The Secret Service

The Secret Service was a unique blend of live action and Supermarionation originally shown on three ITV regions in 1969 - ATV, Granada & Southern. Unfortunately only 13 episodes were ever made - it was cancelled by Lew Grade. The reason given was Americans wouldn't be able to understand the strange gobbledegook language spoken by Father Unwin - which missed the point entirely!

Set in present day (1969) Britain and working for B.I.S.H.O.P (British Intelligence Service Headquarters Operation Priest) Father Stanley Unwin and his gardener Matthew Harding led a double life. In reality they were both secret agents and they made quite a team. Using a unique device called the The Minimizer Father Unwin could reduce Matthew down to one-third normal size and he would then be transported around in a special case.

Father Unwin drove around in a yellow vintage 1917 Model T Ford named Gabriel with Matthew in tow. With his reduced stature Matthew could enter aeroplanes, tanks and cars without being seen.

Main Characters

• Father Stanley Unwin - Stanley Unwin
• Matthew Harding - Gary Files
• Mrs. Appleby - Sylvia Anderson
• The Bishop - Jeremy Wilkin
• Agent Blake - Keith Alexander
• Agent Saunders -

Episodes

(Production Order)

1. A Case For The Bishop
2. A Question Of Miracles
3. The Feathered Spies
4. To Catch A Spy
5. Last Train To Bufflers Halt
6. Errand Of Mercy
7. Recall To Service
8. Hole In One
9. School For Spies
10. The Cure
11. The Deadly Whisper
12. May-Day, May-Day!
13. More Haste Less Speed

(Broadcast Order)

1. A Case For The Bishop
2. A Question Of Miracles
3. To Catch A Spy
4. The Feathered Spies
5. Last Train To Bufflers Halt
6. Hole In One
7. Recall To Service
8. Errand Of Mercy
9. The Deadly Whisper
10. The Cure
11. School For Spies
12. May-Day, May-Day!
13. More Haste Less Speed

Trivia

• The Secret Service was the final Gerry Anderson series to use the Supermarionation brand, although he did try unsuccessfully to revive the genre in the pilot The Investigator.

References

Main article: References or Tributes

Supermarionation:
About Supermarionation:	What is it? | Who makes it? | The marionettes | the legacy
The Series:	Four Feather Falls |Supercar | Fireball XL5 | Stingray | Thunderbirds | Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons | Joe 90 | The Secret Service
The Films:	Thunderbirds Are Go | Thunderbird 6
Other Uses:	Calling Elvis | The Investigator
Imitators and tributes:	Paul starr | Team America World Police | Interster | X-Bomber (Star Fleet) | Superthunderstingcar | Thunderbirds F.A.B. | Misc. Parodies and references