Syfy will develop an update of the 1960's UK 'ghost' TV series "Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)", with ITV Studios, ordering a pilot based on a teleplay by Josh Bycel ("Scrubs") and Jonathan Fener ("American Dad")._dvd_box_set_cover.jpg)
Executive producer is Jaffe/Braunstein Entertainment's Howard Braunstein ("The Memory Keeper's Daughter").The original private detective series, starring actors Mike Pratt and Kenneth Cope as 'Jeff Randall' and 'Marty Hopkirk', was created by Dennis Spooner for producer Monty Berman.
In the initial episode Hopkirk was killed in the line of duty, but returned as a ghost that only Randall was able to see or hear to help his former partner fight crime from beyond the grave.
Creator Spooner, inspired by the film "Topper", had a keen interest in the paranormal and ghostly phenomena which he believed would be an inspired idea for a television series, incorporating it with the characteristic crime, drama and action of other successful UK TV fare including "The Avengers".
In the pilot episode, "My Late Lamented Friend and Partner" Marty is murdered during an investigation and returns immediately as a ghost that only Jeff (and the occasional psychic) can see, to help Jeff bring Marty's killer to justice. But Marty stays out of his new grave for too long and is cursed to walk the Earth for 100 years.
Seeing an advantage to having a ghost hanging out at the detective agency Marty works the graveyard shift as an invisible partner, playing a key role in helping Jeff solve criminal cases. Unfortunately Marty is able to see but not touch his widow 'Jeannie Hopkirk' who works at the agency as a secretary.
