Special Branch: Intercept (ITV 18 Apr 1974, with Walter Gotell)

In Intercept a visiting South American president, Morales, is spending three days in London. He is considered something of a dictator and there have been a spate of bomb attacks in the city aimed at his countrymen. Strand wants Craven, along Detective Sergeant Mary Holmes, to investigate.

Meanwhile we discover that the man behind the bombings, local gangster Hodges, is not in fact politically motivated but is working on a plot o steal a haul of diamonds that Morales is to pick up while in London. His bomb man, Paddy Regan, is very much a loose cannon and is working to his own agenda.

Mary goes undercover as a hostess (cue a very dodgy wig and outfit) at one of Hodges’ nightclubs to get close to him but it’s role that puts her in danger when she rebuffs his advances. Craven is not happy, he has fallen for Mary and she seems to quite like him too.

Another strong episode with a key role for Susan Jameson, her second appearance in a row. There is a good dynamic between herself and Craven and apart from the penultimate episode she features in all the remaining stories.

There is an excellent folky tune plays whilst Craven heads out to meet Hodges, he rather bizarrely takes out a row boat to the middle of a park lake.

Patrick Mower isn’t in this episode. Det Sgt Mary Holmes goes undercover…

production details
UK / ITV – Thames / 1×50 minute episode / Broadcast Thursday 18 April 1974 at 8.30pm

Writer: Ian Kennedy Martin / Director: William Brayne

Series: Special Branch Season 4 Episode 10

cast
George Sewell as Craven
Paul Eddington as Strand
Susan Jameson as Detective Sergeant Mary Holmes
Walter Gotell as Morales
Maxwell Shaw as Hodges
Patrick Duggan as Paddy Regan
John Bindon as Harry Beauchamp
Michael Da Costa as Tony Compson
Peter Miles as Rodriguez
Arnold Diamond as Straker
Paul Williamson as Bomb Expert
Clare Shenstone as Rena Del Orte
Patsy Peters as Night club singer