The Prisoner Episode Guide
Each episode of The Prisoner opens with the same unique and stylish sequence:
A man hands in his resignation and storms away to his London flat. While he packs a suitcase for a tropical vacation, he is rendered unconscious by a mysterious man in a top hat. As he awakens he finds he is no longer in his London home, but in an unnamed Village.
The series originally aired in the UK in 1967 and ran for only 17 episodes. The show starred Patrick McGoohan who was a well known TV star at the time. The only other actor to appear in every episode of the show was Angelo Muscat who played the Butler.
Episode 1 - Arrival
Originally aired: October 1st 1967
Writer: George Markstein, David Tomblin
Director: Don Chaffey
Guest Stars: Supervisor - Peter Swanwick; The Woman - Virginia Maskell; Number Two - Guy Doleman; Cobb - Paul Eddington; The New Number Two - George Baker; Taxi Driver - Barbara Yu-Ling; Maid - Stephanie Randall; Doctor - Jack Allen; Welfare Worker - Fabia Drake; Shopkeeper - Denis Shaw; Gardener - Oliver MacGreevy; Ex-Admiral - Frederick Piper; Waitress - Patsy Smart; Labour Exchange Manager - Christopher Benjamin; Hospital Attendant - David Garfield; 1st Guardian - Peter Brace; 2nd Guardian - Keith Peacock; Radio Announcer - Fenella Fielding
As Number Six stumbles through the Village’s deserted early morning streets he searches in vain for a way out. The taxis only provide local service, there are no self-drive rental cars, and the only maps for sale show unnamed mountains and sea. After meeting Number Two, and refusing to wear his numbered badge, Number Six attempts escape. He wakes up in the hospital and meets Cobb, an old friend, who promptly commits suicide. A fellow mourner offers to help Number Six escape, but Number Two won’t let him leave so easily.
Episode 2 - The Chimes of Big Ben
First aired: October 8th 1967
Writer: Vincent Tilsley
Director: Don Chaffey
Guest stars: Number Two - Leo McKern; Nadia - Nadia Gray; General - Finlay Currie; Fotheringay - Richard Wattis; Colonel J - Kevin Stoney; Assistant - Christopher Benjamin; Number 38 - Hilda Barry; First Judge - Jack Le White; Second Judge - John Maxim; Third Judge - Lucy Griffiths; Karel - David Arlen
Number Six has a new next-door neighbor, Nadia, who tells him that the Village is on the Baltic. To cover their plans of escape Number Six enters the Village arts and crafts competition. His entry is the inspiration for their plan to get back to London.
Episode 3 - A, B, & C
First aired: October 16th 1967
Writer: Anthony Skene
Director: Pat Jackson
Guest stars: Engadine - Katherine Kath; Number 14 - Sheila Mathews; Number 2 - Colin Gordon; A - Peter Bowles; Blonde Lady - Georgina Cookson; B - Annette Carrell; Flower Girl - Lucille Soong; Maid - Bettine Le Beau; Thug - Terry Yorke; Thug - Peter Brayham; Henchman - Bill Cummings
The new Number Two uses a new drug to tap into Number Six’s subconscious to try to discover why he resigned. Unknown to Number Two, Number Six has realized what has happened and uses his dreams to prove that he was not selling out.
Episode 4 - Free For All
First aired: October 22nd 1967
Writer: Patrick McGoohan
Director: Patrick McGoohan
Guest stars: Number 2 - Eric Portman; Number 58 - Rachel Herbert; Labour Exchange Manager - George Benson; Reporter - Harold Berens; Man In Cave - John Cazabon; Photographer - Dene Cooper; Supervisor - Kenneth Benda; Waitress - Holly Doone; Mechanic 1 - Peter Brace; Mechanic 2 - Alf Joint
It’s election time in the Village. A new Number Two needs to be elected and Number Six is persuaded to stand. Number Six sets out on his election campaign with many promises to his voters but his aim is to discover who Number One is.
Episode 5 - The Schizoid Man
First aired: October 29th 1967
Writer: Terence Feely
Director: Pat Jackson
Guest stars: Alison - Jane Merrow; Number 2 - Anton Rodgers; Supervisor - Earl Cameron; Number 36 - Gay Cameron; Doctor - David Nettheim; Nurse - Pat Keen; Guardian #1 - Gerry Crampton; Guardian #2 - Dinney Powell
Number Six awakes one morning in a different Village apartment and discovers things have changed. He has a new appearance, has become left-handed and has a different taste in foods. He is no longer Number Six but now Number Twelve.
Episode 6 - The General
First aired: November 5th 1967
Writer: Joshua Adam
Director: Peter Graham Scott
Guest stars: Supervisor - Peter Swanwick; Number 2 - Colin Gordon; Number 12 - John Castle; Professor’s Wife - Betty McDowall; Doctor - Conrad Phillips; Man In Buggy - Michael Miller; Waiter - Keith Pyott; Mechanic - Norman Mitchell; Projection Operator - Peter Bourne; Guard #1 - George Leech; Guard #2 - Jackie Cooper
Speedlearn’ is a subliminal process for educating the population of the Village, developed by a Professor with the aid of an unseen ‘General’. However, the Professor realizes that his creation has the ability to be abused by the prisoners.
Episode 7 - Many Happy Returns
First aired: November 12th 1967
Writer: Anthony Skene
Director: Patrick McGoohan
Guest stars: The Colonel - Donald Sinden; Thorpe - Patrick Cargill; Mrs. Butterworth - Georgina Cookson; Group Captain - Brian Worth; Commander - Richard Caldicot; Gunther - Dennis Chinnery; Ernst - Jon Laurimore; Gypsy Girl - Nike Arrighi; Maid - Grace Arnold; Gypsy Man - Larry Taylor
Number Six awakes to a deserted Village. He realizes that he has the perfect opportunity to escape. He builds a raft and sets sail away from the Village. During his voyage he runs into gunrunners who steal his remaining supplies and leave him to drown.
Episode 8 - Dance of the Dead
First aired: 11/26/1967
Writer: Anthony Skene
Director: Don Chaffey
Guest stars: Number 2 - Mary Morris; Doctor - Duncan Macrae; The Observer - Norma West; Town Crier - Aubrey Morris; Psychiatrist - Bee Duffell; Day Supervisor - Camilla Hasse; Dutton - Alan White; Night Supervisor - Michael Nightingale; Night Maid - Patsy Smart; Maid - Denise Buckley; Postman - George Merritt; Flower Man - John Frawley; Lady In Corridor - Lucy Griffiths; Second Doctor - William Lyon Brown
Number Six discovers a dead man washed up on the beach. He finds a wallet and a radio set in the man’s jacket. He hides the body in a cave and later tries the radio. He returns to the body with a life belt and sets it afloat, but he’s being watched.
Episode 9 - Checkmate
First aired: December 3rd 1967
Writer: Gerald Kelsey
Director: Don Chaffey
Guest stars: Rook - Ronald Radd; Psychiatrist #1 - Patricia Jessel; Number 2 - Peter Wyngarde; The Queen - Rosalie Crutchley; Man With Stick - George Coulouris; Psychiatrist # 2 - Bee Duffell; Supervisor - Basil Dignam; Painter - Danvers Walker; Shopkeeper - Denis Shaw; Assistant Supervisor - Victor Platt; Nurse - Shivaun O’Casey; Skipper - Geoffrey Reed; Sailor - Terence Donovan; Tower Guard #1 - Joe Dunne; Tower Guard #2 - Romo Gorrara
Number Six takes the position of Queen’s Pawn in a human game of chess. Number Two brainwashes the Queen to fall in love with Number Six who discovers that her locket is a tracking device.
Episode 10 - Hammer Into Anvil
First aired: December 10th 1967
Writer: Roger Woddis
Director: Pat Jackson
Guest stars: Supervisor - Peter Swanwick; Number 2 - Patrick Cargill; Band master - Victor Maddern; Number 14 - Basil Hoskins; Psychiatric Director - Norman Scace; New Supervisor - Derek Aylward; Number 73 - Hilary Dwyer; Control Room Operators - Arthur Gross; Shop Assistant - Victor Woolf; Lab Technician - Michael Segal; Shop Kiosk Girl - Margo Andrew; Female Code Expert - Susan Sheers; Guardian # 1 - Jackie Cooper; Guardian #2 - Fred Haggerty; Guardian #3 - Eddie Powell; Guardian # 4 - George Leach
When a young woman is driven to her death by Number Two, Number Six swears his revenge. Number Two threatens Number Six, so Number Six turns the tables and launches a campaign to break him.
Episode 11 - It’s Your Funeral
First aired: December 17th 1967
Writer: Michael Cramoy
Director: Robert Asher
Guest stars: Supervisor - Peter Swanwick; Watchmaker’s Daughter - Annette Andre; Number 2 - Derren Nesbitt; Number 100 - Mark Eden; Number 2 - Andre Van Gyseghem; Watchmaker - Martin Miller; Computer Attendant - Wanda Ventham; Number 2’s Assistant - Mark Burns; Artist - Charles Lloyd Pack; Number 36 - Grace Arnold; Stall Holder - Arthur White; Councillor - Michael Bilton; Kosho Opponent - Gerry Crampton
The Prisoner is tricked into discovering an assassination plot - but who is going to be killed? Number Two knows that Number Six is the only man in the Village capable of stopping a murder so in an attempt to discredit him, he doctors a tape of Number Six.
Episode 12 - A Change of Mind
First aired: December 31st 1967
Writer: Roger Parkes
Director: Patrick McGoohan
Guest Stars: Supervisor - Peter Swanwick; Number 86 - Angela Browne; Number 2 - John Sharp; Doctor - George Pravda; Number 42 - Kathleen Breck; Lobo Man - Thomas Heathcote; Committee Chairman - Bartlett Mullins; Number 93 - Michael Miller; Member of Social Group #1 - Joseph Cuby; Member of Social Gropu #2 - Michael Chow; Number 48 - June Ellis; Woodland Man #1 - John Hamblin; Woodland Man #2 - Michael Billington
After a fight with two thugs, Number Six is declared ‘unmutual’ by the Village committee who recommend that he undergo ‘instant social treatment’. However Number Six is not administered the treatment, only tricked into thinking he has had it.
Episode 13 - Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Darling
First aired: January 7th 1968
Writer: Vincent Tilsley
Director: Pat Jackson
Guest Stars: Janet - Zena Walker; Number 2 - Clifford Evans; The Colonel - Nigel Stock; Seltzman - Hugo Schuster; Sir Charles - John Wentworth; Villiers - James Bree; Stapleton - Lloyd Lamble; Danvers - Patrick Jordan; Camera Shop Manager - Lockwood West; Potter - Frederic Abbott; Cafe Waiter - Gertan Klauber; Old Guest - Henry Longhurst; New Man - Danvers Walker; Young Guest - John Nolan
The Prisoner’s mind is transformed in another man’s body. When he awakes in his London home he has a tough task convincing people of his true identity, so he sets off for Austria to find Professor Seltzman - the only man who can help him.
Episode 14 - Living In Harmony
First aired: January 14th 1968
Writer: David Tomblin
Director: David Tomblin
Story: David Tomblin, Ian L. Rakoff
Guest Stars: The Kid - Alexis Kanner; The Judge - David Bauer; Cathy - Valerie French; Town Elder - Gordon Tanner; Bystander - Gordon Sterne; Will - Michael Balfour; Mexican Sam - Larry Taylor; Town Dignitary - Monti de Lyle; Horse Dealer - Douglas Jones; Gunman # 1 - Bill Nick; Gunman #2 - Les Crawford; Gunman #3- Frank Maher; Horseman #1 - Max Faulkner; Horseman #2 - Bill Cummings; Horseman #3 - Eddie Eddon; Number 2 - David Bauer
The Prisoner finds himself a stranger in a Western town called ‘Harmony’. He reluctantly takes on the job of the Sheriff in order to release a young saloon woman. After a gunfight The Prisoner wants to resign from his post but The Judge refuses to let him.
Episode 15 - The Girl Who Was Death
First aired: January 21st 1968
Writer: Terence Feely
Director: David Tomblin
Story: David Tomblin
Guest Stars: Photographer - Alexis Kanner; Schnipps - Kenneth Griffith; Sonia - Justine Lord; Potter - Christopher Benjamin; Killer Karminski - Michael Brennan; Boxing M.C. - Harold Berens; Barmaid - Sheena Marsh; Scots Napoleon - Max Faulkner; Welsh Napoleon - John Reese; Yorkshire Napoleon - Joe Gladwin; Bowler - John Drake; Little Girl - Gaynor Steward; Little Boy #2- Graham Steward; Little Boy #2 - Stephen How (Second Little Boy)
The Prisoner tries to track down the murderer of Colonel Hawke-Englishe, who was looking for a crazy scientist. The scientist’s daughter Sonia, who calls herself Death, protects her father and sets many deadly traps for Number Six.
Episode 16 - Once Upon a Time
First aired: January 28th 1968
Writer: Patrick McGoohan
Director: Patrick McGoohan
Guest stars: Supervisor - Peter Swanwick; Number 2 - Leo McKern; The Butler - Angelo Muscat; Umbrella Man - John Cazabon
After all previous attempts to break Number Six have failed, Number Two decides the only way to obtain the information wanted is by using a system known as ‘Degree Absolute’. If Number Six wins, he will have survived the ultimate test and meet Number One.
Episode 17 - Fallout
First aired: February 4th 1968
Writer: Patrick McGoohan
Director: Patrick McGoohan
Guest stars: Number 2 - Leo McKern; Number 48 - Alexis Kanner; The President - Kenneth Griffith; The Butler - Angelo Muscat; The Supervisor - Peter Swanwick; The Delegate - Michael Miller
The Prisoner is presented to the President of the Assembly. He watches the trials of Number Forty Eight and the resuscitated Number Two. It is now his chance to meet Number One.
Be seeing you.
Eoghann Irving is amongst other things the creator and Editor of Solar Flare. He has a life long interest in all forms of science fiction and fantasy and a pressing need to share this interest with anyone who will listen. Find out more at his personal website eoghann.com..
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