Broken Horseshoe, The

1 9 5 2 (UK)
6 x 30 minute episodes

This 30-minute British television series, broadcast over six Saturday nights, has the distinction of being the first thriller serial aired by the BBC.

The Broken Horseshoe featured John Robinson (who would go on to star as Professor Bernard Quatermass in Quatermass II) as public-spirited doctor Mark Fenton, who becomes reluctantly involved with a horse-doping gang when he gives shelter to young Della Freeman (Barbara Lott) who is a witness to a murder carried out by the syndicate.

The mystery starts when a man called Charles Constance (Michael Yannis) is knocked down by a car, taken to one of London’s hospitals, and operated on by Fenton.

As was common in those days the episodes went out live and no telerecording was made. The following year a film was made based on the series starring Robert Beatty.

Mark Fenton
John Robinson
Inspector George Bellamy
John Byron
Dr Duncan Craig
Andrew Crawford
Felix Galegos
Robert Adair
Sister Rogers
Elizabeth Maude
Della Freeman
Barbara Lott
Jackie Leroy
Daphne Maddox
Superintendent Crayson
Tristan Rawson
Charles Constance
Michael Yannis

Episodes

Mr Constance | Mr Felix Galegos | Miss Jackie Leroy | Mr Ernest Carrel | Mr Mark Fenton | Operation Horseshoe