The Main Chance: The Lady Who Went Too Far (ITV 23 Nov 1970)

Joan Greenwood is her perfect imperious self in The Lady Who Went Too Far, she plays the wealthy Mrs Hilary Wenn who is none too happy about the fact that a new home build on land next to hers is spoiling her perfect view and wants David to act for her to get the building knocked down.

Mrs Wenn is a complete spoilt brat, she expects everyone to bend over backward to do her will and when it looks like Peter Findon (who doesn’t actually appear in the episode) has made a mistake in the initial investigation into whether Wenn actually has any grounds to get the house demolished she threatens to sue David if he doesn’t act for her.

It appears that part of the house has been built on her land (it has but only because Mrs Wenn moved the string marking out the groundworks so that she would have grounds. She then decides to get workmen in with a bulldozer and knocks down the house knosing full owners won’t be able to afford to sue her.

Mrs Wenn is actually a really despicable character with no redeeming features at all. Sarah sees through her immediately and wants David rid of her as soon as possible. He eventually is able to give her a piece of his mind but not before he has been at her beck and call for most of the episode.

Margaret meanwhile has a troublesome case of her own, her cousin Jeremy Upjohn has inherited a large some of money but seems rather keen on giving it away.

This week also saw the arrival of Main Chance spin-off Grady. There was a big feature in the TV Times which mentioned that the series was from the creator of the Main Chance but didn’t mention that the character had actually featured in the season one episode The Professional.

production details
UK / ITV – Yorkshire / 1×50 minute episode / Broadcast Monday 23 November 1970 at 8.30pm

Writer: David Weir / Production Design: Andrew Drummond / Director: John Frankau

Series: The Main Chance Season 2 Episode 11

cast
John Stride as David Main
Anna Palk as Sarah Courtney
Margaret Ashcroft as Margaret Castleton
John Wentworth as Henry Castleton
John Arnatt as Sydney Bulmer
Joan Greenwood as Mrs Hilary Wenn
Nicholas Pennell as Jeremy Upjohn
Felix Aylmer as Judge
David Blake Kelly as Irish Labourer