Public Eye: The Trouble With Jenny (ITV 14 Feb 1973, with Donald Burton)

It the final episode of the penultimate season of Public Eye and in The Trouble With Jenny Frank is caught up in a case involving the attempted suicide of a young woman staying in the same hotel as him.

Having missed his station (because he fell asleep) Frank is forced to spend anight in a small hotel in Paddington, young Jenny Wellard is also staying there. The next morning the hotel owner is unable to wake Jenny and calls upon Frank to help. His timely interaction saves her life.

Her much older husband then asks Frank to look into just what led Jenny to the path she took. Frank discovers that Jenny (along with a group of other girls) is being blackmailed over a stay in hospital in 1967 dealing with an unwanted pregnancy.

Donald Burton turns in a nicely prickly performance as a local Paddington copper who is very antagonistic towards Frank. Petra Markham, who plays young Jenny, had recently been appearing in cult kids show Ace of Wands.

production details
UK / ITV – Thames / 1×50 minute episode / Broadcast Wednesday 14 February 1973 at 9.00pm on ITV

Writer: Roger Marshall / Production Design: Tony Borer / Director: David Wickes

Series: Public Eye Season 6 Episode 13

cast
Alfred Burke as Frank Marker
Vivien Heilbron as Pat Russell
Petra Markham as Jenny Wellard
Marjie Lawrence as Mrs Barnes
Donald Burton as Det Sgt Colin
Donald Houston as Arthur Wellard
Doreen Mantle as Miss Barnwell
Richard Simpson as Harris
Geoffrey Bateman as Burton
Bridget Brice as Sarah Graham