OVERLOOKED TELEVISION: RANDALL AND HOPKIRK (DECEASED) - EPISODE 1: MY LATE LAMENTED FRIEND AND PARTNER (SEPTEMBER 21, 1969)

Created by British television writer Dennis Spooner (The Avenger, Doctor Who, Betgerac, The Baron), Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) ran for two seasons (26 episodes), and was syndicated in the United States as My Partner the Ghost.  The series concerned Jeffrey Randall (Mike Pratt, a popular screen and television actor and songwriter), who is a successful and somewhat seedy private investigator, and his friend and partner Martin Hopkirk (Kenneth Cope, Coronation Street, That Was the Week That Was, Carry On at Your Convenience, Carry On Matron), who is killed in a supposed hit and run accident.  When Hopkirk's ghost later appears to Randall, he learns that his partner's death was actually murder.  The two -- man and shade -- go off to solve the murder, aided by Randall's secretary Jeannie Hopkirk (Annette Andre, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, The Saint, Wuthering Heights) who was also Hopkirk's widow.

The show was remade in 2000 with an ampersand -- Randall & Hopkirk (Deceaed) -- and starred Vic Reeves, Bob Mortimer, Emilia Fox, Tom Baker, and Charlie Higson (13 episodes).

At the end of the pilot episode of the original series, we learn that Hopkirk cannot return to the grave.  At least not yet.  It will take about a hundred years for him to do so.  So the partnership of Randall and Hopkirk lives on.

This episode was scripted by Ralph Smart (Danger Man, The Adventures of Robin hood, The Adventures of Sir Lancelot) and directed by Cyril Frankel (School for Scoundrels, Don't Bother to Knock, The Witches).  Also featured in the pilot episode are Anne Sharp, Frank Windsor, Delores Mantez, and Dave Carter.

Enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDA6c0smJFE&t=5s