Chessgame (ITV 1983, Terence Stamp, Michael Culver)

Chessgame was an espionage thriller series that saw Oxford Don David Audley drafted in to British Intelligence to investigate when building work uncovers the remains of a plane that crashed 27 years earlier. This is in turn leads Audley into further investigations.

Terence Stamp took his first starring TV role in this atmospheric but short lived spy meets crime drama series that was based on the novels by Anthony Price.

production details
UK / ITV – Granada / 6×50 minute episodes / Broadcast 23 November – 28 December 1983

Based on novels by Anthony Price / Producers: Richard Everitt

cast
Terence Stamp as David Audley
Michael Culver as Nick Hannah
Carmen Du Sautoy as Faith Steerforth
Robin Sachs as Hugh Roskill
John Horsley as Sir Alec Russell

THE EPISODES  23 November – 28 December 1983

1. FLYING BLIND
The wreckage of a plane, which crashed 27 years ago, is discovered when a lake is being drained and when the Russians show their interest David Audley receives a priority call to investigate the wreckage.

guest cast
MICHAEL CULVER as Nick Hannah (intro.) / CARMEN DU SAUTOY as Faith (intro.) / ROBIN SACHS as Hugh Roskill (intro.)

Writer: Murray Smith
Director: William Brayne / Designer: James Weatherup.

2. COLD WARGAME
What secret is held by the wrecked plane being investigated by Audley and his team? The agent has discovered only one thing – the Russians are prepared to kill to keep their secret safe.

guest cast
JOHN HORSLEY as Sir Alec Russell / OSCAR QUITAK as Theo Friesler / GEORGE PRAVDA as Igor Pravda

Writer: Murray Smith.
Director: William Brayne / Designer: James Weatherup

3. ENTER HASAN
While planting a listening device under the car of a senior Foreign Office Official, one of David Audley’s colleagues is killed when the booby – trapped car blows up.

guest cast
JOHN ROWE as Guy Liewellyn / OSCAR QUITAK as Theo Friesler / ROSALIE CRUTCHLEY as Mary Jenkins

Writer: Murray Smith
Director: Ken Grieve / Designer: Taff Batley

4. THE ALAMUT AMBUSH
A high – ranking Foreign Office Official shot while attending the funeral of Audleys’ technician. This angers Audley, who suspects the enemy are behind the death of his colleague and the latest shooting incident.

guest cast
JOHN HORSLEY as Sir Alec Russell / PAUL McDOWELL as Jack Soutar / TONY STEEDMAN as Gilbert Jones.

Writer: Murray Smith
Director: Ken Grieve / Designer: Taff Batley

5. THE ROMAN CONNECTION
Certain that a young student’s death is the start of a communist conspiracy, a university professor seeks Audley’s help.

guest cast
WILLOUGHBY GRAY as Sir Geoffrey Hobson / RICHARD PEARSON as Handforth Jones / SEYMOUR GREEN as Charles Epton

Writer: John Brason
Director: Roger Tucker / Designer: James Weatherup

6. DIGGING UP THE FUTURE
At the request of a university professor, David Audley and his team of counter – intelligence agents investigate the backgrounds of two students – one of whom has died in mysterious circumstances.

guest cast
PAUL JAYNES as Richardson / ART MALIK as Gopal Aziz / RICHARD PEARSON as Handforth Jones

Writer: John Brason
Director: Roger Tucker / Designer: James Weatherup