Roger Goodman

Although this is not my first foray into publishing by far, it is the first book with myself as the author/editor. Given my track record, it is almost inevitably a book about Patrick McGoohan's unique 1960s TV series The Prisoner.

I was intrigued by The Prisoner from the moment I saw the TVTimes magazine, which trailed it in 1967. I was riveted by it within the first few minutes of the first episode's transmission. From 1977 onwards I was involved in the publication of many Prisoner magazines and a Patrick McGoohan screenography, as well as the production of the programme's theme music on a 45 rpm EP.

In 1982 I was personally responsible for organising Patrick McGoohan's only ever live appearance amongst his fans at the recording of tv's 'Greatest Hits 1968'.

In 1983 I discussed The Prisoner as Ludovic Kennedy's guest on BBC2's 'Did You See ...?'

In 1984 I appeared with Patrick McGoohan, George Markstein, David Tomblin and Jack Shampan in the Channel 4 documentary 'The Prisoner File'.

An interview I conducted with Patrick McGoohan in Dublin in 1978 was first released on cassette (edited) in 1979 and reissued on CD (unedited) in 2002. More recently I have worked with the New York husband-and-wife team of Catherine and Bruce Frumerman to produce 'On The Trail of The Prisoner, A Walking Guide to Portmeirion's Prisoner Sites', a hugely successful publication and one of the best-selling Prisoner books of all time.

Catherine and Bruce have joined with me on this my latest venture, a study of George Markstein, "the man behind The Prisoner", where six writers and myself examine the various claims of who created The Prisoner. Six writers, one editor, it can only be The Prisoner.