Shoestring: The Farmer Had A Wife (BBC-1 2 Nov 1980)

In The Farmer Had A Wife Eddie is drawn into a case involving the missing wife of farmer David Mortimer, all the locals in the village she is from are convinced that she was murdered by her husband but Eddie is not so sure. As he investigates though he discovers that Mortimer hasn’t exactly been forthcoming with the truth.

Quite a low key entry in the series but a guest appearance from the fabulous Ronald Hines makes this a must see episode, there is also an appearance from a very young Daniel Day-Lewis. Yes Eddie does take a semi-beating and there is an atypical tragic end that you can see coming but is still quite sad.

production details
UK / BBC One / 1×50 minute episode / Broadcast 2 November 1980 @ 9.05pm

Writer: William Hood / Production Design: John Hurst / Director: Paul Ciappessoni

Shoestring Season Two Episode Five

guest cast
RONALD HINES as David Mortimer
GARY WATSON as Christopher Knightley
YVONNE GILAN as Rosemary Mortimer
GAY HAMILTON as Claire Wilson
ANN WAY as Mrs Atwell
MOLLIE MAUREEN as Mother Superior
PAM ST CLEMENT as Gladys Robinson
KEVIN BRENNAN as Hong Kong Herbert
NATALIE SZYSZKO as Mary Clarke
DANIEL DAY-LEWIS as D.J.
CYRIL CROSS as Mr Sage
JOHN KIDD as Magistrate
CHARLES PEMBERTON as Court Officer
DAVID MILLET as Police Sergeant
TREVOR NICHOLS as Police Constable
IAN BRIMBLE as Rowing Rough
IAIN ANDERS as Joe (Bowls Man)
ARTHUR HEWLETT as Jim (Bowls Man)
SYLVIA JORDAN as Mrs Knightley
RALPH MORSE as Derek