Armchair Thriller: The Limbo Connection (ITV 1978, James Bolam, Rosalind Ayres)

In Armchair Thriller serial The Limbo Connection film writer Mark Omney becomes sure that something sinister has happened to his newspaper journalist wife Clare after she pays a visit to a private “health” clinic and then disappears. It appears that somebody is doing there best to make it look like Clare has simply run off with a new lover but as Mark digs deeper into the the strange Meadowbank Clinic he becomes convinced that the secret to his wife’s disappearance lies in the activities of the staff of the Clinic. Drawn into helping Mark is old flame, actress Annabella Fraser.

James Bolam plays Omney with a great degree of world wearyness, Mark has been not only suffering from a bad case of writers block but is practically stumbling into alcoholism but funnily enough gains something of a sense of purpose in the search for his wife. The vibe of the story, which is very enjoyable and has some excellent dialogue, is akin to a Francis Durbridge Presents and Melissa in particular.

Each episode of The Limbo Connection also featured a very groovy opening narration recap, a bit like Crown Court, just in case we had forgotten what had happened previously or were new to the series. James Bolam as Mark Omney and Christopher Benjamin as Detective Inspector Tarrant.

production details
UK / ITV Network – Thames / 6×30 minute episodes / Broadcast 2 – 18 May 1978 (episodes twice weekly Tuesdays and Thursdays @ 8.30pm)

Writer: Philip Mackie / Novel: Derry Quinn / Script Executive: Joan Rodker / Theme Music: Andy Mackay / Incidental Music: Denis King / Story Editor: Robert Banks Stewart / Production Design: David Marshall / Producer: Jacqueline Davis / Director: Robert Tronson

Armchair Thriller Serial Five

cast
JAMES BOLAM as Mark Omney
ROSALIND AYRES as Annabella Fraser
MICHAEL CULVER as Dr Walcott Brown
BEATRIX LEAHMANN as Blanche Terraine
SUZANNE BERTISH as Clare Omney
JAMES BERWICK as Colonel Forde
GRAHAM ROWE as Mr Carson Clark
GEORGINE ANDERSON as Mrs Forde
PATRICIA LAWRENCE as Mrs Carson Clark
TRICIA GEORGE as Melissa Carson Clark
ARTHUR BLAKE as Mr Dyer
ISABELLE AYMES as Julie Villiers
AIMEE DELAMAIN as Mrs Franklyn
TONY MATHEWS as George Beatty
VASS ANDERSON as Soames
ALAN FORD as Bill
YVONNE EDGELL as Margaret
ANTON PHILLIPS as Barman
WILLIAM MOORE as Landlord
CHRISTOPHER BENJAMIN as Detective Inspector Tarrant
SAM SEWELL as Detective Constable Barnes
PETER WELCH as Mechanic
HAROLD GOODWIN as Kibble
FRANK DUNCAN as Recap Announcer