armada in this eight-part BBC serial featuring some of television's best known names

Also starring Roger Delgado

Judge Dee TV series

Ancient Chinese detective stories written in English by a modern Dutch diplomat.

Also tagged Period Drama