The Odd Man was the first of a trilogy of police series produced in the 1960s by Granada TV, linked by the presence of pompous but increasingly genial police Chief Inspector Charles Rose (William Mervyn). It originally dealt with the investigations of theatrical-agent-cum-detective Steve Gardiner (Edwin Richfield) (The "odd man" of the series' title), and his encounters with the police in the form of Chief Inspector Gordon (Moultrie Kelsall) and DS Swift (Keith Barron). By the second season, Gordon had been replaced by Rose.
The characters of Rose and Swift were then given their own series, It's Cold Outside, which ran for two seasons, with Barron being replaced in the second series by Anthony Ainley as DS Hunter.
The third and final series in the trilogy, Mr Rose, saw Rose in retirement in Eastbourne, attempting to write his memoirs, but instead being drawn into private detection. The theme tune for this series was by Roy Budd and was issued as a single on the Pye label in 1967.
