Danger Man

Danger Man follows John Drake, a British secret operative who moves between cities and continents on high stakes assignments. Working for a restrained government agency, Drake faces political intrigue, double dealing, and dangerous schemes, all while keeping his own code of conduct intact. The show leans toward realism, favoring careful planning, clever improvisation, and tight, self contained missions rather than big spectacle. Drake rarely wears a cape or makes grand declarations; instead he stays cool under pressure, screens conversations, and reads people with precision. The series, created by Ralph Smart and backed by Lew Grade's ITC, aired on British TV from 1960 to 1962 and again from 1964 to 1968, establishing a durable template for intelligent espionage drama.

It was created by Ralph Smart and produced by Lew Grade's ITC Entertainment. Patrick McGoohan stars as John Drake, and the series aired in two runs from 1960 to 1962 and 1964 to 1968.

Its emphasis on plausible espionage rather than gadget driven bravado helped redefine 1960s spy TV. The globe hopping missions and moral ambiguity left a lasting imprint on the genre, and McGoohan's restrained performance helped shape the modern secret agent. The show's spirit echoed in later projects like The Prisoner.

Critically the series was praised for its intelligent storytelling and the way it treated undercover work as personal risk rather than pure thrill. Core themes include identity, loyalty, deception and the moral cost of secrecy, explored through tense encounters, smart dialogue and brisk pacing.