The Main Chance: Not in Today’s Army (ITV 28 June 1972)

In Not in Today’s Army Major Gardiner crosses swords with Lt Col Brant over matters of discipline – Gardiner favours a hard as nails approach whilst Brant believes a softer approach gets better results. After one run in too many Gardiner is court-martialed, He hires David to take his case for him.

Something of an untypical episode this, only David and Henry of the regular cast appear and the episode cuts between a group of soldiers and the court martial itself. There is also a slight sub-plot involving Henry and the closing of a factory.

A young James Hazledine and equally young Malcolm Tierney pop up in key roles here too. The Main Chance usually aired at 9.00pm but this episode went out at 10.30pm because the national final of Miss TV Times 1972 nabbed the 9.00pm slot.

classic quote
“an Army that works on fear and threats is no better than slavery.”

production details
UK / ITV-Yorkshire / 1×50 minute episode / Broadcast Wednesday 28 June 1972 at 10.30pm

Writer: John Batt / Production Design: Vic Symonds / Director: Marc Miller

The Main Chance Season 3 Episode 4

cast
Malcolm Tierney as Major Gardiner
James Hazledine as Staff Sergeant Timson
Lyndon Brook as Lt Col Brant
Peter Attard as Pte Pike
John Stride as David Main
Philip Newman as Edward Moss
Seymour Matthews as Adjutant
Edward Harvey as Inspector
Norman Shelley as Sefton Gardiner
John Wentworth as Henry Castleton
Philip Brack as Col Everett
Basil Henson as Brigadier
Leon Sinden as Judge