The Expert (BBC-2 1968-1976, Marius Goring, Ann Morrish)

In crime drama series The Expert we follow the cases of John Hardy (Marius Goring), based in Warwickshire, who is a pathologist attached to the police – usually working with Detective Chief Inspector Fleming (Victor Winding) and Detective Sergeant Ashe (Michael Farnsworth). Also regulars were Ann Morrish who played Hardy’s wife Jo and Valerie Murray who played Hardy’s assistant Sandra Hughes.

The Expert was based on the background of series co-creator and producer Gerard Glaister’s Uncle John who was once Professor of Forensic Science at Glasgow University. John Glaister also acted as technical advisor to the series. Bernard Knight, who was a real life forensic pathologist as well as a writer and a barrister contributed script ideas and also penned a tie-in novel.

Marius Goring was typically excellent in the main role and the series ran from 1968-1971 before returning for one more season five years later in 1976. This season saw a few changes, gone were detectives Fleming and Ashe in was Virginia Stride (ex-wife of Main Chance star John Stride) as Susan Bartlett and Jeremy Sinden as Price.

The Expert was also the first BBC2 drama to be made in colour.

Throughout its four series the show featured numerous high quality guest appearances by actors such as John Carson, Peter Copley, Rachel Kempson, Peter Vaughan, Clive Swift, Geoffrey Palmer, Peter Barkworth, Jean Marsh, Ray Brooks, George Sewell, Anthony Valentine, Bernard Lee, Lee Montague, Geoffrey Bayldon, Mike Pratt, Edward Fox, André Morell, Brian Blessed, Nigel Stock, Philip Madoc and Warren Clarke.

The series aired on BBC Two and ran for 62 fifty minute episodes between 5 July 1968 and 26 November 1976. Besides Glaister the series was co-created by N.J. Crisp. Glaister produced the first three seasons with Andrew Osborn producing the fourth and final season.

THE EPISODES
SEASON ONE 5 July – 27 September 1968
1. THE UNKNOWN FACTOR
2. IT CAN’T BE DONE
3. LIARS, DAMN, LIARS
4. MISS DALEY
5. NICE DAY
6. THE LONG HATE
7. NOBODY’S GOING TO HURT YOU
8. HERE LIES…
9. THE CONTACT
10. HE’S GOOD FOR IT
11. FIRE WITHOUT SMOKE
12. FULL CHOKE
13. AND SO SAY ALL OF US

SEASON TWO 4 April – 26 September 1969
1. THE VISITOR: HYPOTHESIS
2. THE VISITOR: HARD FACTS
3. THE VISITOR: JUDGEMENT
4. THE YELLOW TORRISH
5. THE GUNB THAT WALKED
6. ONE LIFE – MORE OR LESS
7. A QUESTION OF GUILT
8. A FAMILY AFFAIR
9. DEATH IN THE RAIN
10. PROTECTION
11. POST-MORTEM ON HARRY KIRBY
12. DO NOT GO GENTLE
13. PLAYING WITH FIRE
14. THE SARDONIC SMILE
15. THE WITNESS: THREATS
16. THE WITNESS: INVOLVEMENT
17. THE BLUE SPOT
18. LETHAL WEAPON
19. LIE DOWN, YOU’RE DEAD
20. EDDIE
21. NO HOME IN THE CITY
22. YOUR MONEY FOR MY LIFE
23. DEPENDENCE: A LIFE SAVED
24. DEPENDENCE: A LIFE LOST
25. FLESH AND BLOOD
26. SUFFICIENTLY LOVED AND CARED FOR

SEASON THREE 3 January – 28 March 1971
1. A WAY TO DIE
2. WHERE ARE YOU GOING?
3. THE MAN ON MY BACK
4. GO SOMEWHERE ELSE
5. WHOSE CHILD?: THE WIFE
6. WHOSE CHILD?: THE HUSBAND
7. CEDRIC
8. A SCIENTIFIC FACT
9. THE COAT
10. TRUE CONFESSION
11. SMITHEREENS
12. HOTHOUSE
13. A CLEAR AND EASY DAY

SEASON FOUR 24 September – 26 November 1976
1. SECOND APPEAL
2. BLOOD LINE
3. INHERITANCE
4. PREJUDICE
5. A FAMILY AFFAIR
6. SUSPENDED VERDICT
7. SUSPICIOUS DEATH
8. FAIL SAFE
9. HOUR OF THE SNAKE
10. TAINTED MONEY