THE last thing you would expect to find living in this area is an uber-successful Hollywood writer.
But hidden in a beautiful country cottage in the heart of Bedfordshire is playwright Brian Clemens, whose production,
Strictly Murder opens at Dunstable's
Grove Theatre this week.
Some of you might know his name, but if it doesn't ring a bell, you might have heard of his work.
For Brian was the most prolific scriptwriter of cult classic The Avengers and creator of the iconic television crime drama The Professionals.
He has also penned 38 movies, including Highlander II (1991) with Sean Connery and See No Evil (1971) with Mia Farrow.
Strictly Murder, which runs until Saturday, is his 14th play.
And although the idea took 12 months to grow, Brian wrote the crime thriller in just three weeks.
The 78-year-old said: "It is set in 1939 on the eve of war and it concerns a young couple who are unmarried, although she'd like to be - that's a big bone of contention. He resists for his own reasons and gradually she realises he's not all he pretends to be. It's more a what's going on than a whodunnit. There is a brutal murder on stage and then later, undertones of Nazi Germany.
"I've done lots of stories about Nazi Germany because they are great villans. 2009 and modern technology has really pulled the rug from under thriller writers because you've got DNA and CCTV. You can almost solve a crime within the first hour or so, so I liberate myself from that."
The show has been touring for six months already, and when this run ends there will be another mini tour in Nottinghamshire.
It premiered at The Mill in Sonning, Oxfordshire, where almost every play Brian has written has been staged at some point, and, since it was written two and a half years ago, Strictly Murder has played worldwide.
Brian, who has lived in Ampthill for 38 years, said: "It's the most successful play I've written in a long time."
Born in Croydon, Brian began his career with a 40-minute play for the BBC which led to him being headhunted by movie producers the Danziger brothers.
He wrote numerous pieces for the Danzigers before he wrote the pilot for The Avengers.
And although he says: "My favourite bit of writing is what I'm doing at the time," Brian admits he has a soft spot for The Avengers.
"The Avengers was such fun," he said. "It was very hard work, we did 16 hours a day some days. But I can't remember not laughing half the time. It eventually became my calling card and passport to other parts of the world.
"You never know you are in a golden age until afterwards. I knew I was enjoying myself and it was an appreciated show but it has been running on the television somewhere in the world since 1968. It has never been off the TV screen."
It is not the only one of Brian's masterpieces to enjoy such longevity.
The Professionals has been on ITV4 for five years without a break and there is talk of a movie based on the show, which Brian would executive produce.
But despite his obvious success, Brian says his ideas do not come from any particular inspiration.
"They just come out of my head somehow," he said. "I'm never short of ideas. I've got about six ideas I want to do, it is just deciding which take priority.
"I aliken it to childbirth. It has a gestation period in your brain and finally the right one pops out and you have to write it. I find if it is a terrible idea I forget it. If it is a good idea, it grows."
With talent often comes fame and fortune, but for Brian, his passion for writing has always been what mattered most.
"I would have done it all for nothing," he said. "I'm a writing fool. When I'm not writing, I write."
Strictly Murder, starring Holby City actor Mark Moraghan, runs until Saturday.
And if you save seats for Saturday night's performance, you may even spot Brian in the auditorium.
For tickets call the box office on 01582 602080 or go online www.grovetheatre.co.uk. 