Armchair Thriller
1 9 7 8 (UK)
26 x 30 minute episodes
1 9 8 0 (UK)
28 x 30 minute episodes
Armchair Thriller screened twice weekly in 1978 and
1980, with each story spread over four or six 30 minute episodes -
Some were excellent, some were very average.
The series was mainly made by Thames TV, but Southern TV also
got in on the act and made a couple of stories. The title sequence
was excellent and the theme was by Andy Mackay of Roxy Music and Rock
Follies fame. There were eleven stories in total;
RACHEL IN DANGER
11-year old Rachel (Della Low) travels from Scotland to spend a
summer with her father, whom she has not seen for many years.
Arriving at Euston, she finds herself involved in a murder, with
herself possibly the next victim. It turns out that terrorists who
are planning an assassination at a Royal garden party have killed
Rachel's long-absent father - but she didn't recognise the body
and mistakenly believes that he is the murderer.
A DOG'S RANSOM
Anonymous letters are straining the nerves of Edward and Gina
Reynolds (Benjamin Whitrow and Zena Walker), but they are
unprepared for the nightmare that follows when Edward takes their
poodle for a walk. Constable Duhamel (Brian Stirner) tries to help
find the dog but runs foul of the CID and becomes a murder
suspect.
THE GIRL WHO WALKED QUICKLY
A brilliant and conscientious student disappears. His
girlfriend and tutor try to solve the mystery and the
investigation turns into a manhunt. The plot involves bombs around
London, a terrorist group intent on overthrowing democracy, and a
claustrophobic hero.
QUIET AS A NUN
A nun dies of starvation after locking herself in a convent tower.
Jemima Shore (Maria Aitken), a former pupil at the convent school
and now a television interviewer, is asked to investigate. Jemima
is surprised to discover that the death of the nun is connected
with her own television programme. Meanwhile, tales begin to
circulate about a ghostly Black Nun. Cast includes Patsy Kensit.
THE LIMBO CONNECTION
Film writer Mark Omney (James Bolam) drinks too much, has endless
rows with his wife Clare (Suzanne Bertish), and cannot make a
living any more. Simply put, his life is falling apart. Following
a drunken car crash, Clare goes missing. Mark tracks her down to
Meadowbank Clinic and attempts to prove his theories about the
nightmare in which he is caught, but the police have evidence that
seems to cast doubts on his state of mind.
THE VICTIM
Sue Craig (Lorna Yabsley), 14-years old, is kidnapped and her
father, Vincent (John Shrapnel), negotiates with the kidnapper. He
ultimately refuses to pay the ransom and instead goes on the hunt
for the kidnapper. He gets into an attack with George Neecham
(Bernard Kay) , the man he thinks is responsible for his
daughter's kidnapping, while she slowly grows attached to her
jailer, Frankie Martin (David Beckett). But Martin is a
psychopathic killer . . .
DEAD MAN'S KIT
The Master at Arms of a British Ship (Freddie Fletcher)
discovers a foreign exchange officer losing heavily in a casino;
the following day the master is knocked unconscious and thrown
overboard. When a verdict of accidental death is brought, Chalky
White (Larry Lamb) accuses the Navy of a cover up. Chalky and the
Master's widow (Victoria Fairborther) try to find Kobahal (Maurice
Colbourne) who they believe is responsible for the murders of the
Master at Arms and Zoe Summers ("Little" Nell Campbell
of Rocky Horror Picture Show fame), but Kobahal plans to
use them as hostages to get back on to a Russian warship.
DYING DAY
Anthony Skipling (Ian McKellen) meets eccentric naturalist
Foster (David Howey) on a train. Foster apparently forgets one of
his tape-recordings and leaves it behind. But when Skipling plays
it, it reveals a different story - a plot to kill him. Skipling
goes to the police but they won't believe him, so he turns to the
Samaritans for help. He also turns to his ex-wife (Gwyneth Powell)
for help, but learns that she is now "married" to an
eccentric millionaire, with a voice just like the one heard on the
tape. In his search for the truth he is befriended by Susie (Kate
Coleridge) who used to council him at the Samaritans when his wife
left him.
The day on which Mr Skipling is apparently supposed to die -
according to the tape - arrives and he tries valiantly to behave
as if everything is normal. But when presented with Doris'
"husband" on a railway platform he lashes out and
accidentally knocks him into the path of an oncoming train. Mr
Skipling is sent to Broadmoor Prison for murder, while Doris, her
chauffeur (actually Foster!) and Susie celebrate the success of
their plan. They have framed Mr Skipling and will inherit a vast
fortune.
FEAR OF GOD
Reporter Paul Marriott (Bryan Marshall) sees a girl fall past
his window and rushes outside to find she is dead. He discovers
the girl - called Rosamund (Susan Sheridan) - had been squatting
in his attic, and becomes suspicious when Special Branch turn up.
He discovers the dead girl belonged to a sect called `The Regiment
of God'.
HIGH TIDE
After serving a four year sentence for manslaughter, Peter
Curtis (Ian McShane) is heading for the South coast to buy a boat.
He notices a man following him and starts to discover the truth
about what happened four years ago - a mystery which takes him to
the coastal village of Leremouth.
THE CIRCLE COMPLEX
Tom Foreman (Trevor Martin) has hidden £400,000-worth of
jewellery from a robbery and is now in prison. His wife, Val (Beth
Morris), has a plan for aiding Tom's escape. In Prison, Tom's
health begins to deteriorate and he is diagnosed with a brain
tumour. His prison-mate Ollie Milton (Alan David) kills him and
tries to frame Cat Devlin (Michael Deeks) while he goes slowly mad
trying to decipher the meaning behind Tom's last words on the
whereabouts of the loot . . .
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