Public Eye (TV series)

Public Eye was a British television drama series that ran for ten series between 1965 and 1975. It starred Alfred Burke as Frank Marker, a private investigator operating in various locations around the United Kingdom, though most famously in Birmingham.

Marker was portrayed as a down-at-heel, cynical, and often morally ambiguous character. He frequently worked for the lowest fees, taking on cases that more established agencies would reject. The series was noted for its realism, its stark depiction of everyday life, and its avoidance of glamorous or sensationalized storylines. The scripts often focused on the mundane realities of private investigation, portraying Marker as a man struggling to make a living and often finding himself out of pocket.

The series was created by Roger Marshall and Anthony Marriott. Early episodes were broadcast live, contributing to their gritty and immediate feel. Later episodes were pre-recorded. The show's theme music, "All Gone," was composed by Robert Earley.

Throughout its run, Public Eye was praised for its high quality writing and acting. Alfred Burke's portrayal of Frank Marker is considered one of the most memorable and realistic depictions of a private detective in British television history. The series is considered a significant contribution to British television drama and a notable example of the "kitchen sink" realism that characterized much of British drama during the 1960s and 1970s. Several episodes have been lost over time, but many survive and are available on DVD.