Background
Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) was conceived by producer Dennis Spooner in 1967. Spooner had a keen interest in the paranormal and ghostly phenomena, which he believed would be an inspired idea for a television series, incorporating it with the characteristic crime, drama and action of other earlier productions in the 1960s such as The Avengers and The Saint.
Spooner was strongly influenced by other paranormal films such as Blithe Spirit and Topper which had a profound impact on him, providing him with an understanding of the elements of the fantasy genre, studying the aspects of paranormal activity upon which a television series could be based.
While working on The Baron for ITC, Spooner met the producer Monty Berman, with whom he later formed the production company Scoton. Spooner had already worked with Mike Pratt and Annette Andre in The Baron in 1966 and 1967, and had known Pratt and Kenneth Cope from other series such as The Avengers and his work on the BBC's Z-Cars. Pratt and Andre had also appeared in The Saint earlier in the 1960s which both Spooner and Berman were familiar with. Screen testing began in late 1967 and soon both Monty Berman and Spooner agreed the trio would make an ideal casting and the three were soon confirmed in the major roles.
Soon after this, Scoton were informed that they were to commence the filming of Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) in 1968 alongside the production of Department S. Filming commenced in 1968 and the cast worked strenuously into 1969 to complete the series. The first episode was broadcast on Friday 19 September 1969 on ATV Midlands, Harlech, Westward, Yorkshire, Granada, Channel and Ulster. LWT on Sunday 21 September 1969, Southern on Sunday 5 October 1969. Other regions such as Anglia, Border, Tyne-Tees, Scottish and Grampian who would continue to broadcast in black and white for several months after the initial colour broadcast start date of 15 November 1969 decided not to screen the series at this time. Of this initial run only LWT screened all 26 episodes, Ulster and Granada rested the show after eight episodes, Yorkshire, Channel and Westward rested the series after 14 episodes, Harlech rested the show after 15 episodes and ATV Midlands only screened 21 of the 26 episodes.
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