Special Branch: Hostage (ITV 27 Jun 1973 with Michael Gambon)

In Hostage an arab terrorist group called The Black October Group take a German diplomat’s daughter hostage demanding a quarter of a million dollars in ransom money. It’s a tense situation, the Muller’s will do anything to get their daughter back but Special Branch know that do what the kidnappers want is not alway the best policy.

In action packed third act Craven, Haggerty and North (along with an armed response team) track the kidnappers to an abandoned factory at the docks. A deadly shootout leaves the terrorists dead but the girl safe.

Michael Gambon plays German diplomat Muller.

Alan and Pam are going through some serious relationship issues, she is pretty tired of constantly taking second place and he seems to be avoiding. In a terse get together Alan won’t say that he loves her and tells her to leave him alone looking that that might be the end of things.

Dr Who favourite Elizabeth Sladen plays a WPC looking after Frau Muller.

Brian Wilde previously appeared in season two episode twelve’s Reported Missing.

Brian Wilde makes his second Special Branch appearance.

production details
UK / ITV – Thames / 1×50 minute episode / Broadcast Wednesday 27 June 1973 at 9.00pm

Writer: John Kershaw / Director: David Wickes

Series: Special Branch Season 3 Episode 12

Elizabeth Sladen as a WPC

cast
George Sewell as Craven
Patrick Mower as Haggerty
Roger Rowland as North
Sheila Scott-Wilkinson as Pam Sloane
Michael Gambon as Muller
Ann Lynn as Frau Muller
Karen Stark as Hilda Muller
Richard Butler as Cmrd Nicholls
Brian Wilde as Munro
Peter Marshall as Boy
Mark Eden as Sub-editor
Elizabeth Sladen as WPC
Nadim Sawalha as First Arab
Perry Soblosky as Second Arab
Patsy Trench as Arab Girl
Peter Marshall as Schoolboy
Zara Daley as Schoolgirl
Nigel Baguley
Julia McCarthy
Nigel Lambert
Stacy Davies
Keith James
John Flint
William Ellis
Alan Helm
John Hartley
Peter Laird