In Arrival 39 year old James Hadleigh resigns from his ministerial job to return to his Yorkshire home following the death of his father.
The staff of the newspaper, The Westdale Gazette, that he now owns are none too pleased to discover the news first being revealed in a rival paper. They are also rather concerned about how hands on he intends to be with the newspaper. Meanwhile the staff of the country estate he has inherited are also somewhat concerned about their future.
Editor Frank Walters is determined to run a big story about Hadleigh’s return despite the fact that Hadleigh is putting pressure on him to not do so. When Frank runs a front page article he is summoned to Hadleigh’s estate where Hadleigh makes it plain he wants Walters gone. Walters though has a cast iron contract that gives him three years worth of severance pay – a sum that Hadleigh just can’t afford to pay out at this point in time.
A good solid introductory episode, there is plenty of nice banter between editor Walters and his key reporters Sue Jackson and Bill Spence. It also sets up the dynamic between Hadleigh and his editor Walters. It’s clear that despite Hadleigh’s intentions to not get involved in the running of the newspaper – he will.
production details
UK / ITV – Yorkshire / 1×50 minute episode / Broadcast Friday 2 August 1968 at 9.00pm
Writer: Elwyn Jones / Production Design: Alan Pickford / Director: James Ormerod
Series: Gazette Episode 1 (of 12)
cast
Gerald Harper as James Hadleigh
Jon Laurimore as Frank Walters
Ralph Michael as Colonel Chamberlayne
Gillian Wray as Susan Jackson
Michael Blackham as Bill Spence
Norman Claridge as Appleton
Christopher Hodge as Maxwell
Michael Landy as Tom Portall
