Shoestring: Where Was I (BBC-1 14 Dec 1980, Colin Jeavons)

In Where Was I, the penultimate episode of Shoestring, Keith Amery, overworked and stressed has gone on a camping holiday but whilst out on the moors he sees a helicopter which then tries to spook him by flying right over head, Amery falls, bangs his head and loses his memory. Eventually finding his way home his wife calls in Eddie who discovers ties to a couple of shady Australians and an intended jailbreak.

A real anitpodean flavour to this last but one episode there is a great conceit with one of the gang, Denise, who poses as a fellow DJ from Australia and manages to persuade Don Satchley to let her shadow Eddie for a couple of days so that her radio station back in Brisbane can start a Private Ear radio show of their own, thinking that she can find out how much Amery really knows about the prison break. Eddie shows a great turn of speed too when chasing down the villain before he can get to the helicopter bringing him down with a finely timed rugby tackle.

classic quote
“Eddie you can beat a lot things but not the English weather.”

production details
UK / BBC One / 1×50 minute episode / Broadcast 14 December 1980 @ 9.15pm

Writer: Peter Miller / Production Design: John Hurst / Director: Jeremy Summers

Series: Shoestring  Season 2 Episode 9

guest cast
PHILIP BOND as Keith
HILARY RYAN as Denise
ALAN DAVID as Dr Fischer
COLIN JEAVONS as Ellery
PATRICIA PERRY as Lydia Amery
GEORGE ROUBICEK as Tom Laidlaw
RALPH ARLISS as Daryl
GRAEME ETON as Mal
KEN HALLIWELL as Farmer
JACK LE WHITE as Car Park Attendent
PETER CRAZE as Lab Technician
JAMES CHARLES as Railway Buff
ALAN DOWNER as Radio Soundman
DAVID McNALLY as D.J.
EMMA STEPHENSON as Telephone Girl
JAYN ROSAMUND as Child