The Prisoner poster

The Prisoner · 1967

"The Prisoner" is a unique piece of television. It addresses issues such as personal identity and freedom, democracy, education, scientific progress, art and technology, while still remaining an entertaining drama series. Over seventeen episodes we witness a war of attrition between the faceless forces behind 'The Village' (a Kafkaesque community somewhere between Butlins and Alcatraz) and its most strong willed inmate, No. 6. who struggles ceaselessly to assert his individuality while plotting to escape from his captors.

Released
01 Jun 1968
Runtime
1 min
Rated
TV-PG
Seasons
1
Episodes
17
Writer
Patrick McGoohan
Language
English
Country
United Kingdom
Updated
Jun 21, 2026

Starring: Patrick McGoohan, Angelo Muscat, Peter Swanwick

🏆 1 win & 1 nomination total

Episodes

17 across 1 season
Season 1 17 episodes
  1. E1
    Arrival 1 Jun 1968 ★ 8.4

    After resigning, a secret agent finds himself trapped in a bizarre prison known only as The Village.

    50 min · Director Don Chaffey · Writer George Markstein, David Tomblin, Patrick McGoohan

  2. E2
    The Chimes of Big Ben 8 Oct 1967 ★ 8.5

    A new Number Eight named Nadia arrives in the Village, and together she and Number Six plot their escape.

    60 min · Director Don Chaffey · Writer Vincent Tilsley

  3. E3
    A. B. and C. 15 Oct 1967 ★ 8.2

    Number Two believes that Number Six resigned because he was going to sell out. Using dream manipulation, Number Two tries to determine which one of three possible candidates Number Six was dealing with.

    60 min · Director Pat Jackson · Writer Anthony Skene

  4. E4
    Free for All 22 Oct 1967 ★ 7.7

    Number Six runs for the office of Number Two.

    60 min · Director Patrick McGoohan · Writer Patrick McGoohan

  5. E5
    The Schizoid Man 29 Oct 1967 ★ 8.5

    Number Six wakes up with a new identity. Now he's Number Twelve. Worse, Number Two asks him to impersonate someone--Number Six. But the new Number Six is more like him than he is.

    60 min · Director Pat Jackson · Writer Terence Feely

  6. E6
    The General 5 Nov 1967 ★ 7.6

    An instant learning process becomes the Village's latest fad, but Number Six is sure that Number Two is using it as a brain washing tool.

    60 min · Director Peter Graham Scott · Writer Lewis Greifer

  7. E7
    Many Happy Returns 12 Nov 1967 ★ 8.6

    Number Six wakes up to find the Village totally deserted.

    60 min · Director Patrick McGoohan · Writer Anthony Skene, Patrick McGoohan

  8. E8
    Dance of the Dead 26 Nov 1967 ★ 7.5

    Number Six comes across a body that has washed ashore with a radio. After sending the body back out to sea, he tries to use the radio to get rescued.

    60 min · Director Don Chaffey · Writer Anthony Skene, Patrick McGoohan

  9. E9
    Checkmate 17 Aug 1968 ★ 8.3

    Inspired by a large chess game with people taking the place of the game pieces, Number Six formulates a new escape plan with some compatriots.

    60 min · Director Don Chaffey · Writer Gerald Kelsey

  10. E10
    Hammer Into Anvil 10 Dec 1967 ★ 8.6

    Number Six vows revenge and goes after a sadistic Number Two after he drives a fellow Village resident to her death.

    60 min · Director Pat Jackson · Writer Roger Woddis

  11. E11
    It's Your Funeral 17 Dec 1967 ★ 7.7

    Number Six hears of an assassination plot against Number Two, but it's the new Number Two doing all the plotting against the retiring Number Two.

    60 min · Director Robert Asher · Writer Michael Cramoy

  12. E12
    A Change of Mind 31 Dec 1967 ★ 7.8

    After a brawl, Number Six is declared "unmutual" and is made to think that he has undergone "instant social treatment."

    60 min · Director Patrick McGoohan · Writer Roger Parkes

  13. E13
    Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling 7 Jan 1968 ★ 7.3

    With his mind transferred to another body, Number Six wakes up in his London flat and can't convince his colleagues who he is. He takes off to Austria to find the one man who can help him, the person whom Number Two wants him to f...

    60 min · Director Pat Jackson · Writer Vincent Tilsley

  14. E14
    Living in Harmony 29 Dec 1967 ★ 7.0

    In a Wild West setting, a lawman who resigned is trapped in a town called Harmony where the Judge wants him to be the new sheriff - by hook or by crook.

    60 min · Director David Tomblin · Writer David Tomblin, Ian Rakoff, Frank Maher

  15. E15
    The Girl Who Was Death 18 Jan 1968 ★ 7.2

    Back in London, Number Six is trying to track down a crazed scientist who is protected by his homicidal daughter.

    60 min · Director David Tomblin · Writer Terence Feely, David Tomblin

  16. E16
    Once Upon a Time 25 Jan 1968 ★ 7.7

    Because all other attempts to break Number Six have failed, Number Two decides to engage him in a game where one of them will end up dead.

    60 min · Director Patrick McGoohan · Writer Patrick McGoohan

  17. E17
    Fall Out 1 Feb 1968 ★ 7.6

    After witnessing the trials of Number Two and Number Forty-Eight and meeting the President of the Assembly, Number Six escapes during the chaos that follows.

    60 min · Director Patrick McGoohan · Writer Patrick McGoohan, Kenneth Griffith

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