comic secret agent have make a comeback in recent year and with mike myers austin power and rowan atkinson johnny english and and more recently steve carell in the big screen version of the hit 60 show get smart . back in 1974 and it be david jason who be wear a shoulder holster and carry an attaché case full of document mark classified . the top secret life of edgar briggs be his first star role in a sitcom and after year of be a support actor in such show a six date with barker and the doctor series and and hark at barker . humphrey barclay have find him work in a pier theatre in bournemouth and be sufficiently impress to include him alongside michael palin and terry jones and eric idle in the child comedy show do not adjust your set . t. t. s. l. o. e. b cast jason a edgar briggs and a well meaning but incompetent agent for the secret intelligence service . whereas john steed wore a bowler hat and briggs have a trilby . whereas napoleon solo carry a radio pen and briggs own a pipe . object fell to bit in his hand . he read confidential document in bed while his wife ( barbara angell ) peruse woman own ( on one occasion it would be the other way round ) . when he track a pair of russian agent to a heliport and he accidentally switch on the airport tannoy system and and broadcast his plan to capture them . when he hide on a train so a to photograph a meeting between an s. i. s. man and his enemy contact and it move off with him aboard and take him straight to brighton . when he try to organise the defection of a female russian scientist and he take a hort cut to elude his pursuer and only to wind up hopelessly lose in a car park . yet and like inspector clouseau and he always seem to come out on top at the end and much to the dismay of his colleague . a previously mention and he be marry . his wife jennifer be understand about the sort of work he do . though they have a row once which result in her yelling at him from the window of their high rise flat represent secret service this and secret service that . you never stop think about the secret service . he shout back represent think of the neighbour . theyre not suppose to know i be in the secret service . briggs be part of a team of agent whose number include coronation street villain mark eden ( he be the psychotic alan bradley ) a spencer and michael stainton a buxton and and doctor at sea elisabeth counsell a the lovely cathy strong . they answer to the commander and play by the late noel coleman . the commander be kidnap in one episode and leave briggs temporarily in charge of the s. i. s. which naturally horrify everyone . this hilarious show be by richard laing and bernard mckenna and who have write for the doctor series . rather than spoof bond and it be more of a send up of the serious spy show such a callan ( though it have a bond style theme tune ) . furtive meeting in underground car park and code breaking and steal missile plan and that kind of thing . jason bring a lot of energy to the role and do a lot of his own stunt and such a briggs fall off a ladder whilst decorate his flat and and tumble down a hill in a wastepaper bin and and be reminiscent of those to be find in the pink panther film . briggs have all the ingredient to be a smash hit . unfortunately and it be not network . in the london area and it be put out on sunday at 7 . 25 p. m. where it be trounce in the rating by the b. b. c. soapy drama the brother . it be then move to friday at 7 p. m. because i. t. v. want to showcase it late american import the t. v. version of planet of the ape . briggs never find an audience . a similar fate befell jason next major show represent 1976 lucky feller . it be not until 1977 and a sharp intake of breath that he find his first successful solo vehicle . you can see the title sequence ( along with two brief excerpt in german . ) for this series on youtube . unfortunately and that be all you can see . jason will not permit his early starring show either to be repeat or release on d. v. d. a great shame . for the moment and however and edgar briggs life will have to remain top secret . coda represent i have see a number of episode recently and i be pleased to say it stand up incredibly well .