The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes (1971)
A celebrated British anthology series bringing forgotten Victorian and Edwardian literary detectives to life on ITV1.
The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes - Series Information
- First Air Year: 1971
- Last Air Year: 1973
- Created by: Hugh Greene
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Mystery, Crime, Drama
- Content Rating (US): TV-PG
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode (50 minutes)
- Number of Seasons: 2
- Number of Episodes: 26
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- First Air Date: September 20, 1971 (United States - NR), September 20, 1971 (United Kingdom - 12), September 20, 1971 (Australia - M)
- Networks: ITV1
- Production Companies: Pearson Television International, Thames Television
- Production Countries: United Kingdom
The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes - Plot
An anthology series produced by Thames Television, comprised of short mystery, suspense or crime adaptations featuring, as the title suggests, detectives who were literary contemporaries of Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes.
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The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes - Cast & Crew
Creator(s)
- Hugh Greene
Main Cast
- Kenneth Colley
- Douglas Wilmer
- Ronald Hines
- Peter Barkworth
- Peter Vaughan
- Cyd Hayman
- Petronella Barker
- Paul Whitsun-Jones
- John Nettleton
- Michael Cashman
Writers
- Julian Bond
- Philip Mackie
- Arthur Morrison
- R. Austin Freeman
- Alan Cooke
The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes - FAQs
Who are the detectives featured in The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes?
The series showcases a rich gallery of Victorian and Edwardian fictional sleuths, including Professor Van Dusen (played by Douglas Wilmer), Martin Hewitt (Peter Barkworth), and Dorrington (Peter Vaughan), among others — each drawn from short stories published during Sherlock Holmes's own literary era.
Is The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes based on real stories?
Every episode adapts an actual published short story from the late Victorian or Edwardian period. Authors such as R. Austin Freeman, Baroness Emmuska Orczy, Arthur Morrison, and Jacques Futrelle all contributed source material, making the series a genuine showcase of forgotten genre fiction from Conan Doyle's era.
Where can you stream The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes?
The series is available on BritBox, PBS, and WETA+, all offering flat-rate streaming. You can also access it through BritBox on Apple TV or Amazon Channel, or via the PBS Masterpiece Amazon Channel. KQED offers ad-supported viewing for those who prefer a free option.
What makes The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes different from other detective shows?
Rather than following a single recurring hero, each episode spotlights a completely different detective from Victorian and Edwardian fiction. This anthology format rescues genuinely obscure literary characters from near-total obscurity, offering variety in tone, method, and setting that no single-protagonist series could match.
How many seasons and episodes does The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes have?
The series ran for two seasons on ITV1, each containing 13 episodes, for a total of 26 self-contained stories. Produced by Thames Television between 1971 and 1973, every episode functions as a standalone mystery, so viewers can dip in at any point without needing prior context.
Who created The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes TV series?
The series was developed by Hugh Greene, who also edited the anthology of short stories that inspired it. Thames Television produced the show for ITV1, with writers including Julian Bond, Philip Mackie, and Alexander Baron adapting the original Victorian and Edwardian source texts for the screen.
Is The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes worth watching today?
Absolutely, especially for fans of classic British mystery. The production values are faithful to the period, the writing is sharp, and the anthology format means quality stays consistently high. It also serves as a wonderful literary discovery engine, introducing viewers to authors and detectives they may never have encountered otherwise.
What shows are similar to The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes?
Fans tend to enjoy Father Brown (2013), Sherlock Holmes (1984), and Agatha Christie's Marple (2004) for their British period mystery atmosphere. Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955) and The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1962) offer a similarly satisfying anthology format for viewers who love self-contained suspense stories.
More About The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes
Explore further details about the series on these authoritative resources.