Cluff

1 9 6 4 – 1 9 6 5 (UK)
19 x 60 minute episodes

Detective Sergeant Caleb Cluff (Leslie Sands) was a plodding sort of detective, much more at home taking a good walk with his pipe in his mouth, his chestnut walking stick in his hand and his faithful dog, Clive (a half-breed black and tan) by his side.

The bachelor copper lived alone in the fictional North Yorkshire moorland town of Gunnershaw but received daily visits from his housekeeper, Annie Croft (Olive Milbourne).

Cluff first appeared on TV screens during the Detective series, returned in July 1964 in a BBC series of his own which won a weekly audience of 12 million and returned in 1965 for another series.

Any crook underestimating the tweed-suited detective would do so at their peril because Cluff’s slow methodology belied a skilfully perceptive insight into human nature and behaviour, particularly that of the criminal mind.

This slow style of his was often the cause of much frustration from his punctilious superior, Inspector Mole (Eric Barker in the first series and then Michael Bates when illness prevented Barker from appearing in the second series), but no one could argue with Cluff’s detection rate, assisted by his junior sidekick, Detective Constable Barker (John Rolfe).

DS Caleb Cluff
Leslie Sands
DC Barker
John Rolfe
PC Harry Bullock
John McKelvey
Annie Croft
Olive Milbourne
Inspector Mole
Eric Barker (1)
Michael Bates (2)
Dr Hamm
Jack Howlett
Mrs Mole
Pauline Williams