Dick Spanner P.I.

Dick Spanner was a Sam Spade style claymation Private Investigator who got himself involved in various scrapes. Created by Gerry Anderson and Christopher Burr the series premiered within the first series of Network 7 as five minute segments with cliffhanger endings. The comedy came from visual gags and a tight script, a style made famous by the Zucker brothers. Anderson Burr must also have been influenced by Warner Bros. as the Zippo company has taken over Acme's reign here. A similar character, Lou Tennent, appeared in a campaign for Tennent's Pilsner shortly after. A great little series if you are able to see it.