Special Branch: Love From Doris (ITV 7 Oct 1970, with Georgina Hale)

In Love From Doris Special Branch investigate a pen pal agency that seems to be targeting lonely servicemen. It seems that several of the men have revealed information about secret work they are involved with. Is there more to the agency than meets the eye?

Jordan and his team put the agency, run by two men called Costello and Banks, under surveillance, it’s clear that the agency is upto no good – despite having lots of regular pen pals on their books they keep all the military ones for themselves, try to get info from them and then sell the info on to the Russians.

A good fun episode, Jordan takes great delight in tying Banks and Costello up in knots, sending them letters and making phone calls from the Doris they themselves invented. Georgina Hale as Lisa.

The real highlight of the episode though is the excellent guest appearance from the fabulous Georgina Hale as the wife of Drysdale (who has the actual contact with the Russians), she is also having an affair with Banks.

production details
UK / ITV – Thames / 1×50 minute episode / Broadcast Wednesday 7 October 1970 at 9.00pm

Writer: C. Scott Forbes / Production Design: Colin Andrews / Director: John Andrews

Series: Special Branch Season 2 Episode 9

cast
Derren Nesbitt as Jordan
Fulton Mackay as Inman
Alister Williamson as Det Sgt Miller
Georgina Hale as Lisa
James Marcus as L.A.C. Higgs
Richard Sampson as Group Captain
John Woodnutt as Major Carter
Dermoy Tuohy as Costello
Mona Hammond as Veronica
Hugh Futcher as Cotterill
Ray Barron as Banks
Anne Rutter as Det Constable Simpson
Ken Haward as Porter
Kevin Stoney as Drysdale