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This seven-episode British drama series was based on the Scenes From... novels by William Cooper (the pen name of Harry Summerfield Hoff). Ian McShane starred as Cooper's alter ego Joe Lunn, who between the years 1939 to 1949 managed to turn out five books, all dealing with his transition (sometimes amusing, sometimes painful) from pedant to civil servant to Man of Letters. Along the way, Joe married his mistress Myrtle (Patricia Garwood), only to lose her in a most startling fashion. Adapted for television by Roy Madron, You Can't Win was originally telecast in 1966.