Ghost
Squad began in September 1961 with hour-length episodes. The
series was a joint ATV and Rank production and was inspired by the
real-life activities of Scotland Yard's Phantom Division, which the
press dubbed 'The Ghost Squad'. The main operative of Ghost Squad in the series
is Nick Craig, played by the American actor Michael Quinn,
who was brought over from the United States to England especially to
play the part. The head of the Ghost Squad organization is Sir
Andrew Wilson played
by Sir
Donald
Wolfit.
The
men and women of Ghost Squad are highly-trained operatives who
often work alone in dangerous situations and are experts at disguising
their true identities. The Ghost Squad have their headquarters
in the heart of London, nothing too grand though, just offices in an
un-assuming apartment building. It is from these headquarters that
operatives receive instructions for their assignments, fighting crime
throughout the world.
The
members of Ghost Squad frequently put their own lives in danger
and can often work on an assignment together without knowing that the
other person is also a Ghost Squad member; such is the secrecy
of this organization.
The
role of the Ghost Squad personnel is not only to solve crime,
but to step in and prevent it. If a member of Ghost Squad
were to be caught, they would be on their own and left to their own
devices and as the organization does not exist officially, no attempt
could be made to assist them.
Ghost
Squad, later renamed GS5 was made at the ATV Elstree Studio
Centre in Hertfordshire, England and was distributed by Lew Grade's ITC
(Incorporated Television Company). The series had a run of 52 episodes
in black & white format and ended in 1964. Listen to the theme tune here.
