Callan

Callan

David Callan, only good at one thing, well maybe two, killing people and collecting toy soldiers.

Callan is the title of a British television series set in the murky world of espionage. Originally produced by ABC Weekend Television and later Thames Television, it was aired on the ITV network over four seasons spread out between 1967 and 1972. The series starred Edward Woodward as David Callan, a reluctant professional killer for a shadowy branch of the British Government's intelligence services known as 'the Section'.

Action & AdventureDrama

Seasons

A Magnum for Schneider (pilot)

1. A Magnum for Schneider (pilot)

Air Date: 1967-02-06

Hunter, head of the Section, requires the services of his best operative, David Callan. Callan had been 'retired' from the service due to his growing conscience, disrespect for orders, and concerns about the people he was ordered to eliminate. Callan now working as a bookkeeper, a job he despises, is offered to be reinstated into the Section if he kills Schneider, an international arms dealer.

The Good Ones Are All Dead

2. The Good Ones Are All Dead

Air Date: 1967-07-08

Under threat of being placed in a red file, Callan is coerced into helping the Section hand over an ex-SS officer, Strauss, to the Israelis.

3. Goodbye, Nobby Clarke

Air Date: 1967-07-15

Callan must stop an old friend, Clarke, from going back to Africa, where he was training mercenaries, else Hunter will have Clarke killed.

4. Death of Robert E. Lee

Air Date: 1967-07-22

Two CIA agents request the help of Hunter's Section in killing a Chinese agent, who has been trading in nuclear secrets. But his real mission in England is to kill Hunter.

5. Goodness Burns Too Bright

Air Date: 1967-07-29

Callan is lured into going to Berlin, where Hunter wants to use him as a sacrificial lamb to facilitate the planting of a British mole.

But's He's a Lord, Mr. Callan

6. But's He's a Lord, Mr. Callan

Air Date: 1967-08-05

Hunter wants Callan to stop a blackmailing Lord from selling the negatives used in the blackmail to all and sundry.

You Should Have Got Here Sooner

7. You Should Have Got Here Sooner

Air Date: 1967-08-12

When somebody beats Lonely up, and Callan finds out who it was he turns the table on Hunter.

Red Knight, White Knight

1. Red Knight, White Knight

Air Date: 1969-01-08

The Section's new Hunter has Callan pulled from the field.

The Most Promising Girl of Her Year

2. The Most Promising Girl of Her Year

Air Date: 1969-01-15

Callan must prove that a young biochemist is not giving information to the East.

3. You're Under Starter's Orders

Air Date: 1969-01-22

Callan apparently turns renegade. A ruse to trap the head of a ‘pipeline' for smuggling foreign agents and defectors out of the country.

Little Bits and Pieces of Love

4. Little Bits and Pieces of Love

Air Date: 1969-01-29

Callan must use the wife of a rocket scientist as bait to lure the same scientist to Britain.

Let's Kill Everybody

5. Let's Kill Everybody

Air Date: 1969-02-05

A freelance German mercenary organisation who specialise in eliminating foreign security sections have their sights set on the Section.

Heir Apparent

6. Heir Apparent

Air Date: 1969-02-12

After Hunter's death Meres and Calln must fetch the new Hunter from East Germany.

7. Land of Light and Peace

Air Date: 1969-02-19

Callan must retrieve a microfilm from a spying medium.

8. Blackmailers Should Be Discouraged

Air Date: 1969-02-26

Calln must find everything out about the past of an influential politician.

Death of a Friend

9. Death of a Friend

Air Date: 1969-03-05

The French O.A.S. carry an internal war into England. Callan and Meres must sort out the mess.

10. Jack-on-Top

Air Date: 1969-03-12

Callan and Meres must catch the controller of a ring of spies before he can leave the country with the information the ring has gathered.

11. Once a Big Man, Always a Big Man

Air Date: 1969-03-19

Callan and Meres must secure the safe of a ship that was sunk during World War Two. It contains a list of Third Reich collaborateurs and puppets. A survivor of the ship tries to stop them.

12. Running Dog

Air Date: 1969-03-26

Callan must stop fashist agitators from killing the Chinese Ambassador.

The Worst Soldier I Ever Saw

13. The Worst Soldier I Ever Saw

Air Date: 1969-04-02

Security wants a retired brigadier of the British army to be stopped from accepting a job offer from a sultan, deadly force is requested.

Nice People Die at Home

14. Nice People Die at Home

Air Date: 1969-04-09

Callan brings confusion into a Russian spy network.

Death of a Hunter

15. Death of a Hunter

Air Date: 1969-04-16

Callan in brainwashed into believing that Hunter is the leak in the Section and that he has also killed Lonely and framed Callan for murder. In his drugged state Callan kills Hunter and is shot down by Meres.

Where Else Could I Go?

1. Where Else Could I Go?

Air Date: 1970-04-08

The new Hunter cannot decide if Callan is to return to the Section or not.

Summoned To Appear

2. Summoned To Appear

Air Date: 1970-04-15

When Cross kills an innocent bystander it's up to Callan to cover for him, but even he cannot decide if it was an accident or murder.

The Same Trick Twice

3. The Same Trick Twice

Air Date: 1970-04-22

An exchange of captured agents with the Soviets goes sour.

A Village Called G

4. A Village Called G

Air Date: 1970-04-29

Hunter's secretary, Liz, is out for someone's blood.

Suddenly - At Home

5. Suddenly - At Home

Air Date: 1970-05-13

Callan and Cross are assigned to protect a woman whom Callan becomes involved with.

Act of Kindness

6. Act of Kindness

Air Date: 1970-05-20

Callan helps a former agent out of a blackmailing business.

God Help Your Friends

7. God Help Your Friends

Air Date: 1970-05-27

Callan is assigned to disrupt a romance between a government worker and a suspected spy. Reluctantly he delves into his bag of dirty tricks.

Breakout

8. Breakout

Air Date: 1970-06-03

Callan and Cross must break a Russian spy out of prison, where he has voluntarily surrendered himself to, and kill him.

Amos Green Must Live

9. Amos Green Must Live

Air Date: 1970-06-24

A parlamental candidate recieves a death threat.

That'll Be the Day

1. That'll Be the Day

Air Date: 1972-03-01

Callan is dead. Or so the KGB would have you think.

Call Me Sir!

2. Call Me Sir!

Air Date: 1972-03-08

Lonely is used as bait to retrieve Callan from the KGB.

First Refusal

3. First Refusal

Air Date: 1972-03-15

Callan has become the new Hunter. And his first job is to retrieve a list of British undercover agents.

Rules of the Game

4. Rules of the Game

Air Date: 1972-03-22

Callan orders Cross to terrorise an innocent Russian family for political reasons.

If He Can, So Could I

5. If He Can, So Could I

Air Date: 1972-03-29

Callan looses his position as Hunter when he goes after the assassin who killed Cross.

None of Your Business

6. None of Your Business

Air Date: 1972-04-05

The old Hunter returns and Callan tries to get away.

Charlie Says It's Goodbye

7. Charlie Says It's Goodbye

Air Date: 1972-04-12

Callan tries to quit the Section when a girl he is seeing takes a dislike to his job.

I Never Wanted the Job

8. I Never Wanted the Job

Air Date: 1972-04-19

Lonely becomes the unlucky witness to a mob hit.

The Carrier

9. The Carrier

Air Date: 1972-04-26

Callan and Lonley break into a courier's house to find out how he's operating.

The Contract

10. The Contract

Air Date: 1972-05-03

Callan substitutes himself for an assassin in order to prevent an assassination.

Call Me Enemy (Richmond File 1)

11. Call Me Enemy (Richmond File 1)

Air Date: 1972-05-10

Callan debriefs a top enemy defector.

Do You Recognise the Woman? (Richmond File 2)

12. Do You Recognise the Woman? (Richmond File 2)

Air Date: 1972-05-17

Richmond, a top enemy defector, reveals his true purpose.

A Man Like Me (Richmond File 3)

13. A Man Like Me (Richmond File 3)

Air Date: 1972-04-24

Callan tracks down Richmond who is trying to leave Britain.

Select an episode to start watching

Rating

7.0/10

Release Date

1967-07-08

Episodes

44 (4 seasons)

Status

Ended

Cast

Production Companies

ABC Weekend Television

Thames Television

Thames Television