In Shock Tactics Kingdom and Ward investigate the strange death of a woman apparently killed by her husband after a practical joke goes wrong.
The episode does open with Archer scaring his wife by plunging the house into darkness when she returns home and then jumps out on her wearing a mask so we are left in no doubt that he did scare his wife to death but as the investigation continues his cries of practical joke don’t ring true – especially as he has been having an affair for some time.
The excellent Sheila Gish guest stars as the other woman who eventually starts to realise she might be in love with a madman and there are also small roles for the fabulous Ray Smith, Artro Morris and Frank Middlemass.
production details
UK / ITV – London Weekend Television / 1×50 minute episode / Broadcast Saturday 27 May 1972 at 7.00pm
Writer: Patrick Alexander / Production Design: John Clements / Director: John Reardon
Series: New Scotland Yard Season 1 Episode 6
cast
John Woodvine as John Kingdom
John Carlisle as Alan Ward
John Normington as Robert Archer
Joyce Cummings as Pauline Archer
Artro Morris as Detective Inspector Tug Wilson
Frank Middlemass as Dr Percy Bull
Derrick Gilbert as P.C. Peters
Sheila Gish as Kay Stevens
Pauline Stroud as W.P.C. Fry
Ray Smith as Arthur Clevedon Q.C.
John Quentin as Reginald Davidge Q.C.
Hugh Morton as Judge
Mischa de la Motte as Court Clerk
Anthony Higginson as Jury Foreman
Gareth Forbes as Detective Constable
