<P> Galton and Simpson were not aiming to make a pilot for a series, having worked for seven years with Hancock . However, Tom Sloan, the BBC's head of comedy, told them during rehearsals that "The Offer" was a definite series pilot: he saw that the Steptoe idea had potential, as did the audience of that edition of Comedy Playhouse . Galton and Simpson were reportedly overwhelmed by this reaction, and the first of what became eight series was commissioned, the first four of which were transmitted between 1962 and 1965 . The last four series were broadcast between 1970 and 1974, in colour . At the peak of the series' popularity, it received viewing figures of some 28,000,000 viewers per episode . In addition, the early 1970s saw two feature films, two 46 - minute Christmas specials . In 2005, the play Steptoe and Son in Murder at Oil Drum Lane, written by Ray Galton and John Antrobus, brought the storyline to a close . </P> <P> The series was one of the first UK situation comedy programmes to employ actors rather than comedians in the principal roles . Galton and Simpson had decided that they wanted to try to write for performers who "didn't count their laughs". </P> <P> The series' title music, "Old Ned", won its composer Ron Grainer his second successive Ivor Novello award . The series had no standard set of opening titles but the opening sequences would often feature the Steptoe's horse, Hercules . "Steptoe and Son" is the Steptoes' trading name, but as established in the first episode, the "Son" is not Harold as initially believed, but Albert . The name dates from when he and his mother--Mrs. Steptoe--worked the rounds . The first series has the pair as very rough looking and often dirty and wearing ragged clothes, but they quickly "tidied up" for later series . </P> <P> Outside filming of the Steptoe's yard took place at a car breakers' yard in Norland Gardens, London W11, then changing to Stable Way, Latimer Road, for the later series . Both sites have subsequently been redeveloped with no evidence now remaining of the iconic entrance gates through which the horse and cart were frequently driven . </P>

Name of the horse in steptoe and son