The Main Chance: The Killing Ground (ITV 7 June 1972)

In season three opener The Killing Ground David gets involved when Hilary Nash’s husband, a farmer, is shot by hoodlum Sammy Cutforth. Meanwhile he is also surprised by the arrival of his former secretary turned lover – she left David and married Lord Radchester but now she is back and wants David to handle her divorce.

An interesting season opener, 18 month after the end of season two. David is glad to get involved with the plight of the Nash’s little knowing that he would be married to Hilary before the end of the season. The plot line involving Hilary’s husband eventually dying from his injuries is actually pretty weak – Main and Hilary’s father Harry persuades her not to even see before he dies because thats what he would have wanted – highly unlikely!

Jack Watson, who plays Harry Selby had previously appeared in the season two episode A Vision Of The Future playing a different character entirely and the young hoodlum is played by Robin Askwith. Morris Perry who Chief Supt Kellaway was married in real life to Margaret Ashcroft.

production details
UK / ITV – Yorkshire / 1×50 minute episode / Broadcast Wednesday 7 June 1972 at 9.00pm

Writer: Edmund Ward / Production Design: Alan Pickford / Director: John Frankau

Series: The Main Chance Season 3 Episode 1

cast
John Stride as David Main
Estelle Kohler as Hilary Nash
Anna Palk as Lady Sarah Radchester
Guy Slater as Richard Nash
Valerie Dane as Main’s Secretary
Robin Askwith as Sammy Cutforth
Paul Guess as Peter Cutforth
David Purcell as Les Parfitt
John Wentworth as Henry Castleton
Margaret Ashcroft as Margaret Castleton
Roy Purcell as Sergeant Watson
Jack Watson as Harry Selby
Morris Perry as Chief Supt Kellaway
Jack Woolgar as George Cutforth
Frederick Bartman as John Eldon
Michael Gwynn as Judge