Man At The Top: The Foreman’s Job At Last (ITV 4 Sep 1972, Stephanie Beacham)

The Foreman’s Job At Last  is the final episode of the whole series of Man At The Top. Joe is gearing up for the upcoming election in Warley, backed by his boss Lord Belmont and his father Abe Brown he is definitely a sure thing but when his beloved Uncle dies and his parliamentary team want to capitalise on it by holding a memorial service and high profile funeral for the old man Joe begins to realise that he is trapped. Susan is acting the dutiful wife for the promotional aspects of his running for parliament but she makes it clear to Joe that their marriage is completely over. Tired of all the games Joe makes a spur of the moment decision to tell it like it really is at his Uncle’s memorial….

Superb stuff with a brilliant ending that proves once again that Joe is absolutely his own man. He might be being given everything to him on a plate but the death of his uncle makes him realise he has completely lost his self respect. It also left things open enough for a third series but of course that didn’t happen, the events of the movie that appeared the following year though do follow on vaguely from this.

As well as the gorgeous Stephanie Beacham there is a guest appearance future cast member of The Brothers in the shape of Richard Easton who would go on to play one of the chief roles in that series as Brian Hammond. Here he plays a wealthy investment banker.

classic quote
“Don’t vote for me”

production details
UK | ITV Network – Thames

RUNNING TIME: 60 minutes | AIRDATE: 4 September 1972

WRITERS: Tom Brennand, Roy Bottomley | DIRECTOR: Mike Vardy

Man At The Top Season 2 Episode 13

cast
KENNETH HAIGH as Joe Lampton
ZENA WALKER as Susan Lampton
PAUL HARDWICK as Abe Brown
AVICE LANDON as Mrs Brown
RICHARD VERNON as Lord Belmont
STEPHANIE BEACHAM as Paula Fraser
PHILIP STONE as Arthur Stapleton
JOHN McKELVEY as Billy Sutcliffe
RICHARD EASTON as Pemberton
ROY BARRACLOUGH as Reporter