Special Branch: Reliable Sources (ITV 12 Nov 1969, with Tony Britton)

In Reliable Sources the Security Commission is finally finishing it’s enquiry into the Troika affair, it’s been a cloud hanging over Eden for months. Thankfully he and Special Branch are cleared of all wrongdoing. Eden makes it plain that he intends to continue working on the case if his application for a years extension of service is granted.

Eden is shocked when Moxon tells him the Troika case is closed, the leading figure Alexandrov has defected and he is far too useful to ever be prosecuted.

Meanwhile newspaper man Clive Bradbury makes Eden an offer to spill the beans on Troika and his time in Special Branch. When Bradbury then runs a story about Alexandrov’s defection Moxon is convinced that Eden is the source of the leak and concludes that Eden himself is now a security risk.

To try and help clear their boss’s name Jordan and Morrissey track Arthur Prendergast, the man Eden believes is really behind the leak and more than a little surprised to find the trail leads right to Moxon. As usual Moxon is playing games with everybody and keeping secrets very close to his chest.

Reliable Sources is a good chance for Eden to take centre stage rather than his usual stance of shouting at people in his office. The episode ends with Eden getting his one year extension only to be shifted sideways into the home-office. Jordan is expected to take his place only for the Deputy Commander to annouce that a Detective Inman will in fact take Eden’s place.

production details
UK / ITV – Thames / 1×50 minute episode / Broadcast Wednesday 12 November 1969

Writers: Tom Brennand, Roy Bottomley / Production Design: David Marshall / No director credit was given either on screen or in the TV Times.

Series: Special Branch Season 1 Episode 9

cast
Derren Nesbitt as Jordan
Wensley Pithey as Thomas Eden
Morris Perry as Charles Moxon
Keith Washington as John Morrissey
Jennifer Wilson as Helen Webb
Tony Britton as Clive Bradbury
David Collings as Newspaper Editor
John Ogden as Editor’s secretary
Julian Herington as Arthur Prendergast
David Garth as Deputy Commander
Norman Claridge as Chairman