7 /10 1 Votes
6.9/10 No. of episodes 39 Final episode date 4 January 1959 Number of episodes 39 | 7.1/10 Country of origin United Kingdom First episode date 5 January 1958 Number of seasons 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Producer(s) Herbert SmithBernard Coote Running time 25 minutes (excluding commercials) Cast Similar The Saint, Floris, The Alaskans, Dark Knight, The Persuaders! |
Ivanhoe is a British television series first shown on ITV in 1958-59. The show features Roger Moore in his first starring role, as Sir Wilfred of Ivanhoe, in a series of adventures aimed at a children's audience. The characters were drawn loosely from Sir Walter Scott's 1819 novel.
Contents

Plot
The series was set in England during the 12th century reign of King Richard the Lionheart, who had gone to fight in the Crusades and failed to return. In his absence, power had been taken by his younger brother, the ambitious and wicked Prince John, who sought to strip the people of their rights and land. The dashing and heroic knight Ivanhoe, with his father-and-son companions Gurth and Bart whom he had freed from servitude (from the evil Sir Maurice), attempted to right wrongs, secure justice, help those in need, and thwart John and his allies.
Making of the series
Swashbuckling adventures for a younger audience, such as The Adventures of the Scarlet Pimpernel, The Adventures of Robin Hood and The Adventures of Sir Lancelot, were a mainstay of ITV's programming in Britain in the mid-1950s. In December 1956, Columbia Pictures signed up Roger Moore, then working with limited success in Hollywood, to play the title role in an intended series for transmission in both America and the UK. The series was a co-production between Columbia subsidiary Screen Gems and British producer Sydney Box.

The budget was far more lavish than that of the Robin Hood series running at the time and filming started in early 1957, mostly at the Associated British Picture CorporationABPC Studios at Elstree and on location around Buckinghamshire in England, but with some shooting also taking place in California. The series premiered on ITV in January 1958, while filming continued to complete all 39 episodes through to June 1958. Although a pilot episode was filmed in colour, the series was shot in black and white. The executive producer was Peter Rogers, who shortly afterwards began producing the Carry On films. Guest stars on the series included Christopher Lee and John Schlesinger. Other supporting actors included Jon Pertwee, Paul Eddington, Leonard Sachs, Kenneth Cope, John Warner and Adrienne Corri.
Moore insisted on undertaking much of the stunt work himself, resulting in several injuries including three cracked ribs from a fight scene and being knocked unconscious when a battleaxe hit his helmeted skull. Moore later commented: "I felt a complete Charlie riding around in all that armour and damned stupid plumed helmet. I felt like a medieval fireman".
The series finished when Moore returned to Hollywood after Warner Brothers offered him a movie role in The Miracle (1959).
Broadcasting
The 39 episodes of the series were originally broadcast from 5 January 1958 to 4 January 1959, then were later repeated several times. The original air dates are in parentheses.
Availability
The series has not been released on DVD.
Title song
Each episode starts with the title song:
Ivanhoe, IvanhoeSide by side we’re proud to ride with IvanhoeAt his call we spring to help him ride alongThe song we sing is free and joyous songIvanhoe, IvanhoeFar and wide throughout the countryside they knowThere’s freedom on his bannerJustice in his swordHe rides against the manorWhere tyranny is lordRich and poorTogether we goForward with IvanhoeWith I-van-hoeEach episode ends with the following song:
Ivanhoe, IvanhoeTo adventure, bold adventure watch him goThere's no power on earth can stop what he's begunWith Bart and Gurth, he'll fight 'till he has wonIvanhoe, IvanhoeHe's a friend who will defend the people's foeHe'll strike with speed like lightning bold and brave and gameIn justice he is fighting to win the fairest dame.Shout a cheer, adventure is hereRiding with IvanhoeWith I-van-hoe