The Prisoner.

[Wraith]

Has it ever been published what the 60's TV series 'The Prisoner' was all about?

 

Who was No.1? Who was in control of the island? Why were they all being held prisoner? Why all the numbers?

[smorodina]

When you are lining up to be biometrically analysed for your ID card in a few years time and you finally realise that there will no longer be a single thing you can do without your political masters knowing about it, you will have all your answers.

[Laura-sakura]

There is an advert on several times a night on channel 3 for a magazine all about the prisoner.  Issue one is �2.99 and you will get a free DVD of the series every fortnight. (regular price �7.99) Maybe you could look out for that.

[Pinotage]

As Number 2 says Thats for me to know and you to find out

  The series expects you to think for yourself. There are no answers given to the questions you ask, other than they were being held because they had information.

  It may help you to know that the actor playing Number 6 previously starred in a long running secret agent series called Danger Man playing a James Bond like agent. The opening sequence of The Prisoner shows a him resigning.

  When I saw The Prisoner on its original showing it look futuristic, with constant survelillence by hidden cameras. Now, 35 years later I am observed by cameras  when I walk up to the shops, by cameras in shops and by carrying a mobile my every moevment is known. And, as smorodina says, in a couple of years whem I'm forced to carry an ID card I'll be reduced to a number too. The difference is they didn't charge Number 6 �80 for his 6 badge.

  Be seeing you!

[KebabMeister]

As mentioned by Pinotage, No.6 could have been 'Dangerman'. 

As for who was No.1, well, there's been many discussions about that and many rumours.  Some say it was the nuclear missile, others say that it was actually No.6 himself.  Damn fine series anyway.

[Tiamaria]

I watched the whole series with the hope of enlightenment and eventually decided that it was all a load of Number twos !!!

[apricot]

*GAB* wraith - If you read The Trail by Franz Kafka you'll find the origins of the idea which Patrick McGoohan took for the TV series.  It runs along the theme that you are your own worst enemy, you are number 1.

[ermintrude35]

..I live just down the road from "the village" (portmeirion) ..and visit all the time my cousin got married there too..It's amazing there...just thought I'd share that info with you all...

[KebabMeister]

You lucky thing Ermintrude!  I've always wanted to go there, perhaps I'll go there when visit relatives in Denbighshire!

[ermintrude35]

..you should KebabMeister...it's worth it, try and visit in august they have Prisoner conventions then with die hard fans dressed up in costumes from the series ..even the penny farthing rider!...they also have a Prisoner shop there...

[ursula62]

There are a number of books about the subject, including:

"The Prisoner Companion"  by Matthew White and Jaffer Ali 

"The Prisoner Handbook : An unauthorised companion" by Stephen Paul Davies

"THe Prisoner: The Official Companion" by Robert Fairclough

"The Prisoner: The Village Files" by Tim Palgut.

There's also a Prisoner Appreciation Society called Six of One. They have a website.  http://www.sixofone.org.uk/  I believe they also publish a newsletter.