I Am Not A Number - the "Prisoner" files Quiz

Answer: Patrick McGoohan

McGoohan was also co-creator and executive producer. "The Prisoner" came after McGoohan starred as a spy in "Danger Man" [aka "Dangerman". (It ran from 1960 to 1962 and again from 1964 to 1968). Officially it was not a sequel, though many believed it to be. He also directed several episodes. The basic premise was that the agent had tried to resign and had ended up on a mysterious island where the powers that be tried to find out why. The show ran for 17 episodes from September 1967 to February 1968.
Roger Moore, of course, starred in "The Saint" (1962 to 1969).

Answer: Portmeirion

Portmeirion is in Gwynedd in Wales. The construction work began in 1925 and many of the public buildings were based on examples that the designer, Sir Clough Williams-Ellis, had seen in Italy. As well as "The Prisoner" the resort was used in several other British TV productions, including "Dr Who", "Citizen Smith" and "Cold Feet".
The town was noted for its art-deco architecture.

Answer: Your Village

All of the people in the Village were effectively prisoners. Stylistically, the show used many visual themes, such as multi-coloured golf umbrellas and, clever for the time, cordless telephones.

Answer: Knockout gas through the keyhole of his house

We were led to believe that he was a spy who tried to resign. He was taken to the village so that the authorities could learn all he knew. In some episodes we saw him 'escaped' from the Village and back with his former colleagues.

Answer: Number Six

Some addicts claim that there was an implied comma in the middle of that sentence, meaning that No 6 was in fact No 1.

Answer: Giant White balloons

The balloons could appear from anywhere, including the bottom of the sea. Escape from them was nigh on impossible. The balloons caught would-be escapees and smothered them into unconsciousness.

Answer: Penny farthing bicycle

It was frequently seen on badges worn by the villagers. Another icon of the 1960s, the Mini Moke, was the sole means of vehicular transport.

Answer: Peter Smith

"I am not a number, I am a free man", was the anguished call of the hero when told his existence had been reduced to that of a number.
(Some of you may have spotted that John Smith was a name used by another great 1960s British television creation, "Doctor Who?")

Answer: Boat

He carved a boat from a tree trunk using stone age tools. The boat was in three pieces designed as an art exhibit. He did make it back to his former London home, though he had been tricked and he found himself back in The Village.
A helicopter did feature throughout the show as the only means of transport out of the Village.

Answer: London

The show ended somewhat bizarrely. Lew Grade, the head of ATV television, commissioned the show when it was pitched to him by Patrick McGoohan. He had expected 30 episodes. "I simply sat down and waited for the ending like everyone else. I knew there would be an ending because Pat [McGoohan] told me there would. Then one day, near the 17th episode, Pat came to me and said 'I cannot find an ending. I've been too confused with the project'" [Quoted in The Times, April 2010].
The opening, and concluding shots featured McGoohan at the wheel of a open sports car, a Lotus 7.