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THE PRISONER
Patrick McGoohan/Various, ITC, 1967-68
Eps 1-4: Monday 27 December - Thursday 30 December 2004 7.10pm-8pm
Eps 5-14: Monday 5 January - Wednesday 2 February 2005 Mondays & Wednesdays 7.10pm-8pm
Ep 15-17: Monday 7 February, Tuesday 8 February Wednesday 9 February 2005 7.10pm-8pm
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Watching The Prisoner is like being cracked across the head with the Venus de Milo. It's hard not to be very surprised and somewhat dazed, but you have to admire the beauty of the thing.
On a very basic level, the series is the story of an ex-secret agent held against his will in a bizarre village where his former employers attempt to determine the reason for his resignation. But one glance at the audaciously stylised title sequence and it's clear The Prisoner represents much more. The dialogue is so sharp it's a surprise the celluloid wasn't sliced to shreds and the vivid visuals are more art house cinema than archive TV. The show emerges as a rich, absorbing allegory investigating the nature of government, media and the individual.
The charismatic central character, known simply as 'Number 6', constantly endeavours to escape or destroy the Village from within, all the time resisting the probing persecutors who, with varying degrees of cruelty, attempt to take his secrets and his individuality. All their efforts to make this Everyman figure conform are met with a strong, thoughtful defiance. "I am not a number," he repeatedly declares, "I am a free man."
Despite the eye-catching scenery of Portmeirion, where much of the series was shot, and a host of excellent guest stars, Patrick McGoohan's contribution proves the most potent ingredient in this curious cocktail. After co-creating The Prisoner, the American-born actor scripted and directed several episodes in addition to serving as executive producer and, of course, starring as the eponymous lead.
He guides the show as if he's playing poker, never letting the audience guess his intentions and remaining straight-faced throughout the most outrageous gambles. The Prisoner frequently switches genre, veering from science fiction to surrealism, traditional spy fiction to post-modern Western. But each approach follows the same narrative concern of 'Number 6' versus the Village and each is intelligently handled, ensuring that the series never lapses into a pointless procession of outré images.
A cult classic for over three decades, The Prisoner unquestionably retains its ability to captivate.
Gavin Collinson
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QUIZ
Test your knowledge of the cult series
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NEWSLETTER
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We are showing the full 17 episodes of The Prisoner in the order in which they were broadcast in the Sixties
BUY THE PRISONER
The series is released by Carlton Entertainment and can be ordered from any DVD retailer
 I LOVE THE PRISONER
Background, trivia and a full episode guide on bbc.co.uk/cult
BBC WALES
Information about Portmeirion, where much of The Prisoner was filmed
Cast
Prisoner Patrick McGoohan
The Butler Angelo Muscat
The Supervisor Peter Swanwick
External Links
The Prisoner - Freeserve
Interviews, games, features, FAQs and an episode guide
Six of One
Website of The Prisoner Appreciation Society
The Prisoner - Retroweb
Trivia and a good selection of photos
The Prisoner Online
Downloads, episode guides, photo gallery
The Anorak's Guide to the Prisoner
Suggested alternative episode order
The Unmutual
News and reviews related to The Prisoner
Patrick McGoohan Interview
Warner Troyer talks to the actor and executive producer in 1977
The BBC is not responsible for
the content of external websites
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The bespectacled, bald-headed man to whom McGoohan's character proffers his resignation is George Markstein, the script editor for the majority of episodes.