The Main Chance: A Vision of the Future (ITV 16 Nov 1970)

In A Vision of the Future David’s ire is fired up when he is asked to defend a man on an assault charge, he quickly discovers that the case is part of a wider plot involving corrupt council officials and their plan to build a new complex.

The land where the complex would sit is a housing estate owned by industrialist Charles Arkwright and compulsory purchase would mean the loss of hundreds of people’s homes. Main and Arkwright are convinced that Councillor Arnold Bingley is pressing ahead with the plan purely for his own personal gain.

A couple of future guest stars pop up here. Jack Watson, who plays businessman Charles Arkwright, would appear in the early part of season three as Hilary’s father. Peter Gilmore, here pre-Onedin Line stardom, is architect Gibbs-Revill and he would also appear in season four episode Year of the Tiger.

Anna Palk doesn’t appear in this episode.

The Town Centre Model used in the episode was courtesy of Oscar faber and Partners, Consulting Engineers. Jack Watson would go on to appear as a different character in the first couple of episodes of season three.

classic quote
“how do want to play this, clean or dirty?”
“use the rules”
“may not be able to, if someone else is making them.”

production details
UK / ITV – Yorkshire / 1×50 minute episode / Broadcast Monday 16 November 1970 at 8.30pm

Writer: Edmund Ward / Production Design: Andrew Drummond / Director: Christopher Hodson

Series: The Main Chance Season 2 Episode 10

cast
John Stride as David Main
John Wentworth as Henry Castleton
Margaret Ashcroft as Margaret Castleton
John Arnatt as Sydney Bulmer
Jack Watson as Charles Arkwright
Michael Collins as Jack Gillam
Peter Gilmore as Antony Gibbs-Revill
John Phillips as Arnold Bingley
Hugh Morton as Magistrate
Robin Ford as George Auckland
Barbara Ogilvie as Mrs Ada Harrington
Preston Lockwood as Ministry inspector