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Gazette: Why Stay in Westdale (ITV 4 Oct 1968, with Colin Farrell)

Published

7 years ago

May 24, 2017

In Why Stay in Westdale an article in Westdale about lack of opportunities in the town for the younger members of society cause problems. The article coincides with the arrival of a pair of American businessmen looking to recruit for a new project in the States. The “brain drain” is affecting Cramshaws, the factory that Hadleigh has a part ownership in – they are implementing a new hydraulics system and three of their key men are being interviewed by the Americans.

Sue talks to Hadleigh before an important dinner engagement. Not how she has arranged his pocket handkerchief for him! The pair have a nice dynamic in the series.

One of the three, Harry Palmer, is keen to take the job he has been offered but also doesn’t want to let Cramshaw’s down. After all they paid for him to go to college and learn the system that the American’s now want.

Meanwhile the article itself is stirring up a veritable hornet’s nest of bad feeling amongst the businessmen of the town – all of whom seem to be holding Hadleigh personally responsible for the article’s content. It’s enough to make Hadleigh think of getting out of the engineering business.

A young Frances White as Harry Palmer’s wife Janet, she doesn’t know how she feels about the chance to move to America.

Another topical episode, the “brain drain” was in the news a lot in the late sixties and seventies, it’s also an episode that serves to strengthen Haldiegh’s ties to the Gazatte. By the end of it he is talking to Frank about selling his Cramshaw shares and expanding the newspaper.

Bill isn’t in this episode.

production details
UK / ITV – Yorkshire / 1×50 minute episode / Broadcast Friday 4 October 1968 at 9.00pm

Writer: John Whitewood / Production Design: Malcolm Goulding / Director: Brian Parker

Series: Gazette Episode 10 of 13

cast
Gerald Harper as James Hadleigh
Jon Laurimore as Walters
Gillian Wray as Sue
Christopher Hodge as Maxwell
Frances White as Janet Palmer
Colin Farrell as Harry Palmer
John Gill as Mayor
John Malcolm as Dave Cartwright
Edward Phillips as Gordon Cramshaw
Philip Lennard as Denis Cramshaw
Robert Hartley as Forbes
Richard Pescud as Wilkins
Keith James as Jack Summerdale
Harry Littlewood as Desk Clerk
Frank Crawshaw as Ticket Collector
Hayne Ryan as Field
Roy Stephens as Jonson
Alan Pearce as Dayton
Harry Kelly as Barman
Kevin Walker as Copy boy