Bergerac: A Message For The Rich (BBC-1 9 Jan 1983, with Phil Davis)

A Message For The Rich, the season two opening episode, has a subtly different title sequence highlighting all the main cast members and the addition of Celia Imrie replacing Francine who has not returned to the series. This second season also saw the show move to a post 9.00pm slot.

Charlie Hungerford takes centre stage when two former disgruntled employees, former chauffeur Eric Honeyman and his housekeeper mum decide to use the cover of a fete to steal jewelry out of Charlie’s safe. Events take a dangerous turn when they are spotted by Kim and Eric decides on the spur of the moment to kidnap her.

And so the gorgeous Francine has departed, Jim doesn’t seem too bothered telling Deborah that she had gone back to Cherbourg in December and decided to not come back. The episode does serve to introduce Jim to Marianne Bellshade though, the financier who helps Charlie raise the hundred grand he needs to pay off the Honeymans. The fabulous Dandy Nichols as Phil Davis’s mum.

production details
UK / BBC One / 1×60 minute episode / Broadcast Sunday 9 January 1983 at 9.10pm

Writer: Robert Banks Stewart / Production Design: Phil Roberson / Director: Alan Grint

Series: Bergerac Season 2 Episode 1

cast
John Nettles as Jim Bergerac
Terence Alexander as Charles Hungerford
Sean Arnold as Crozier
Annette Badland as Charlotte
Mela White as Diamante Lil
Celia Imrie as Marianne Bellshade
Kevin Stoney as ‘Horatio’ Nelson
Geoffrey Leesley as Det Con Wilson
Lindsay Heath as Kim
Deborah Grant as Deborah
Geoffrey Davies as Roger Dubree
Dandy Nichols as Mrs Honeyman
Philip Davis as Eric
Norman Jones as Le Fresnais
Robin MacIntyre as Jeweller
Jennifer Guy as Dorinda
Keith Barnes as PT instructor
John McGregor as Lt-General
Stan Pretty as Joe