Particularly popular in Germany, where his thrillers are known as Straßenfeger: "street sweepers/clearers" - that is, the streets would be empty as viewers stayed at home to watch each instalment.
Between 1952 and 1980 Durbridge wrote 17 TV serials for the BBC. Until 1959 they were shown under the umbrella title "A Francis Durbridge Serial" which was then changed to "Francis Durbridge Presents".