Hazell (TV series) Hazell (TV series) Hazell is a British television series that ran from 1978–1979, about a fictional private detective named James Hazell. James Hazell was a cockney private detective character created by journalist and novelist Gordon Williams and footballer-turned-manager Terry Venables, who wrote under the joint pseudonym of P.B.Yuill. The first book,"Hazell plays Solomon", appeared in 1974. "Hazell plays Solomon" was also the first episode of the TV series. The wise-cracking private detective was played by Nicholas Ball. Hazell was a smart parody of earlier film-noir detectives such as Philip Marlowe or Sam Spade, the casting of Ball in the title
Hazell, Watson and Viney the monthly "The British Workman and Friends of the Sons of Toil". To these were added "Eclectic and Congregational Review", "Alexandra Magazine", "Woman's Social and Industrial Advocate" and "Family Mirror". Walter Hazell (1843-1919) joined the firm in 1863 and it became known as "Watson and Hazell". Hazell launched the "Illustrated Photographer" and "Amateur Photographer", and also printed the "Marylebone Mercury", the "East London Observer" and the "Bucks Independent". In 1867 the firm opened a branch in Aylesbury and in 1873 another branch in the Strand, London. When John Elliott Viney joined the firm as a partner in 1875, it became