Target: Big Elephant (BBC-1 23 Sep 1977 with Katy Manning)

UK | BBC One

RUNNING TIME: 50 minutes | AIRDATE: 23 September 1977

WRITERS: Bob Baker and Dave Martin | DIRECTOR: Douglas Camfield

Series: Target / Season 1 Episode 3

In Big Elephant Hackett’s plans to bring down local big wig drug dealer Mr Cetti are upset somewhat when a sailor called Sharkey runs off with half a million pounds worth of heroin. Not knowing anything about it he believes it to be fifty quids worth of hash but after teaming up with a junkie called Joanne and heading off to London he soon realises he is well out of his depth. Hackett follows him and sets up a plan to bring down Cetti.

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An extremely full on episode complete with guest appearance from Katy Manning who throws off the shackles of her Doctor Who years by stripping off and playing a junkie going through a harrowing cold turkey. Despite losing control of the case when Sharkey heads to the big smoke Hackett shows no mercy in following and bringing Cetti even if the cost is higher than he anticipated. Strong stuff indeed.

cast
PATRICK MOWER as Hackett
PHILIP MADOC as Tate
BRENDAN PRICE as Bonney
VIVIEN HEILBRON as Colbert
KEN HUTCHINSON as Sharkey
KATY MANNING as Joanne
WALTER RANDALL as Cetti
TERRY COWLING as Gane
HUGH FRASER as Sgt Foster
ALAN REBBECK as Pink
STEPHEN HATTON as Des
RICHARD DOMFE as Roy
ANDREW BRADFORD as Student
DEREK MARTIN as Taxi Driver
NORMAN HARTLEY as Customs Officer

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