The Odd Man

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The Odd Man
Format Police
Created by Edward Boyd
Starring William Mervyn
Keith Barron
Edwin Richfield
Country of origin UK
Production
Running time 50 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel Granada TV
Original run 19621963
It's Cold Outside
Format Police
Created by Edward Boyd
Starring William Mervyn
Keith Barron
Anthony Ainley
Country of origin UK
Production
Running time 50 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel Granada TV
Original run 19641966
Mr Rose
Format Police
Created by Edward Boyd
Starring William Mervyn
Donald Webster
Gillian Lewis
Country of origin UK
Production
Running time 50 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel Granada TV
Original run 19671967

The Odd Man was the first of a trilogy of police series produced in the 1960s by Granada TV, linked by the presence of pompous but increasingly genial police Chief Inspector Charles Rose (William Mervyn). It originally dealt with the investigations of theatrical-agent-cum-detective Steve Gardiner (Edwin Richfield) (The "odd man" of the series' title), and his encounters with the police in the form of Chief Inspector Gordon (Moultrie Kelsall) and DS Swift (Keith Barron). By the second season, Gordon had been replaced by Rose.

The characters of Rose and Swift were then given their own series, It's Cold Outside, which ran for two seasons, with Barron being replaced in the second series by Anthony Ainley as DS Hunter.

The third and final series in the trilogy, Mr Rose, saw Rose in retirement in Eastbourne, attempting to write his memoirs, but instead being drawn into private detection. The theme tune for this series was by Roy Budd and was issued as a single on the Pye label in 1967.