''The Top Secret Life of Edgar Briggs'' is a 25-minute British television comedy series created by Bernard McKenna and Richard Laing and produced by

Humphrey Barclay Humphrey Barclay BEM (born 24 March 1941, Dorking, Surrey, England) is a British comedy executive and producer. Career Barclay was educated at Harrow School, before reading Classics at Trinity College, Cambridge, where his first foray into sh ...

for

LWT London Weekend Television (LWT) (now part of the non-franchised ITV London region) was the ITV network franchise holder for Greater London and the Home Counties at weekends, broadcasting from Fridays at 5.15 pm (7:00 pm from 1968 un ...

. It was transmitted on the ITV network in 1974 and featured

David Jason Sir David John White (born 2 February 1940), known professionally by his stage name David Jason, is an English actor. He is best known for his roles as Derek "Del Boy" Trotter in the BBC sitcom '' Only Fools and Horses'', Detective Inspector ...

as the inept Edgar Briggs, personal assistant to the Commander of the British Secret Intelligence Service who, in spite of his cluelessness (and ineptness), manages to solve case after case.

Cast

as Edgar Briggs *

Noel Coleman Noel Coleman (26 November 1919 – 12 October 2007) was a RADA-trained English actor who appeared in many television roles. He appeared in the 1969 '' Doctor Who'' serial ''The War Games'' as General Smythe and he appeared in '' Red Dwarf'' as ...

as The Commander * Michael Stainton as Buxton *

Mark Eden Douglas John Malin (14 February 1928 – 1 January 2021), known professionally as Mark Eden, was an English actor. He was best known for his portrayal of villainous Alan Bradley in ''Coronation Street'' from 1986 to 1989. Early life Mark Ede ...

as Spencer *

Barbara Angell Barbara Angell (6 March 1935) also known as Barb Angell and Angela Barrsometimes wrongly credited as Barbara Angel – was Australia's first female television comedy writer-entertainer. She was born in Melbourne and educated at Presbyterian Ladi ...

as Jennifer Briggs *

Elizabeth Counsell Elizabeth Counsell (born 7 June 1942) is an English actress, best known for starring in the BBC television series ''Brush Strokes'', and for her work in classical theatre. Career She played Lady Macbeth to Michael Gambon's Macbeth at the Foru ...

as Cathy

Episodes

Reception

According to David Jason's biographers, ''Edgar Briggs'' was not a ratings success in Britain but proved popular in overseas markets. Nevertheless, Jason reportedly vetoed repeat screenings of the series for many years on the grounds that he "

new New is an adjective referring to something recently made, discovered, or created. New or NEW may refer to: Music * New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz Albums and EPs * ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013 * ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator ...

how raw he looked in those days" and was "not at all anxious to share that with his public."

DVD release

The complete series was eventually released on DVD in March 2015.

References

External links

Comedy Guide - ''The Top Secret Life of Edgar Briggs''
at bbc.co.uk * {{DEFAULTSORT:Top Secret Life of Edgar Briggs ITV sitcoms 1974 British television series debuts 1974 British television series endings 1970s British sitcoms Television series by ITV Studios London Weekend Television shows English-language television shows Television shows set in London Espionage television series