Jason King (TV series)
| Industry | Television production |
|---|---|
| Founder | Lew Grade |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
| Products | Television series, including Jason King |
Jason King is a British TV series featuring Peter Wyngarde in the title role. Produced by ITC Entertainment, the show ran for one season consisting of 26 hour-long episodes between 1971 and 1972. It was broadcast worldwide and later made available on DVD in regions including the UK, US, Australia, and Germany.
Overview
The narrative centers on Jason King, a character who originally appeared in Department S (1969) as a flamboyant author and member of an investigative team. In this spin-off, King has left his previous role to concentrate on writing adventure novels starring Mark Caine, a protagonist who reflects King's own flair and personality. While no other regular cast members from Department S return, the series occasionally makes references to it.
King’s frequent international journeys—undertaken either for research or to respond to urgent requests—often lead him into escapades involving alluring women, exotic settings, antagonists, political conspiracies, or espionage activities.
The opening episode contrasts King’s elegant narration of a Mark Caine novel with a more sensationalized and clichéd television adaptation, both featuring Wyngarde as Caine. The fictional Mark Caine novels typically bear four-word titles reminiscent of Ian Fleming’s James Bond style; recurring examples include Index Finger Left Hand and To China Yours Sincerely, the latter serving as a parody of Fleming’s From Russia With Love.
Subsequent episodes portray King juggling deadlines imposed by his publisher Nicola Harvester while being sidetracked by women and real-world adventures. Occasionally, he is enlisted by Ryland from the British Government to assist with international political affairs that subsequently inspire his Mark Caine stories.
Cast
- Peter Wyngarde as Jason King
- Anne Sharp as Nicola Harvester
- Ronald Lacey as Ryland
- Dennis Price as Sir Brian
Production
Conceived by Dennis Spooner and produced by Lew Grade’s ITC Entertainment, known for successful series such as The Saint and Danger Man, Jason King was shot on 16mm film to minimize expenses, differing from earlier ITC shows filmed on 35mm. The scripts were crafted to include European location shoots, capitalizing on Peter Wyngarde’s previous experience with outdoor filming to elevate production quality.
Legacy
Jason King’s unique sartorial style influenced several cultural icons, notably Mike Myers, who acknowledged it as the inspiration behind his film persona Austin Powers. Additionally, the character influenced Kim Newman’s creation of psychic detective and secret agent Richard Jeperson, particularly in terms of fashion.
Parody
In 1973, The Two Ronnies aired a 'Jason King' sketch featuring Ronnie Corbett mimicking King's distinctive mannerisms. The character also served as inspiration for Jason Bentley, portrayed by Peter Richardson in the Comic Strip Presents episode Detectives on the Edge of a Nervous Breakdown (1993). While Wyngarde appreciated this parody, he remarked that Jason King would never don crushed velvet.
External links
- Paul Lewis, 2009: Evaluation of the Network DVD edition containing the entire series. DVDCompare
- Articles with short description
- 1971 British television series debuts
- 1972 British television series conclusions
- 1970s British drama television programs
- British crime drama television shows
- British espionage television series
- British television spin-offs
- English-language British television programs
- ITV drama series
- Television productions by ITC Entertainment
- Television programs filmed at Associated British Studios
- Television shows shot at Associated British Studios