The ‘Queen’s Champion’ was a golden statuette of a knight in armour which was passed down to the eldest son of each generation of the aristocratic Penlynden family.
This series – the first long-form historical serial to be specially written for television as an ersatz ‘literary classic’ – followed the adventures of 14-year old Roger Penlynden in Elizabethan England.
The adventure began on the eve of the battle of the Armada on 20 July 1588 and saw Roger (Michael Anderson) and his friend Toby the scullery boy (Frazer Hines) discover fifth columnists and a Spanish plot to kill the Queen.
The cast contained many names who would go on to become well-known in years to come. The series was recorded in its entirety and repeated the following summer, although it is believed only the first episode survives in the BBC archive.
Roger Penlynden
Michael Anderson Toby
Frazer Hines Master Fidian
Patrick Cargill Don Jose
Roger Delgado Master Allan
John Woodnutt Rumbell
Paul Whitsun-Jones Ralph
Colin Douglas Old Bartholomew
Nigel Arkwright Sir Thomas Wycherly
Barry Letts Queen Elizabeth
Peggy Thorpe-Bates Hal
Terry Baker Lord Burleigh
John Welsh Sir Henry Penlynden
William Devlin 2nd Wycherly Guard
Michael Harrison Courtier
Neville Barber Captain Elliot
Derek Sydney Andrews
Glyn Jones Mary Brandon
Jane Asher John Brandon
Michael Brennan Don Alonzo
Patrick Troughton Lord Bretherton
Desmond Llewelyn Sir Edmund Carrick
Anthony Parker Earl Hawkeden
John Gedin Sir Arthur St. John
Alec Bregonzi O’Keefe
Bruce Stewart Lady Fennimore
Penelope Bartley Mistress Downey
Betty Cooper Servant
Jack Smethurst
Episodes
Betrayal | The Escape from Penlynden | The Outlaws | The Rescue | The Trap | The Eve of the Armada | The Edge of Defeat | The Return to Penlynden
