The Moses Basket

TX : 26th April 1971
Director : Jonathan Alwyn
Script : John Lewis

Cast : Robin Bailey, Michael Hawkins, Noel Willman, Leonard Trolley, Jerome Willis, Geoff Chong, Maureen Beck, Venetia Maxwell, Jean McFarlane, Michael Lomax, Maurice Quick, Carl Duering, Martin Gordon, Brian Vaughan, Margaret Pilleau, Rachel Teagold and Geoffrey Davion.

Publicity : On Location In Malta - A Nightmare Disguised As Blue Skies And Sunshine - Brett is powerful, ambitious and wealthy, but he is a man with a past - and it's about to catch up with him. Bob Smyth reports on the overseas filming of Brett: "It's very nightmarish you know, being responsible for the success or failure of a series," said Patrick Allen, talking of his starring role as Brett. "In a set-up with several leading characters there are other actors to take the burden, but when it's one person holding the story together you have the feeling that if it doesn't catch on then it's your fault". It seemed a pleasant enough nightmare, however, with Patrick sprawling in a comfortable hotel room overlooking a blue bay in Malta. The evening was warm, the beer cool, and it wasn't until you'd spent a little time on location that you realised overseas filming wasn't all cakes and ale.

In the morning the crew had left the other side of the island before proper tourists had even begun thinking of breakfast. In the evening filming went on so late that it was tempting to sneak off somewhere warmer than the remote road where Patrick was sitting at a camp fire with some Latin-American revolutionaries. That's what the script said they were anyway, and certainly the Maltese countyside looked remarkably convincing as Mexico. The scenery in front of the camera was dramatic enough to add a useful boost to what is, in some episodes at any rate, a fairly straightforward adventure story. But as Patrick pragmatically pointed out, "trying to do a scene outside needs more concentration. You can't switch on acting, and out-of-doors you're liable to have everything ready when a Trident flies over - so you have to begin again".

Peter Graham Scott, one of the original directors on The Troubleshooters series and responsible for the overseas filming in Brett, agreed it was often hard on the actors. "But you've just got to get out of the studio sometimes, otherwise it's walls, walls, walls all the time". He was shooting the night-time scene by the camp fire and pointed to an orange grove lit by the unit's lamps. "You've got brilliant designers in the BBC but the best of them isn't able to get the sound of the wind in the leaves or any of the real atmosphere. Malta's big advantage," he said, "is that it could be so many places - Italy, Yugoslavia, Mexico or whatever". The disadvantage, he adds, is that the Maltese are not "histrionic" enough for Latins: "In fact they stand around like tailors' dummies". When they filmed a fiesta scene in one of the villages he had to send suitably disguised members of the unit among the crowd in order to stir them into some kind of activity. The Malta / Mexico scenes appear some way into the Brett saga, and before he reaches that part of the story Patrick Allen has several more weeks to spend in the studio. He mentioned a little despairingly that the nineteen hours of Brett stand some eighteen inches high - "which is a hell of a lot when you've got to learn it all". He added that it would be nice to go back on the stage. "That is, if I'm in any shape to do anything after this". You began to see what he meant about that nightmare. (Radio Times, April 22, 1971 - Article by Bob Smyth).

Synopsis : When Brett decides to purchase a one-third interest in a West German electronics firm, his enemies are forced to show their colours.

Notes : Episodes were originally transmitted 9:20pm to 10:10pm.

Trial Of Strength

TX : 3rd May 1971
Director : Jonathan Alwyn
Script : Elwyn Jones

Cast : Robin Bailey, Fulton Mackay, John Savident, Anthony Sheppard, John Kidd, Keith John Owen, John Dunbar, Brian Vaughan, Philip Anthony, Hamilton Dyce, Hugh Cross, Tom Watson, Robert Sansom, Ronald Mayer, Philip Howard and Maeve Leslie.

The Ruined Valley

TX : 10th May 1971
Director : Paul Ciappessoni
Script : Elwyn Jones

Cast : Windsor Davies, Michael Hawkins, Glyn Houston, Aubrey Richards, John Savident, Robert Sansom, Howell Evans, Beth Owen and Michael Collins.

Synopsis : Brett returns to Aberyswen, the village where he was brought up. He meets an old friend and makes two dangerous enemies.

For Political And Public Services

TX : 17th May 1971
Director : Paul Ciappessoni
Script : Elwyn Jones

Cast : Windsor Davies, Michael Hawkins, Glyn Houston, Aubrey Richards, Hugh Cross, Talfryn Thomas, Beth Owen, Michael Collins, Michael Cunningham and Margaret John.

Synopsis : Brett, a reporter on the Aberyswen Gazette, is his own news photographer. But one of Brett's photographs mysteriously disappears before the police can be shown it.

Fit To Print

TX : 24th May 1971
Director : Joan Kemp Welch
Script : Elwyn Jones

Cast : Robin Bailey, Hugh Cross, Arthur Hewlett, Lynette Davies, Geoffrey Todd and Gillian Fairchild.

Synopsis : While working for a small-time newsagency Brett makes an enemy of the CID - for life.

A Whole New World

TX : 31st May 1971
Director : Joan Kemp Welch
Script : Michael J Bird

Cast : David Bauer, Paul Maxwell, Noel Willman, Ivor Danvers, David Kernan, Jackie Rochelle, Patrick Harvey, Terry Bale and Linda Cunningham.

Synopsis : A chance encounter with an American film producer and a mystery painting lead Brett to the threshold of a whole new world.

The Hollow Men

TX : 7th June 1971
Director : Jonathan Alwyn
Script : Michael J Bird

Cast : Robin Bailey, David Bauer, Angela Brown, Paul Maxwell, Norman Claridge, Ann Murray, Roy Stephens, Anthony Scott, Hugh McDermott, David Cargill, Karl Held, John Bloomfield, Tony Sibbald, John Sterland, Marie Adams, Hal Haili, Jay Neill, Louis Negin, Bill Bailey, Marcella Markham and David Baron.

Synopsis : Don't turn your back on a man with a knife - particularly in Hollywood; or tangle with a politician - especially in Washington.

The Saxby Route

TX : 14th June 1971
Director : Peter Graham Scott
Script : John Elliot

Cast : Robin Bailey, Peter Bowles, Philippa Gail, Ann Michelle, Michael Godfrey, John Allison, Ettore Calliea and Eric Lander.

Synopsis : Brett is asked to accompany a truck bound for Guatemala. He is persuaded to give a young medical student a lift. As the journey progresses he begins to wonder if the boy and the strange cargo are somehow connected.

The Streets Of Laredo

TX : 21st June 1971
Director : Peter Graham Scott
Script : John Lewis

Cast : Robin Bailey, Peter Bowles, Douglas Lambert, Michael Earl, Desmond Cullum-Jones, Robert Sessions, Alan Pearce, George Baizley, Steve Preston, Wesley Murphy, Robert MacLeod, Ann Michelle, Alan Rowe, Cherith Mellor, Mario Zoppellini and Jerry Stovin.

Synopsis : Brett offers to put three young Americans up for the night. He has seen one of them before and when he remembers where he realises that the invitation could well have fatal consequences.

The Day Of The Dead

TX : 28th June 1971
Director : Peter Graham Scott
Script : John Lucarotti

Cast : Robin Bailey, Carl Bernard, Peter Bowles, Desmond Cullum-Jones, John Bennett, Conrad Phillips, Dallas Carell, Aleksander Browne, John Scott, David Lyell, Dino Sahfeek, Rita Godfrey, Blain Fairman and Steve Preston.

Synopsis : "The Day Of The Dead" is a festival in which life mocks death. When a hearse is hijacked on its way to a burial ground. Brett discovers that death can also mock life.

Welcome To The City

TX : 5th July 1971
Director : Jonathan Alwyn
Script : Patrick Jones

Cast : Judith Arthy (Caroline), Robin Bailey, Clive Revill, Noel Willman, Raymond Brody, Michael Earl, Nicholas Brandon Brady, John Alderton, Leslie Freilach, Bernard Taylor, Barry Ashton and Anna Wing.

Synopsis : Bretty is on his way back to England with enough cash to get him off the ground. But on the boat he meets Caroline. And Caroline means trouble - big trouble.

Never Squeeze A Cherrystone

TX : 12th July 1971
Director : Lennie Mayne
Script : David Weir

Cast : Clive Revill (Howard K Fleming), Anthony Ainley (Gerard Delamore), Judith Arthy (Caroline), Helen Horton, Viola Keats, Raymond Brody, Sam Mansaray, Valerie Stanton, Maria O'Brien and James Dyrenforth.

Synopsis : Brett has been drawn into the web of the Fleming household, where Howard, his father-in-law, sits in the centre like a spider. But Brett, as Howard discovers, is not the man to be eaten alive.

The Trump Card

TX : 19th July 1971
Director : Lennie Mayne
Script : Donald Bull

Cast : Clive Revill (Howard K Fleming), Anthony Ainley (Gerard Delamore), Judith Arthy (Caroline), Helen Horton, Viola Keats, Rex Robinson, Roy Purcell, David Billa, Stephanie Turner, Laurie Webb, Gordon Sterne, Craig Hunter, Gordon Styles and Roy Stephens.

Synopsis : Brett is faced with the biggest decision of his life. If he goes along with his father-in-law he will be in virtual control of the huge Fleming Corporation. If he doesn't he could lose everything - including his wife.

Full Circle

TX : 26th July 1971
Director : John Frankau
Script : David Hopkins

Cast : Robin Bailey, Frederick Bartman, Michael Hawkins, Fulton Mackay, Patrick Newell, Richard Vernon, Noel Willman, Robert Hartley, David Hutcheson, Benedicta Leigh, Jack May, Martin Boddey and Toby Perkins.

Synopsis : Brett in prison faces a new charge and finds himself in another court.

The Right Time For Killing

TX : 2nd August 1971
Director : John Frankau
Script : Michael J Bird

Cast : Robin Bailey, Petra Davies, Michael Hawkins, Jack May, Maureen Neil, Pam Saire, Marguerite Young, Raymond Brody, Alistair Meldrum, Richard Wyler, Alex MacIntosh and Jean McFarlane.

Synopsis : Brett takes the biggest gamble of his life.

Taking A Long Spoon

TX : 9th August 1971
Director : Keith Williams
Script : Donald Bull

Cast : Robin Bailey, Windsor Davies, Michael Hawkins, Glyn Houston, Jennifer Lee, Jean McFarlane, Alan Keith, Frank Sieman, Geoff Chong, Haydn Jones, Guto Roberts, Reg Pritchard, Alan Powner and Mostyn Evans.

Synopsis : To be a successful financier one has to be part juggler, part puppeteer. When an old enemy puts a proposition to Brett we soon realise how adept he is at both.

All The King's Horses…

TX : 16th August 1971
Director : David Cunliffe
Script : Michael J Bird

Cast : Robin Bailey, Peter Bowles, Hugh Cross, William Lucas, Tom Watson, Anthony Roye, Rio Fanning, Kevin Brennan, Ron Pember, Michael Earl, Richard Hampton, Leslie Schofield, Patrick Connor, Arnold Peters, Trevor Crozier, Peter MacKriel, Guy Standeven, Barbara Keogh, Celia Hewitt, Robert Bernal, John Challis and David Webb.

Synopsis : It looks as though Brett's appeal will be successful when Francoise suddenly receives a mysterious letter.

All The King's Men

TX : 23rd August 1971
Director : David Cunliffe
Script : Michael J Bird

Cast : Robin Bailey, Peter Bowles, Hugh Cross, Rio Fanning, William Lucas, Tom Watson, Arnold Peters, Anthony Roye, Sheelah Wilcocks, Robert Bernal, Ericka Simmons, Raymond Farrell, John Devaut, Christopher Banks, James Ottaway, Murray Hayne, Michael Spice, Jean McFarlane, Lee Rushton, Peter Stephens and Eric Dodson.

Synopsis : Brett's freedom, though he doesn't know it, depends on a piece of costume jewellery, a coffin and an assassin.