Probation Officer (TV series)

• John Paul as Philip Main (53 episodes, 1959-1961)
• John Scott as Bert Bellman (33 episodes, 1959-1962)
• Jessica Spencer as Maggie Weston (32 episodes, 1960-1962)
• David Davies as Jim Blake (20 episodes, 1959-1960)
• Henry Oscar as Magistrate (15 episodes, 1960-1961)
• A.J. Brown as Judge (12 episodes, 1959-1961)
• Jack Stewart as Andrew Wallace (10 episodes, 1959-1960)
• Honor Blackman as Iris Cope (9 episodes, 1959)
• Humphrey Heathcote as Jailer (9 episodes, 1959-1961)
• Windsor Davies as Bill Morgan (8 episodes, 1962)
• Bernard Brown as Stephen Ryder (8 episodes, 1961-1962)
• Betty Hardy as Miss Randell (7 episodes, 1959)
• John Barrett as Clerk of Court (6 episodes, 1960-1962)
• Derek Benfield as George Cooper (1 episode, 1960){{cite web|url=https://en.kinorium.com/2522372/|title=Probation Officer (1959-1962)}}

Like many British TV series of the same vintage, the archive holdings of Probation Officer are incomplete, with approximately three-quarters of the episodes missing.

In 2017, Network released "Volume One" on DVD, containing 12 existing episodes from the first series (Episodes 1-3, 5-8, 13-16 & 22 - Episode 8 is missing one courtroom scene) as a three disc DVD boxset. No further releases followed.

Shortly after the first programmes were aired, concerns were raised by both reviewers{{cite news |title=Probation Officer review |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-post-probation-officer-re/159447964/ |access-date=21 November 2024 |work=Newspapers.com |publisher=The Birmingham Post |date=26 October 1959 |page=18}} and the National Association of Probation Officers (Napo (trade union)) who formally disassociated itself from the programme.{{cite web |title=Probation Officers Disown ATV Series |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/nottingham-evening-news-probation-office/159448244/ |website=Newspapers.com |publisher=Nottingham Evening News |access-date=21 November 2024 |page=6 |date=19 October 1959}} Later the same year a Home Office spokesperson confirmed that future programmes would be vetted by Seldon Charles Forrester Farmer, Principal Probation Officer for Inner London Probation Service, before television broadcast.{{cite news |title=TV Probation Officer Vetted |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-guardian-journal-tv-probation-office/158350343/ |access-date=21 November 2024 |work=Newspapers.com |publisher=The Guardian Journal |date=3 December 1959 |page=10}}

Not all press was negative and once professionally moderated the reports appeared to be predominantly about production and contract challenges with some reporting suggesting that an 'Oscar' should be awarded for performance by June Watts.{{cite news |title=Oscar for Jenny |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/leicester-evening-mail-oscar-for-jenny/159451868/ |access-date=21 November 2024 |work=Newspapers.com |publisher=Leicester Evening Mail |date=16 May 1962 |page=4}}

A number of programmes had production impacts from the Equity (British trade union) strike in 1961-2; however, the future of many programmes became untenable. In April 1962 the return of Probation Officer was still not secured.{{cite news |title=No date for 'Ward 10' Return |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/nottingham-evening-news-no-date-for-war/159449601/ |work=Newspapers.com |publisher=Nottingham Evening News |date=3 April 1962 |page=20}} A change of the lead actor was announced in May 1962 following unsuccessful contract negotiations.{{cite news |title=The Costly Probation Officer |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/liverpool-daily-post-merseyside-ed-th/159450812/ |access-date=21 November 2024 |work=Newspapers.com |publisher=Liverpool Daily Post (Merseyside ed.) |date=17 April 1962 |page=9}}

Reports are less certain on the formal cancellation,of the show such as key characters featuring in new shows, but by Late 1962 it seemed to be off the screens.{{cite news |title=Miss Spencer returns in a new serial |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/birmingham-evening-mail-miss-spencer-ret/159452954/ |access-date=21 November 2024 |work=Newspapers.com |publisher=Birmingham Evening Mail |date=14 June 1963 |page=3}}{{cite web |title=Probation Officer |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0159904/ |website=IMDb |publisher=Associated Television (ATV) |access-date=21 November 2024 |date=14 September 1959}}

{{reflist}}

• [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0159904/?ref_=nm_flmg_wr_6 Probation Officer] at IMDb
• [http://www.uktvindex.co.uk/progs/Probation-Officer/ Probation Officer] at UKTV
• [http://www.cherishedtelevision.co.uk/probationofficer.html Probation Officer] at Cherished Television

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Category:1959 British television series debuts

Category:1962 British television series endings

Category:1950s British drama television series

Category:1960s British drama television series

Category:British English-language television shows

Category:ITV television dramas

Category:Television series by ITV Studios

Category:Television shows produced by Associated Television (ATV)

Category:Probation

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