The Baker Street Boys
A BBC series about Sherlock Holmes's street urchin helpers.
The Baker Street Boys is a BBC television series that premiered in 1983. Set in Victorian London, it follows a group of street children who help Sherlock Holmes solve mysteries and also take on their own cases.
The show was created by Anthony Read, who had worked as a script editor and writer on the 1965 Sherlock Holmes series starring Douglas Wilmer. Read said he had often wondered what Holmes’s street informants—the Irregulars—did when they weren’t working for the detective, and the series explores that idea.
Sherlock Holmes never appears directly; his absence is explained by his being occupied with another case, captured by Professor Moriarty, or ill in bed. However, Dr. Watson is always available to help the children when needed. Holmes is only heard, with Roger Ostime providing his voice. Dr. Watson, Inspector Lestrade, and Mrs. Hudson all have more prominent roles.
Hubert Rees, who plays Watson here, had briefly appeared as Inspector Lestrade in a 1982 adaptation of *The Hound of the Baskervilles*. Colin Jeavons, who plays Professor Moriarty, later portrayed Inspector Lestrade in the acclaimed Granada Television adaptation. Jenny Runacre, who plays Mrs. Hudson, later played the same character in the 1988 spoof *Without a Clue*.
The main cast includes Jay Simpson as Wiggins, Damion Napier as Beaver, Adam Woodyatt as Shiner, David Garlick as Sparrow, Debbie Norris as Queenie, and Suzi Ross as Rosie. Recurring roles are played by Roger Ostime (voice of Sherlock Holmes), Hubert Rees (Dr. Watson), Stanley Lebor (Inspector Lestrade), Jenny Runacre (Mrs. Hudson), Colin Jeavons (Professor James Moriarty), and Michael Godley (Colonel Moran).
Eight episodes were broadcast. In 1985, the BBC released four episodes on VHS, edited into two 48-minute stories: “The Adventure of the Disappearing Dispatch Case” (from episodes 1 and 2) and “The Adventure of the Winged Scarab” (from episodes 5 and 6). Seven books based on the series have been published.
- Field
- Television series
- Nationality
- British
- Known for
- Adventures of street urchins assisting Sherlock Holmes
- First shown
- 1983
- Network
- BBC
Lore & Background
Anthony Read planned out the show's format. Read had previously been a script editor and writer on the 1965 Sherlock Holmes series starring Douglas Wilmer. He claimed to have long wondered what the Irregulars got up to when not in the service of Sherlock Holmes and the series deals with this subject. Although Holmes was always absent (explained on-screen by his being too busy working on another case, being held captive by Professor Moriarty, or confined to bed by illness), Dr. Watson was always around to assist the Irregulars when necessary. Holmes was only ever seen obliquely (Roger Ostime provided the character's voice) while Dr. Watson, Inspector Lestrade and Mrs. Hudson all featured more prominently.
Reader's Guide
The Baker Street Boys offers a unique perspective on the Sherlock Holmes universe by focusing on the Baker Street Irregulars, the street children who occasionally aided the detective. The series, created by Anthony Read, explores what these characters did when not working for Holmes. A year prior to playing Watson in this series, Hubert Rees briefly appeared as Inspector Lestrade in a 1982 adaptation of The Hound of the Baskervilles. The part of Professor Moriarty was portrayed by Colin Jeavons, who would later go on to play Inspector Lestrade in the acclaimed Granada Television adaptation. Pat Keen, who played Mrs Hudson, would go on to play the same character in the 1988 spoof Without a Clue. Eight episodes were broadcast, and in 1985 the BBC released four episodes on VHS, edited into two 48-minute-long episodes. Seven books based on the TV series have been published to date.
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