ACTION TV ONLINE EPISODE GUIDE
EPISODE GUIDE INDEX
The Man In Room 17
Granada 1965 - 1966
SEASON ONE
Tell The Truth
TX : 11th June 1965
Director : Richard Everitt and David Boisseau
Script : Reed de Rouen and Robin Chapman

Cast : Jonathan Adams (Deective Chief Superintendent Cannon), Vladek Sheybal (Max Opals) and Dinsdale Landen (Peter Nash).

Synopsis : When a case of industrial espionage brings pressure to bear from the Government upon Scotland Yard, their best officers set about investigating the matter. However, when they fail to reach a solution to the problem, Detective Chief Superintendent Cannon recommends that the Police Commissioner call upon the services of Room Seventeen.

Hello, Lazarus
TX : 18th June 1965
Director : David Cunliffe
Script : Gerald Wilson


Cast : Brian Wilde (Henderson), David Burke (Cranshaw) and Bettina John (Lynda Cranshaw).


Synopsis : When young tycoon Mark Fanshaw disappears under mysterious circumstances, Room Seventeen are required. They place his home and offices under electronic surveillance, and in so doing uncover not only an unsavoury romance but an enormous credit fraud.

The Years Of Glory
TX : 25th June 1965
Director : Peter Plummer
Script : Patrick Thursfield


Cast :
Laurence Hardy (General Colquhoun), Meg Wyn Owen (Glynnis Hughes) and Jean Anderson (Violetta Petrovic).

Synopsis :
Room Seventeen investigate when a retired general's home is burgled, his secretary is murdered, and the diary he kept during the war is stolen. The Government is determined that it sould not fall into the wrong hands…

Confidential Report
TX : 2nd July 1965
Director : Philip Casson
Script : John Lucarotti

Cast :
Zena Walker (Fredi Moon), Laurence Payne (Morden-Cross) and Leonard Sachs (General Gavieau).

Synopsis : . A confidential report for British Intelligence of a foreign government is stolen. Its publication would have a devastating effect upon the British Government, and Room Seventeen are called in to resolve the situation.

The Millions Of Mazafariyah
TX : 9th July 1965
Director : Peter Plummer
Script : Ludovic Peters

Cast : Barbara Jefford (Dullendorf), Gerrald Healy (Osman) and Hugh Burden (Charles Morrow).

Synopsis : When a foreign official in the Middle East is nearly murdered in a brawl, Room Seventeen are called upon to ascertain how a man who claims he was only stabbed once has two stab-wounds.

The Seat Of Power
TX : 16th July 1965
Director : David Cunliffe
Script : N J Crisp

Cast : Colin Jeavons (Doctor Pearson), Michael Gough Andrei Konev) and David Horne (Lord Bowers).

Synopsis : Room Seventeen's attention is drawn to the arrival of a foreign agent in Britain under the pretense of executing a menial task. Their investigations reveal a far more sinister purpose…

Safe Conduct
TX : 23rd July 1965
Director : Philip Casson
Script : John Burke

Cast : Barbara Evans (Maria), Eric Thompson (Manuel) and Robert Dorning (Johnson).

Synopsis : Somebody is arranging evidence to prove that Harry Selter is a murderer. It could be any one of six people - or is there a seventh?

A Minor Operation
TX : 30th July 1965
Director : Peter Plummer
Script : Martin Woodhouse

Cast : Brian Wilde (Doctor Boddington), Michael Johnson (Peter Mandell) and Carol Cleveland (Magra Ference).

Synopsis : When the activities of man who walked from a hospital casualty ward taking surgical instruments with him is splashed across the newspapers, Room Seventeen's investigations uncover a trail of espionage…

Find The Lady
TX : 6th August 1965
Director : Peter Plummer
Script : John Lucarotti

Cast : Mike Pratt (Lieutenant Achara), John Moffatt (Ambassador Diego), Eire Heath (The Ambassador's Wife).

Synopsis : Room Seventeen are faced with the complex task of confirming the identity of a young girl, the results of which will either save her life or prevent a revolution by her forcible return to her enemies.

The Bequest
TX : 13th August 1965
Director : David Cunliffe
Script : Bill Strutton

Cast : George Benson (Marcus Oliver), Melissa Stribling (Katherine Hewitt) and Jill Dixon (Moira Leigh).

Synopsis : . When a prominent business requests a substantial loan from the British Government to develop a revolutionary new fibre, Room Seventeen become embroiled in professional rivalry, intrigue and murder.

Up Against A Brick Wall
TX : 20th August 1965
Director : Philip Casson
Script : Ian Stuart Black

Cast : Barbara Mullonoy (Martha Ross), Dilys Laye (Karen) and Arthyr Jenkins (Sefton).

Synopsis : Room Seventeen are left in the invidious position of deciding who should take responsibility for a murder enquiry when a man's body is discovered lying partly in one country and partly in another.

Out For A Duck
TX : 27th August 1965
Director : Peter Plummer
Script : Reed de Rouen

Cast : Desmond Walter-Ellis (Milo Vine), Scott Forbes (Major Myers) and Jan Walters (Juliet Servone).

Synopsis : Room Seventeen, under instruction from the Inland Revenue service, are assigned the task of bringing an English millionaire back from his Caribbean island tax haven to face charges of unpaid income tax.

Black Anniversary
TX : 3rd September 1965
Director : David Cunliffe
Script : John Kruse

Cast : Dennis Quilley (Huston), Johnny Sekka (Kumano) and Delina Kidd (Pat Hardacre).

Synopsis : When a British Army general and a Colonial governor died in mysterious circumstances, twelve months apart, an ancient curse is believed to be responsible. Room Seventeen are instructed to find the connection between the two deaths, if one exists…

SEASON TWO
How To Rob A Bank - And Get Away With It
TX : 8th April 1966
Director : Claude Whatham
Script : John Kruse

Cast : Mike Pratt (Jack Simpson), Vladek Sheybal (Yasha Soroya) and Brian Wilde (Horton).

Synopsis :
Room Seventeen operatives find it hard to distinguish between fact and fictional when a European cinematic director employs unorthodox methods to create the "right" atmosphere on his productions.

Vendetta
TX : 15th April 1966
Director : Gerard Dyvenor
Script : Keith Cavander

Cast : David Burke (Lieutenant Quatrane), Michael Robbins (Petty Officer Bradshaw) and Neil Stacy (Fabbri).

Synopsis : When one man appears to be the sole survivor of a ship lost at sea, Room Seventeen must consider if the death of the crew has political implications or is merely a terrible tragedy.

The Black Witch
TX : 22nd April 1966
Director : Peter Plummer
Script : John Hawksworth

Cast : Amber Kummer (Tracey Peverill), Charles Abbot (Boote) and Abbet Hopner ("The Devil").

Synopsis : When the body of a man is found near an old abbey, and the contents of his pockets reveal instruments of occultist develop worship, Room Seventeen must ascertain the cause and reason for his mysterious demise.

First Steal Six Eggs
TX : 29th April 1966
Director : Richard Everitt
Script : Ian Stuart Black

Cast :
Peter Wyngarde (Paul Panacek), Judy Parfitt (Yvonne Cass) and Amber Kummer (Tracey Peverill).

Synopsis : Room Seventeen execute an undercover operation when a Hungarian interior decorator is hired to convert the home of a well-known hostess. Is his work merely a cover for more dubious activities?

The Catacombs
TX : 6th May 1966
Director : Peter Dews
Script : Keith Cavander

Cast : Lyndon Brook (Haynes), Warren Mitchell (Petropolous) and Edward Chapman (Crawford).

Synopsis : When a British millionaire employs the services of a suspect prospector in his pursuit of a fortune in the Middle East, Room Seventeen are required to vet the prospector's credentials. Is he really the man he purports to be?

Where There's Will
TX : 13th May 1966
Director : Peter Plummer
Script : John Lucarotti

Cast : Amber Kummer (Tracey Peverill), Geraldine Newman (Esther Hendry) and Paul Williamson (Nigel Hendry).

Synopsis : Tracey Peverill asks Oldenshaw to investigate a dispute concering an eccentric millionaire's Last Will and Testament. In an environment of hatred, intrigue and treachery, he sets about his task…

The Fissile Missile Makers
TX : 20th May 1966
Director : Bob Hird
Script : John Kruse

Cast : George Sewell (Shelton), Michael Glover (Hatton) and Ann Castle (Sheila Bladen).

Synopsis : British Intelligence are baffled at the sudden interest foreign spies have in a new form of missile, the existence of which they were not even aware of. Room Seventeen are called upon to investigate.

The Goddess Of Love
TX : 27th May 1966
Director : Peter Dews
Script : Reed de Rouen

Cast : Derek Fowlds (Bruce), Michael Glover (Hatton) and George Moon (Mister Crabtree).

Synopsis : When Room Seventeen operatives learn of the plans three students have to steal the statue named "The Goddess Of Love" and return it to its rightful place in Greece, they become agents provocateur and assist them in their task.

Under Influence
TX : 3rd June 1966
Director : Gerard Dyvenor
Script : Michael Gilbert

Cast : Alan MacNaughton (Mr Justice Easterbrook), Jennifer Jayne (Corinna Easterbrook) and Tim Barrett (Ricky Mayne).

Synopsis : Under public and media scrutiny during the high-profile murder trial involving a popular pop singer, a judge's unusual decisions attract the attention of Room Seventeen.

Lady Luck's No Gentleman
TX : 10th June 1966
Director : Peter Plummer
Script : David Weir

Cast : Ray Barrett (Alf Gover), Michael Glover (Hatton) and Paul Dawkins (Hodgen).

Synopsis : A consortium's obsession with developing an infallible roulette system attracts the attention of Room Seventeen, who are determined to ascertain how the system works and who is responsible.

The Standard
TX : 17th June 1966
Director : Bob Hird
Script : Patrick Thursfield

Cast : Charles Tingwell (Major Winton), David Cole (Moulay El Gharbi) and Roy Marsden (Lieutenant Stanton).

Synopsis : Room Seventeen operatives, investigating the potential threats to the life of a visiting foreign prince, finds themselves involved with a group of Army officers who are determined to execute a mission of their own making.

Saints Are Safer Dead
TX : 24th June 1966
Director : Peter Plummer
Script : Anthony Linter

Cast : Amber Kummer (Tracey Peverill), David Sumner (Pentodopolis) and Lisa Daniely (Fidessa Elphinstone).

Synopsis : The auction of a valuable painting at a London auction for a vastly over-inflated price attracts the attention of Room Seventeen. They dispatch Tracey Peverill to Venice to track down the buyer, whereupon she uncovers a world of avarice and vengeance.

Never Fall Down
TX : 1st July 1966
Director : Peter Dews
Script : Robin Chapman

Cast : Michael Glover (Hatton), John Strutton (Leonard Finch) and Geoffrey Keen (Robert Grimes).

Synopsis : When the indiscretion of a government adviser calls his capability to execute his duties into question, Room Seventeen are assigned to clear his name. They find the task more than a little difficult…



Devised and created by Robin Chapman, The Man In Room Seventeen was another variation on the popular theme throughout the 1960s of secretive, autonomous organisations responsible for the crimes and criminals the police force were unable to solve or apprehend.



This series, whoever, differed from its counterparts in that, rather than boasting a dynamic lead pairing who were all action-and-adventure and preciously little anything else, the two central characters in this series, Oldenshaw (Richard Vernon) and Dimmock (Michael Aldridge), were capable of solving the crimes that had defeated Scotland Yard's best without ever leaving the confines of their offices near the Houses of Parliament.


Indeed, the programme title is derived from Oldenshaw himself, a man who seldom left his office and yet, with analytical logic, could deduce the nature and parties responsible for a wide variety of criminal activities. He established the department of "Room Seventeen" as a network of professionals who could more adequately explore crime and the criminal mind.

Their approach to espionage, cloak-and-dagger, straight-forward murder and the intent to murder, and theft cases varied greatly from week to week, and this in part contributed to the popularity of the series with its ever-changing locales and storylines, all of which were centred upon the offices of Room Seventeen.

In the second series, Denholm Elliot replaced Michael Aldridge in the guise of Defraits, a more thoughtful and ponderous character who would, whilst striking a popular chord with audiences, never be as popular as Dimmock when it came to his personal interaction with Vernon's Oldenshaw.

The programme ran to two series of thirteen episodes a piece, produced by Richard Everitt. Directorial contributions came from Everitt, David Cunliffe, Peter Plummer, Claude Whatham and Bob Hird amongst others. The popularity of the series ensured a sequel, The Fellows, followed in 1967, essentially picking up the story from precisely where this programme had left off. The series was exported worldwide but was never commercially released.


Text © Matthew Lee, 2004.

Characters
Portrayed By
Oldenshaw
Richard Vernon
Dimmock (Series 1)
Michael Aldridge
Defraits (Series 2)
Denholm Elliot
Sir Geoffrey
Willoughy Goddard

The series was devised and created by Robin Chapman. The series was produced by Richard Everitt.