Murder Bag

1 9 5 7 - 1 9 5 9 (UK)
56 x 30 minute episodes

Debuting in 1957, Murder Bag introduced Raymond Francis as Detective Superintendent Tom Lockhart of Scotland Yard. Apart from good old George Dixon, Lockhart became probably the most respected television policeman in Britain over the next decade as Murder Bag begat Crime Sheet which in turn begat No Hiding Place.

Lockhart's trademark was taking snuff, something Francis enjoyed also. On the series he used a snuffbox given to him by Kenneth More. 

The show was broadcast live and Francis had a habit of hiding his lines all over the set. One such crib card was inside his desk drawer, and Francis used to open it slightly and glance down. One day, a technician played a joke on him by replacing the card with one which read 'You will dry now'. And sure enough, he did.

Murder Bag got its title from the black leather briefcase that the police used on murder enquiries and which contained over 42 items of equipment.