Sir Francis Drake

The best of the ITC historical series commissioned for ITV, Terence Morgan can actually act and makes the swordfencing exiting and seem more realistic than some of his contemporaries. Great to spot Michael Crawford and the big guy I remember from the St Bruno tobacco ads from the 60s and 70s amongst others. Altogether great entertainment when it was released and is still valid today.

An excellent performance by that very underrated actor, Terence Morgan. You felt that Elizabethan England was in safe hands! How refreshing it was that television used to show real historical characters in series that were attractive to children. Of course Drake was made exceptionally sympathetic but it managed to put over some of the aura that the real historical character must have possessed. Many of the issues raised in this series - starving and underpaid seamen and soldiers, the diplomatic conventions hiding an inevitable move to war, and corruption amongst the great and the good. Maybe it's time for another series on Drake!

This series is loosely based on the story of Sir Francis Drake woven with the characters around at the time- e.g. Sir Thomas Stukely (King of America) and the Irish female pirate Grace O'Malley . It's not historically accurate but poetic licence makes some marvellous viewing all these years since it was made. In parts there is comedy and wit, which I did not pick up on when I watched it as a child. The production values are superb, the picture crisp and the sound good, as are the actors. Queen Elizabeth (Jean Kent) and the Spanish Ambassador (Roger Delgado) deserve a particular mention as thoroughly believable casting. Although there are good sets the shipboard scenes are also filmed at sea. It is also interesting to see a young Michael Crawford in what must be one of his earliest roles.

A series of 26 x half hour adventures imagining (mostly) the swashbuckling adventures of one of England's greatest sea-farers as he works to save his country and his Queen from the evil machinations of the Spaniards. Terence Morgan, in the title role, has some charisma and some skill at the swordplay; Jean Kent as the Queen looks regal enough, though her part is hardly taxing; and a regular supporting cast including Michael Crawford and Roger Delgado as the scheming Spanish Ambassador make for a fun historical romp with little regard to history but lots to action, costumes and, of course, romance! Like the "Adventures of Robin Hood" or "William Tell" etc.; these are good fun family tea-time dramas well worth a watch.

I am so pleased that (in the UK) the Talking Pictures channel is running the whole of this series. Like some of the other contributors I haven't seen them since I was a nipper but they must have made a big impression on my young mind as the music and sets are so familiar.

Its also fascinating to spot guest stars in early roles - Michael Anderson Jnr, Michael Crawford, Nanette Newman, David McCallum, Howard Lang, and of all people the bloke from 'Play School' Brian Cant who played a small part in one episode, to name but a few.

They don't make them like this anymore . . .