The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes is a British anthology mystery television series produced by Thames Television which was originally broadcast on the ITV Network. There were two series of 13 fifty-minute episodes; the first aired in 1971, the second in 1973. The programme presented adaptations of short mystery, suspense or crime stories featuring, as the title suggests, detectives who were literary contemporaries of Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes.

The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes took its inspiration – and title – from a series of published anthologies by Hugh Greene, younger brother of author Graham Greene and the former director-general of the BBC.History of the BBC: the 1960s Greene is credited on the programme as a creative consultant.BFI.org.uk

Cast

Recurring Douglas Wilmer as Augustus S. F. X. Van Dusen (2 episodes) Peter Vaughan as Horace Dorrington (2 episodes) Kenneth Colley as Farrish (2 episodes) Petronella Barker as Miss Parrot (2 episodes) Peter Barkworth as Martin Hewitt (2 episodes) Ronald Hines as Jonathan Pryde (2 episodes)

Guests Henri Szeps as Laval (1 episode) Peter Sallis as Dr. Jervis (1 episode) Reg Lye as Mortuary Superintendent (1 episode)

Episode list

Series 1

Series 2

Reception Critical response Jon E. Lewis and Penny Stempel described The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes as a "gaslight crime anthology" that "usually dependably" presented Victorian, "atmosphere‑drenched" cases featuring Holmes' contemporaries.

Jeffrey Kauffman of DVD Talk who reviewed the first series of the show recommended it but found it to be a bit disappointing in some areas. Paul Mavis of DVD Talk who reviewed the second series of the show called it "terrifically entertaining" and "perfect" for a "Saturday night viewing when you want something quick, something mysterious, and something English".

Percival Wexley-Smith of Television Heaven called the series a true gem of the early 1970s for British television.

Awards In 1972, the first series of the show won a BAFTA Award for Best Design.

Home media The first series was released on a 4-disc Region 2 DVD set by Network Distributing on 15 June 2009.Network DVD Acorn Media released a Region 1 version of this set on 1 September 2009.Acorn Media press release, accessed 23 July 2009 Series Two was released on a Network DVD 4-disc Region 2 release on 15 February 2010;Network DVD Acorn followed with a Region 1 version on 27 April.

Bibliography Greene, Hugh; editor. The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes. Pantheon Books, 1970; Greene, Hugh; editor. Cosmopolitan Crimes: Foreign Rivals of Sherlock Holmes. Pantheon Books, 1971; Greene, Hugh; editor. Further Rivals of Sherlock Holmes. Pantheon Books, 1973; Greene, Hugh; editor. The American Rivals of Sherlock Holmes. Pantheon Books, 1976;

Notes

References

External links

The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes at the BFI Film & TV database The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes at Television Heaven