Hadleigh: For Those In Peril (ITV 2 Dec 1969, with Michael Blackham)

For Those In Peril is very much a Gazette episode with Bill Spence taking centre stage. He lets his personal trouble intrude into his working life. Bill, whilst drunk in the local pub, insults prominent local councillor Cleghorn (played by future Emmerdale farm legend Arthur Pentelow) then to make matters worse causes trouble back at the Gazette office.

There is a reason for Bill’s current state though, his ageing dad is living in a run down home for retired fishermen and Bill is desperate for his dad to move in with him and his wife but they just don’t have enough room. Bill’s wife Shirley doesn’t actually want him living with them either.

When Hadleigh discovers just how bad the conditions are at the seaman’s home he decides to do something about it.

Despite much of the action being set at The Gazette, Frank Walters is away in London so doesn’t appear. There are also two new staff that we haven’t seen before in the shape of Elspeth and Andy.

production details
UK / ITV – Yorkshire / 1×50 minute episode / Broadcast Tuesday 2 December 1969 at 9.00pm

Writer: Hilton Denman / Production Design: Alan Pickford / Director: Valerie Hanson

Series: Hadleigh Season 1 Episode 12

cast
Gerald Harper as James Hadleigh
Gillian Wray as Susan Jackson
Michael Blackham as Bill Spence
Arthur Pentelow as Cleghorn
Henry Moxon as Fred
Arnold Peters as Tom Singleton
Helena McCarthy as Mrs Maxwell
Alastair Hunter as Maxwell
Lynne White as Elspeth
Myles Reitherman as Andy
Sheila Fearn as Shirley Spence
Caroline Dowdeswell as Maggie
Michael Brennan as Boyd