First broadcast: 1962
Stars: Roger Moore
Based on: The fictional detective series by Leslie Charteris
The lowdown: Roger Moore plays the smooth-talking action adventurer Simon Templar in this cult 1960s show. He travels the world fighting crime, stealing from rich criminals and proves irresistible to beautiful women - all the while being chased by his main adversary Chief Inspector Claude Eustace Teal. Is Templar’s unfailing charm and wit enough to keep him one step ahead of the persistent detective?
Memorable moments: Look out from a guest appearance from Honor Blackman in the episode Arrow of God. The actress, of course, went on to appear as one of the most famous Bond girls, Pussy Galore, in 1964’s Goldfinger starring opposite Moore’s 007 predecessor Sean Connery.
Trivia: Roger Moore reportedly turned down the offer to play James Bond twice, due to his filming commitments on The Saint. He finally made his Bond debut in 1973’s Live and Let Die. Moore also directed several episodes of the later series of The Saint.
Val Kilmer played Simon Templar in the 1997 Hollywood movie version of The Saint, with Roger Moore making a brief appearance in the film - speaking on a car radio.
Ian Ogilvy, who bore a striking resemblance to Moore, took over the role of Templar when the series was revived in 1978, called Return of The Saint.
