Edgar Wallace

The Edgar Wallace mysteries were originally cinema second features, supporting the big films - then were sold to television much later. So now they are often thought of as a TV series.

Whatever they are, they are sometimes excellent, sometimes routine, the same as any other long running series. What they do have are interesting casts - many big names at the start of their careers such as Barry Foster, Michael Caine, Patrick Allen, Harry H Corbett. There is also a fabulous theme tune Man of Mystery written by Ron Goodwin and performed by The Shadows.

These mysteries are always watchable and as they run less than an hour they have both time to develop plot and characters, and not to outstay their welcome.