Bergerac: My Friend Charlie (BBC-1 2 Feb 1991, with Irina Brook)

In My Friend Charlie Jim is approached by a young woman, Giselle, who wants him to “abduct” her father who she claims murdered her mother some ten years previously. The man a wealthy American businessman, Karl Goldman, is working with Charlie on a deal worth seven million pounds. Charlie is more than a little unsure about Goldman, and just where his money comes from. Meanwhile Deffand, Pettit and Loman at the Bureau are looking into the activities of Goldman having had word that he may be involved in drug smuggling. (We already know this to be the case, the opening scenes showing one of Goldman’s henchmen killing two Spanish dealers.

Meanwhile Goldman’s wife is embroiled in an affair with another of Goldman’s men and wants out but Goldman makes sure that his control over his young daughter means his wife has no way out.

As Jim investigates he discovers just how deep Goldman’s involvement in the drug’s game is. Meanwhile the beautiful Giselle is clearly not all she seems to be.

Again it’s a Jersey set episode with no mention of Jim’s supposed new life in France, in fact when Giselle moves in on Jim for a passionate kiss he reciprocates with Danielle clearly not on his mind at all.

Retaining the Jersey setting certainly makes it easier to incorporate Charlie and the Bureau although Roger Sloman who plays Inspector Deffand turns in another of his highly annoying performances, he’s an actor who excels at playing those characters you love to hate. On the whole it does make you wonder what the producers are doing, it’s another episode that could have seen Jim still well and truly in the police force.

production details
UK / BBC One / 1×50 minute episode / Broadcast 2 February 1991

Writer: Graham Hurley / Director: Michael Rolfe

Series: Bergerac Season 9 Episode 5

cast
John Nettles as Jim Bergerac
Terence Alexander as Charlie Hungerford
William Hootkins as Karl Goldman
Irina Brook as Giselle
Janet Amsbury as Cathy Goldman
Otto Jarman as Billy Lowry
John Telfer as Willy Pettit
David Kershaw as Ben Lomas
Roger Sloman as Inspector Deffand
Charmaine Parsons as Ellie
Stephen Rashbrook as Hotel Manager
Pancho Russell as Joey
Caroline Rolfe as Lara Goldman
Sarah Jane Buckley as Receptionist
Zeh Prado as Fabio Quintero