The Expert (1968)
A landmark BBC forensic drama series starring Marius Goring as Dr. John Hardy, one of British television's most enduring procedural heroes.
The Expert - Series Information
- Original Title: The Expert
- First Air Year: 1968
- Last Air Year: 1976
- Created by: Gerard Glaister, N.J. Crisp
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Drama
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode: 50 minutes
- Number of Seasons: 4
- Number of Episodes: 62
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- Networks: BBC Two, BBC One
The Expert - Plot
The Expert is a British television series produced by the BBC between 1968 and 1976. The series starred Marius Goring as Dr. John Hardy, a pathologist working for the Home Office and was essentially a police procedural drama, with Hardy bringing his forensic knowledge to solve various cases. The Expert was created and produced by Gerard Glaister. The series was also one of the first BBC dramas to be made in colour, and throughout its four series had numerous high quality guest appearances by actors such as John Carson, Peter Copley, Rachel Kempson, Peter Vaughan, Clive Swift, Geoffrey Palmer, Peter Barkworth, Jean Marsh, Ray Brooks, George Sewell, Anthony Valentine, Bernard Lee, Lee Montague, Geoffrey Bayldon, Mike Pratt, Edward Fox, André Morell, Brian Blessed, Nigel Stock, Philip Madoc and Warren Clarke.
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The Expert - Cast & Crew
Creator(s)
- Gerard Glaister
- N.J. Crisp
Main Cast
- Marius Goring as Dr John Hardy
- Ann Morrish as Dr Jo Hardy
- Victor Winding as Det. Chief Insp. Fleming
- Michael Farnsworth as Det. Sgt. Ashe
- Valerie Murray as Sandra Hughes
- Jeremy Sinden as Price
- Virginia Stride as Susan Bartlett
- Sally Nesbitt as Jane Carter
- Harry Beety as Inspector Lawrence
- Clare Kelly as Mrs Clark
Writers
- N.J. Crisp
- Gerard Glaister
- John Gould
- John Pennington
- Mervyn Haisman
The Expert - FAQs
Who played the lead role in The Expert?
Marius Goring took the central role as Dr. John Hardy, a Home Office forensic pathologist. Goring brought quiet authority and intellectual depth to the character, making Hardy one of British television's most memorable procedural leads of the late 1960s and 1970s.
What is The Expert TV series about?
The Expert follows Dr. John Hardy, a forensic pathologist working for the Home Office, as he applies his scientific expertise to assist police investigations. Each case blends medical forensics with classic crime drama, offering a thoughtful, methodical approach to detective storytelling across four seasons.
Was The Expert one of the first BBC colour dramas?
Yes, The Expert holds a notable place in BBC history as one of the first dramas produced in colour. This technical milestone, combined with its strong writing and distinguished guest cast, gave the series a prestige feel that set it apart from contemporaries of the era.
How many seasons and episodes does The Expert have?
The Expert ran for four seasons and 62 episodes in total. Season 1 contained 13 episodes, Season 2 expanded to 26, Season 3 returned to 13, and Season 4 concluded with 10 episodes, spanning the series' run from 1968 to 1976.
Who created and produced The Expert BBC series?
The Expert was created and produced by Gerard Glaister, working alongside writer N.J. Crisp. Glaister was a prolific BBC producer whose careful stewardship gave the series its consistent tone and quality throughout its eight-year run on BBC Two and BBC One.
Which notable guest actors appeared in The Expert?
The series attracted an impressive roster of guest talent, including Brian Blessed, Edward Fox, Jean Marsh, Geoffrey Palmer, Peter Vaughan, Bernard Lee, Warren Clarke, and André Morell, among many others. These appearances gave each episode a theatrical quality rarely matched in British TV drama of the period.
What genre is The Expert TV series?
The Expert is a drama series, more specifically a forensic crime procedural. It combines elements of police investigation and medical science, following a Home Office pathologist as he unravels criminal cases — a format that anticipated many later forensic drama series.
Are there similar shows to The Expert worth watching?
Fans of The Expert may enjoy The Suspect (2022), Reasonable Doubt (2022), The Clearing (2023), and Witch Hunt (2020), all of which share a similar blend of investigative tension and character-driven drama. Everything Calls for Salvation (2022) and Painkiller (2023) also offer compelling dramatic storytelling.
More About The Expert
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