The Buccaneers (TV series)

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The Buccaneers was a 1956 Sapphire Films television drama series for ITC Entertainment, networked by CBS in the US and shown on ATV and selected ITV companies in the UK.

Starring Robert Shaw as Dan Tempest, the series, aimed at children, followed the adventures of Tempest and his crew of former pirates as they made their way across the seven seas in The Sultana. Sources differ on the name of the ship, giving The Sultana, The Sultanta and Sultanna.

The series ran for 39 half-hour monochrome episodes and was produced by Hannah Weinstein and Sydney Cole.

This series was one of very many swashbuckling adventure series produced during the period by or for Lew Grade's ITC.

[edit] Main cast

Robert Shaw as Dan Tempest
Alec Clunes as Woodes Rogers
Peter Hammond as Beamish

Sources report that Robert Shaw was unavailable for the first few episodes, but nevertheless shooting went ahead without him. In the majority of episodes, he is listed as "With" rather than "Starring" in the title sequence, for reasons that are open to speculation.

Guest stars included "Carry On" actors Joan Sims and Sid James, Bill Owen, an exceptionally young Jane Asher and Roger Delgado (later the Master on Doctor Who).