Armchair Thriller: The Girl Who Walked Quickly (ITV 1978, Denis Lawson)

In The Girl Who Walked Quickly, the girlfriend of brilliant University Student David Cooper, becomes increasingly concerned when he goes missing. Teaming up with Cooper’s tutor Godolt she tries to get to the bottom of his disappearance.

Meanwhile David himself has been taken by a terrorist group who, through the use of sensory deprivation, wipe his memory and using brainwashing techniques persuade him to commit acts of terrorism for them, beginning with a bomb blast in a tube station.

Starts off in similar fashion to most of the Armchair Thrillers before moving into spy/terrorist territory. It is made plain what is happening right from the very beginning so the whats going on aspect isn’t that high but it remains pretty tense throughout.

Denis Lawson has the lead role and is quite low key but given what is happening to him that is understandable. Given the state of the world today, the subject matter is quite precient.

Like all of the Armchair Thrillers this was shown at the rate of two episodes per week.

production details
UK / ITV Network – Thames / 4×30 minute episodes / Broadcast 28 March – 6 April 1978

Writer: Ray Jenkins / Script Executive: Joan Rodker / Theme Music: Andy Mackay / Incidental Music: Roger Webb / Production Design: Robin Parker / Producer: Jacqueline Davis / Director: Brian Farnham

Armchair Thriller Story 3

cast
DENIS LAWSON as David Cooper
PHYLLIDA NASH as Liz
CLIVE MERRISON as Godolt
ANNA NICHOLAS as The Girl
BARRY STANTON as Swift
JOHN GREGG as Everly
OLIVER SMITH as 1st Helper
LUKE HANSON as 2nd Helper
MARGERY MASON as Mrs Cooper
DEREK BENFIELD as Mr Cooper
COLIN McCORMACK as Det Sgt Bowen
ALAN BROWN as Det Chief Supt Mason
MARTIN FISK as Explosive Officer
BAY WHITE as Mrs Travers
ROBERT GARY as Photokit Officer
GEOFFREY LEESLEY as Policeman
PETER WIGHT as Operator No 1
ANTHONY HOWDEN as Operator No 2
NEIL HALLETT as Commander Lambert
DAVID CANN as Rodgers
EMRYS LEYSHON as Nugent
MARTYN WHITBY as Sniper No 2