New Scotland Yard: Evidence of Character (ITV 3 Nov 1972, Margaret Nolan)

In Evidence of Character Kingdom and Ward sample village life when the body of a young woman is found in a nearby wood, the chief suspect is garden centre owner Ronnie Johnson and village gossips already have him convicted without any actual evidence – much to Kingdom’s disgust. Events take a tragic turn when Johnson, despite having a water tight alibi, kills himself.

The amazing Margaret Nolan has a very, shall we say prominent role, as aupair Gudrun who along with James Hazledine discovers the body of the girl in the wood. It looks like Hazledine might be getting to set up to be prime suspect but after his initial scene with Gudrun and then a bit of an interrogation from Kingdom he’s not seen again.

What’s interesting about this episode is that it actually doesn’t solve the crime, the episode ends with the announcement of the discovery of another body. Really the episode is actually about the damage wrought on Johnson by the gossip mongers. It turns out that Johnson had a 15 year old conviction for fraud he was terrified of coming out and ruining his business. Kingdom once again proves himself something of a sympathetic character with his views on how long a man should be punished for.

production details
UK / ITV – London Weekend Television / 1×50 minute episode / Broadcast Friday 3 November 1972 at 9.00pm

Writer: Peter Wildeblood / Production Design: John Emery / Director: Bryan Izzard

Series: New Scotland Yard Season 2 Episode 4

cast
John Woodvine as Kingdom
John Carlisle as Ward
Margaret Nolan as Gudrun Lindblom
Gary Raymond as Ronnie Johnson
Mary Kenton as Betty Johnson
James Hazledine as Colin Guest
Jack Allen as Major French Hatton
Joan Scott as Vera Noone
Hilda Braid as Mrs White
Michael Beint as Det Sgt Buss
Kenneth Scott as Constable
Stella Moray as Beryl Dench
Ian Burford as Arthur Jones
Andrea Godfrey as Myra Willis