Bergerac: Retirement Plan (BBC-1 27 Dec 1988, with Nicholas Ball)

In Retirement Plan Charlie is in Spain looking at a possible new marina franchise deal and finds himself with a pair of very dodgy gangsters. Gravel Beresford and Raoul Fuegas are determined to get themselves a part of Charlie’s deal and as Charlie’s lady friend in the area Eva Southurst says “nobody turns Beresford down”. When Beresford and Fuegas start giving Charlie trouble he asks Jim to travel to Spain to help him.

Meanwhile a pair of thieves are on the island and giving the Bureau the runaround.

Nicholas Ball and James Laurenson as the none too pleasant Beresford and Feugas.

Jim and Susan seem to be getting on a lot better now. Susan is involved in the selling of the expansive home of elderly Miss Amberton, her rather strange gardener Gully is very disturbed by news of the sale.

Another strong script from the brilliant Edmund Ward, despite the gap of several months (between the end of season six and this Christmas special) this was his second script in a row for the series.

Carmen Du Sautoy plays Marie Chantel, one of the expert thieves hitting the island.

production details
UK / BBC One / 1×90 minute episode / Broadcast 27 December 1988

Writer: Edmund Ward / Director: Edward Bennett

Series: Bergerac Christmas Special Number 3 (aired between seasons 6 and 7)

cast
John Nettles as Jim Bergerac
Terence Alexander as Hungerford
Louise Jameson as Susan Young
Nicholas Ball as Gravel Beresford
James Laurenson as Raoul Fuegas
Sylvester Morand as Harry Lubeck
Constantine Gregory as Diego Ferrera
Sean Arnold as Crozier
Barrie Houghton as Reno
Danny Webb as Joe Grantham
Micha Bergese as Costello
Sue Lloyd as Eva Southurst
Carmen Du Sautoy as Marie Chantel
Anthony Calf as Simon Lorrilard
Matyelok Gibbs as Alice Thorwell
Bill Stewart as Gully
Paul Angelis as Jack Thorwell
John Telfer as Willy Pettit
David Kershaw as Ben Lomas
Nancy Mansfield as Peggy Masters
Hilary Mason as Miss Amberton
Robert McBain as George Beck
Dave Atkins as Wesley
Jonathan Oliver as Pathologist
Catherine Livesey as Woman House Buyer