One of the most common questions which comes up when one thinks about 'The Prisoner' series is 'why the Number Six?'

Patrick McGoohan always maintained that he chose the number as it was the only digit which becomes another number when turned upside down. George Markstein always maintained he chose the number as it was 'high enough to be important but not the man in charge'.

Another theory, although not supported by any evidence from the series' personnel, is that 6 is a 'neglected' number (see HERE for a segment from "From About Many Things" by Grace Little Rhys, 1920).

Perhaps we will never know the full background, but perhaps part of the inspiration may have come from an episode of 'Edgar Wallace Mystery Theatre' from 1962. The episode, entitled 'Number Six', concerns a code name for an undercover agent working for Scotland Yard to catch a killer, and the identity is not revealed until the last few seconds of the hour-long drama.

The episode was recently shown on Talking Pictures TV in the UK.

With thanks to Des Gorra, Craig Conley, and 'Bukks Fizz Tony' for this news item.