Watch The Birdies (BBC-1 1966, Nicholas Courtney, Wanda Ventham)

Watch The Birdies was a thriller serial from the mid sixties. When he tries to help out a friend, photographer Bill Page finds himself getting involved with the London Underworld and a search for a cache of missing diamonds.

A rare leading role for Dr Who alumni Nicholas Courtney, this excellent thriller serial from Aussie Peter Yeldham was one of a whole number of thrillers that have not really been seen in reruns and have these days been all but forgotten, they were all well cast though and served as entertaining TV.

production details
UK / BBC-1 / 5×30 minute episodes / Broadcast 19 June – 17 July 1966 in black and white

Writer: Peter Yeldham / Production Design: John Cooper / Producer: Alan Bromly / Director: Douglas Camfield

cast
NICHOLAS COURTNEY as Bill Page
WANDA VENTHAM as Irene Grant
NICHOLAS SELBY as Detective Inspector Clayton
RICHARD THORP as Pembridge
JERRY STOVIN as Bernie Kershaw
KARIN FERNALD as Anna Bergmann
KEVIN STONEY as Lazlo Bergmann
EDWARD DENTITH as Frank Crawford
MICHAEL BRENNAN as Donovan
JOHN JUNKIN as Kendall
JO ROWBOTTAM as Marcia
JOHN CLIVE as Lenny
THE EPISODES

EPISODE ONE (Broadcast 19 June 1966)
Photographer Bill Page and his partner Irene Grant get a call from a half-forgotten old friend that is soon leading them into danger.

EPISODE TWO (Broadcast 26 June 1966)
Bill’s old friend Lazlo Bergmann is actually a major criminal.
guest cast
MICHAEL MARTIN as Detective Sergeant Rivo / PAULA TOPHAM as Receptionist

EPISODE THREE (Broadcast 3 July 1966)
Bill discovers Laslo dead and learns that he was being targeted by insurance agent Bernie Kershaw who is convinced that Bergmann was responsible for the theft of Hungarian countess Hazany’s diamonds.
guest cast
MIRANDA HAMPTON as Julie / ROYSTON TICKNER as Vaults Attendant / GILLY FRASER as Waitress

EPISODE FOUR (Broadcast 10 July 1966)
The villainess Pembridge is also on the hunt for the diamonds and convinced that Bill holds the key he kidnaps Irene Grant.
guest cast
MADELENA NICOL as Countess Hazany / MIRANDA HAMPTON as Julie / PAULA TOPHAM as Receptionist / MICHAEL MARTIN as Detective Sergeant Rivo

EPISODE FIVE (Broadcast 17 July 1966)
Insurance agent Kershaw has been murdered and Bill is prime suspect as far as the police are concerned but he just wants to rescue Irene before its too late.
guest cast
Terry Wright as Dragos / MADELENA NICOL as Countess Hazany / MICHAEL MARTIN as Detective Sergeant Rivo