In Portrait of Yesterday there is the wedding of the year due to take place on the island but why is someone trying to spoil it?
The plot is fairly straightforward. It turns out to be a case of blackmail as mother of the bride Sarah Mitchell is not actually divorced from her first husband and he is demanding £50,000 to keep his mouth shut. Sarah was a refuge from Eastern Europe during world war II and had entered into a marriage of convenience with Peter Westgate simply to be able to stay in Britain. The pair never bothered to divorce and a few years later Sarah met the very wealthy Laurence. Now with the wedding getting lots of publicity Westlake has spotted an opportunity to make some easy money.
Things take a major turn for the worse when Laurence kills Westlake.
There is an excellent script from genre icon Dennis Spooner and a typically strong guest cast that includes the likes of Sarah Lawson, Derek Farr and Charles Kay.
John Nettles gets to show off his excellent guitar playing skills in a scene on the beach when he wakes up Duggie and Sandi.
production details
UK / BBC One / 1×50 minute episode / Broadcast Sunday 22 November 1981 at 8.15pm
Writer: Dennis Spooner / Production Design: Antony Thorpe / Director: Laurence Moody
Series: Bergerac Season 1 Episode 6
cast
John Nettles as Jim Bergerac
Cecile Paoli as Francine
Terence Alexander as Hungerford
Sean Arnold as Crozier
Mela White as Diamante Lil
Annette Badland as Charlotte
Sarah Lawson as Sarah Mitchell
Derek Farr as Laurence Mitchell
Charles Kay as Peter Westgate
Tenniel Evans as The Rev Michael Jeffrey
Graham Seed as Andrew Reardon
Anne Thornton as Felicity
William Boyde as Adrian
Christopher Villiers as Duggie Cowley
Sadie Hamilton as Sandi Hardwick
Paul Williamson as Doctor
Alison Hughes as Nurse
David Webb as Pathologist
Nancy Gabrielle as Dressmaker
Robin Scott as Hotel manager
Elisa Tebith as Maid
