When it's a matter of murder... it's a matter for Gideon
Gideon's Way is a British television crime series made by ITC Entertainment in 1964/65, based on the novels by John Creasey. The series was made at Elstree in twin production with The Saint TV series. It starred Liverpudlian John Gregson in the title role as Commander George Gideon of Scotland Yard, with Alexander Davion as his assistant, Detective Chief Inspector David Keen, Reginald Jessup as Det. Superintendent LeMaitre, Ian Rossiter as Detective Chief Superintendent Joe Bell and Basil Dignam as Commissioner Scott-Marle. The show did not acknowledge any help from Scotland Yard, any other police force or advisor.
Daphne Anderson starred as his wife, Kate with Giles Watling as young son, Malcolm, Richard James as older son, Matthew who seemed to have a lot of new girlfriends and Andrea Allan as daughter, Pru. Unusually for police stories, Gideon was shown as a family man at home though urgent phone calls from his bosses tend to disrupt family plans too often. However, he did admit in "State Visit" that his wife had walked out on him for a while years ago when he put the job first and her second. They live in an expensive detached house in Chelsea.
State Visit (Episode 1)
Writer: Alun Falconer
Air date: 1965-03-18
Runtime: 50 min
Overview: An elderly Jewish man, a survivor of the German concentration camps, becomes obsessed with the arrival of the West German President for a state reception in London. His desire for revenge leads to an assassination plot.
The 'V' Men (Episode 2)
Writer: Jack Whittingham
Air date: 1965-03-25
Runtime: 50 min
Overview: The Victory Movement is a fascist political party that is contesting the next election and a bomb is exploded outside the flat of the party's leader. A woman is a witness but Gideon has to find her and convince her to talk.
The Firebug (Episode 3)
Air date: 1965-04-01
Runtime: 50 min
Overview: Fires are being set at random in south London, all in abandoned properties, until one kills some squatters,and C.I.D. looks into it. The arsonist is a quiet, seemingly normal man who's gone psycho after a fire killed his loved ones.
The Big Fix (Episode 4)
Air date: 1965-04-08
Runtime: 50 min
Overview: A stable hand is beaten to death and, in his dying confession, he says he was beaten up because he was asked to dope a horse. Gideon is asked to investigate race fixing at the local racecourse.
The Housekeeper (Episode 5)
Air date: 1965-04-15
Runtime: 50 min
Overview: A serial murderess is on the loose, a woman that poses as a housekeeper that preys on OAPs with money. She eludes capture by her penchant for disguises.
The Lady-Killer (Episode 6)
Air date: 1965-04-22
Runtime: 50 min
Overview: The new husband of Inspector Keen's girlfriend's best friend has the worst luck - his wives keep turning up dead. When it's discovered that he's using aliases, suspicions arise and lead to a CID investigation.
To Catch a Tiger (Episode 7)
Air date: 1965-04-29
Runtime: 50 min
Overview: The victim of a car accident gives a death bed statement that says a man murdered his first wife with an overdose of morphine. Gideon is determined to prove the man is a killer but the court case doesn't quite go as planned.
Big Fish Little Fish (Episode 8)
Air date: 1965-05-06
Runtime: 50 min
Overview: Gideon's car almost hits a young pick-pocket, who is being controlled by his mother. This leads him to investigate a fence who is controlling the petty crime but arrogantly believes he is above the law.
The White Rat (Episode 9)
Writer: Jack Whittingham
Air date: 1965-05-13
Runtime: 50 min
Overview: A series of warehouse robberies are led by a creepy albino mastermind who obsesses over a pet rat. After a night watchman is killed during a heist, one of CID's veteran detectives suspects and then goes after him, with violent results.
How to Retire Without Really Working (Episode 10)
Air date: 1965-05-20
Runtime: 50 min
Overview: A middle-age couple commit a small time crime once a month and live off the swag, but after a threatening visit from Gideon, they plan one last grand heist to retire on.
Subway to Revenge (Episode 11)
Air date: 1965-05-27
Runtime: 50 min
Overview: A man tries to push an accountant off a crowded subway platform. Only his friend takes it seriously and pesters Gideon to look for the would-be killer. Gideon finds three more sudden deaths and the race is on to find a motive.
The Great Plane Robbery (Episode 12)
Air date: 1965-06-03
Runtime: 50 min
Overview: A group of thieves successfully steal a £1 000 000 shipment of gold from a plane that has just landed from Moscow. It was very well organised and Gideon is in charge of finding the criminals.
Gang War (Episode 13)
Air date: 1965-06-10
Runtime: 50 min
Overview: A protection-racketing gang of thugs is in a bloody turf war, but their leader sees a way out of the slums and on to the good life by way of his wife seducing a straight-laced bank clerk with access to a fortune in used bills.
The Tin God (Episode 14)
Air date: 1965-06-17
Runtime: 50 min
Overview: Two criminals make a murderous escape from prison with a carefully executed plan. One is a violent gangster intent on revenge against his wife who helped the police put him away. He uses his son, who idolises him, to carry out his plan.
The Alibi Man (Episode 15)
Writer: Norman Hudis
Air date: 1965-06-24
Runtime: 50 min
Overview: A racing car driver accidentally kills his accountant over some missing money. With the help of his mechanic he proceeds to cover up the crime by establishing alibis. Gideon knows that they're guilty but proving it is difficult.
Fall High Fall Hard (Episode 16)
Air date: 1966-04-15
Runtime: 50 min
Overview: There is corruption in the building industry by the co-owner of the building company. One clerk was murdered and another was bribed. When the other co-owner finds out, more crimes are committed to keep the police from finding out.
The Wall (Episode 17)
Air date: 1965-09-16
Runtime: 50 min
Overview: Netta's husband, Michael, has a big win on the football pools but then disappears. It appears as though he has run off but he is actually the victim of foul play. The clues come together and the murderer is uncovered.
The Prowler (Episode 18)
Air date: 1966-04-22
Runtime: 50 min
Overview: A young man with a domineering mother snaps after the suicide of his fiancée, and goes about foggy London evenings choking girls and cutting off locks of their hair.
The Thin Red Line (Episode 19)
Air date: 1966-02-03
Runtime: 50 min
Overview: The Balaclava Silver, which is the regimental silver crockery of a proud Scottish regiment, is gradually being stolen and replaced with fake replicas. Gideon is asked to discretely find out who is stealing the silver pieces.
A Perfect Crime (Episode 20)
Air date: 1966-02-10
Runtime: 50 min
Overview: A stockbroker and safe-cracker join forces to pull jobs in wealthy homes. After the upper class crook commits a murder at one job, the cracksman is caught at the next. His lawyer then accuses Gideon of police brutality.
The Millionaire's Daughter (Episode 21)
Air date: 1966-02-17
Runtime: 50 min
Overview: A well-known criminal has started a romance with the daughter of a rich couple from America and Gideon is suspicious. When she is kidnapped Gideon immediately knows who's to blame, but proving it and freeing the girl is more difficult.
Morna (Episode 22)
Air date: 1966-02-24
Runtime: 50 min
Overview: After a beautiful blonde is found murdered, her story is unraveled in flashbacks about her relationship to her posh girl's school friends and instructors, her troubled beau, and with a drug pusher seething with contempt.
Boy with Gun (Episode 23)
Air date: 1966-03-03
Runtime: 50 min
Overview: A milquetoast boy shoots a punk that threatened him with a knife, then, fearing his hard bitten police surgeon father, runs away and is joined by a young escapee.
The Reluctant Witness (Episode 24)
Air date: 1966-04-26
Runtime: 50 min
Overview: Some neighborhood thugs, who run a garage/stolen car ring, beat a man to death. A timid shop girl is the only witness. When they figure out that she saw them, the CID must protect her.
The Rhyme and the Reason (Episode 25)
Air date: 1966-05-03
Runtime: 50 min
Overview: A young man is accused of murdering his unfaithful girlfriend. Though many offer damning testimony, and his knife is found at the murder scene, Gideon suspects a frame-up.
The Nightlifers (Episode 26)
Air date: 1966-05-10
Runtime: 50 min
Overview: A group of bored and rich young people go from endless pot and booze parties aboard a houseboat to violent crimes in the city. Their creepy leader has an obsessive hate for middle class morality, and calls their misdeeds "giggles".
