This 1969 British TV series, Randall and Hopkirk (Diseased), introduced the rather bizarre concept of one half of a private detective team being a ghost, having died in a hit and run accident, during a routine divorce investigation. Rather extreme for divorce, you might think - and thereby hangs a tale. The ghost and brains of the operation is one Marty Hopkirk (played by Kenneth Cope), who appears to his, rather less bright partner, Jeff Randall (Mike Pratt), while Randall is visiting Hopkirk's grave in the cemetery. Of course, being a ghost, Marty wears the obligatory white suit. The object of Hopkirk's appearance is to help Randall find his (Hopkirk's) killer which in due course, they do. This taste of success leaves Marty wanting to stay around and help Jeff with further cases. He is also self-appointed guardian of Jeff's life in general, including his driving and his personal life, on which Marty comments liberally and without invitation, to the point of nagging mercilessly. The other main character is Jeannie played by Annette Andre, Marty's widow, to whom Marty is still very attached. Marty is extremely jealous and makes sure that things go wrong if ever another man takes an interest in Jeannie. To make matters worse, Jeannie joins Jeff at the agency and in the course of their work, they become quite close. Of course, Marty doesn't stand for that either and takes steps to ensure that something always prevents their actually getting together. The amusing thread of the series is that only Jeff Randall can see and speak to Marty Hopkirk, and often finds himself in conversation with another, live person, while Marty stands behind him nagging and reminding him what to say. Jeff is sometimes seen apparently talking to himself, which makes matters awkward, particularly with Jeannie. Despite Marty's best efforts, he never does manage to contact Jeannie. The original series only ran for 26 episodes, but remains as a fond memory to its small following. In the year 2000, however, the series came around again on BBC1 in the UK starring Vic Reeves as Hopkirk, Bob Mortimer as Randall and Emilia Fox as Jeannie. I guess they wouldn't have done that if the original hadn't had a fair popularity. |
