The Brothers: Out of the Blue (BBC-1 28 Nov 1976, Julia Goodman)

In Out of the Blue there is a surprise in store for Jenny when her daughter Barbara turns up from Canada unexpectedly. It’s clear there is something going on with her marriage to Johnny but as far as her mother is concerned it’s just a social visit. Meanwhile Merroney has realised he can’t count on the bank to come up with the money for the Tehran project (which needs an injection of half a million pounds from Hammonds – Van Der Merwe’s are putting in the same amount) so he comes up with a scheme to release more shares – the only issue for the Hammonds is (David, Jenny and Ted, who own 45% of the company between them) if they can’t afford to buy up the shares themselves it would dilute their own holdings.

More scheming by Merroney and the return of Julia Goodman as a now very grown up Barbara are the highlights of the episode, there is also a little plot development which involves the police and a possible case of human traffiking in Holland and the possible involvement of Hammond drivers, Bill has agreed to spend a week in Holland under cover to see what he can find out.

production details
UK / BBC-1 / 1×60 minute episode / Broadcast 28 November 1976

Writer: N.J. Crisp / Production Design: Lynda Kettle / Director: Christopher Baker

Series: The Brothers / Season Seven Episode Thirteen

main cast
JEAN ANDERSON as Mary Hammond
RICHARD EASTON as Brian Hammond
ROBIN CHADWICK as David Hammond
JENNIFER WILSON as Jennifer Hammond
DEREK BENFIELD as Bill Riley
KATE O’MARA as Jane Maxwell
COLIN BAKER as Paul Merroney
MARGARET ASHCROFT as Gwen Riley
LIZA GODDARD as April Merroney

guest cast
JULIA GOODMAN as Barbara Trent
ANTHONY NICHOLLS as Lord Charles Winter
STEVE UBELS as Paul Van Kepe
JOHN PULLEN as Det Chief Insp Fisher
JOHNNY WADE as Taxi Driver