TELEVISION: Woo-Hoo! Syfy Developing Classic British Supernatural Buddy-Cop Series Randall and Hopkirk [Deceased] for U.S.!

Television

FROM GRANADA INTERNATIONAL FOR ITV RANDALL AND HOPKIRK [DECEASED] on ITV4 Two crime-fighting detectives - but one is a ghost! Jeff Randall (Mike Pratt) is a hard-bitten private eye with a big problem - his dead partner, Marty Hopkirk [Kenneth Cope], a ghost who still comes to work. While his spectral form proves to be a potent force in the crime-breaking business, all is not well for his long-suffering partner, Jeff. Madly in love with Marty’s widow [Annette Andre], but with no hope of a private moment, there seems little chance of a liaison. It’s good to have a ghost on your side in the private eye business - especially when you’re engaged in a number of complex and difficult cases in which an invisible ally can turn the tide in your favour. Pictured: Marty Hopkirk [KENNETH COPE] and Jeff Randall [MIKE PRATT] For more picture information please contact Gareth Richman on 084488 13051 or gareth.richman@itv.com COPYRIGHT GRANADA INTERNATIONAL

Syfy has obtained the rights to one of my favorite TV series of all time – the classic British detective series Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) from ITV Studios, Inc. – for development as a pilot for a one-hour scripted series to be produced by ITV Studios. Josh Bycel (Scrubs) and Jonathan Fener (American Dad) will write and executive produce.

Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) is based on the popular British detective series from the late 1960s in which Hopkirk (Kenneth Cope) was murdered in the line of duty. He returned as a ghost, visible only to his former partner, Randall (Mike Pratt), and assisted him in crime fighting from beyond the grave.

The original series mixed elements of a straightforward PI series with a darker, supernatural edge and a bit of slapstick energy. Randall and Hopkirk [Deceased] ran for twenty-six episodes over the 1969-70 season and a rebooted version ran for two seasons – a combined thirteen episodes – from March, 2000 to November, 2001.

It might be a good idea for Syfy to run the thirty-nine episodes of the two British incarnations of the series at some point prior to running their own version – should it go to series. They’re considered classics for a reason.