1990: When Did You Last See Your Father? (BBC-2 19 Sep 1977, with Gillian Raine)

In When Did You Last See Your Father? Kyle is still determined to help Dr Vickers get out of the country. After almost being caught Vickers is stuck with trying official channels but is having no luck. There is a great scene where Vickers, who is under surveillance, is visited by a member of the resistance, who sweeps his surgery for bugs (of which there are many) and passes on a message to sit tight for a few days. Kyle and Dave Brett (another key man in the resistance movement) eventually manage to get Vickers to America.

Meanwhile Kyle has evidence that over 26,000 people are appearing before the Ombudsman Appeal Court but his contact at the PCD tells him the Home Secretary is going to be issuing a blanket ban on all exit visas. Skardon, head of the PCD, wants Delly Lomas to keep closer tabs on Kyle and find out where he is getting his inside info from. There is quite a nice flirtatious thing going on with Kyle and Delly Lomas actually.

Over lunch Della reveals that 120 people are escaping the country illegally every week, she also makes it plain she is willing to give Kyle exclusive info in exchange for whatever he finds out about the illegal emigrant racket. She wants to take over from Skardon as head of the PCD and thinks Kyle can help her do so.

Wheels are being set in motion in this second episode as Della makes plain her want for power, we are also left wandering just how far she will go to get it, willing to let Kyle keep his secrets.

This can pretty much be considered a two part story with the first episode Creed of Slaves, it aired the evening following the broadcast of the first episode. Delly Lomas tells Kyle she wants control of the Public Control Department.

classic quote
“Didn’t you hear, Oxfam are raising funds for us in India.”

production details
UK / BBC Two / 1×50 minute episode / Broadcast 19 September 1977 at 8.10pm

Writer: Wilfred Greatorex / Production Design: Rochelle Selwyn / Director: Alan Gibson

Series: 1990 Season 1 Episode 2

cast
Donald Gee as Dr Vickers
Stacy Davies as PCD Inspector
Edward Woodward as Jim Kyle
Honor Shepherd as Marly
John Savident as Dan Mellor
Paul Chapman as Randall
Luke Hanson as Grey
Lynn Dalby as Mrs Grey
Barbara Kellermann as Delly Lomas
Robert Lang as Herbert Skardon
Clifton Jones as Henry Tasker
George Murcell as Greaves
Mathias Kilroy as Pearce
Robert Swales as Wilkie
Elleen Davies as Mrs Vickers
Sophie Coghill as Tina Vickers
Tony Doyle as Dave Brett
Willie Jonah as Nolan
Malcolm Rennie as Emigration officer
Bruce Lidington as Harper
Bill Rourke as Emigrant
Desmond Jordan as Burnley
Paul Hardwick as Faceless
Colin Fay as Stevedore