Callan: Wet Job (ITV 1981, Edward Woodward, Russell Hunter)

Wet Job was a one-off and surprising TV Movie return for classic spy drama Callan, which had last been seen on TV in 1972.

Callan has retired from the Department, runs his own military memorabilia shop called ‘The Old Brigade’ and is living with a woman called Margaret. Lonely has also moved on. He has a successful plumbing business and is engaged to be married.

But you are never retired when you work for The Department, and when Callan hears from the new Hunter that his services are required he discovers that a man named Hagggerty is writing a tell-all book which names Callan as a professional killer. Hunter tells Callan that it is a non-Departmental matter, and that it is between Callan and Haggarty. Callan enlists Lonely’s aid, gets his magnum pistol out of storage at the bank and prepares to kill once again.

production details
UK / ITV – ATV / 1×90 minute episode / Broadcast 2 September 1981

Writer: James Mitchell / Music: Cyril Ornadel / Production Design: David Chandler / Producer and Director: Shaun O’Riordan.

cast
Edward Woodward as David Callan
Russell Hunter as Lonely
Hugh Walters as Hunter
Felicity Harrison as Liz
Angela Browne as Margaret Channing
George Sewell as Haggerty
Helen Bourne as Lucy Smith
Anthony Smee as Thorne
Milos Kirek as Dobrovsky
Donald Hoath as Radlett
Philip Bird as Jebb
David Cann as Cawthorne
Gordon Kane as Pardoe
Josie Kidd as Mrs Radlett
Jeremy Gittins as Robin Miller
Mark Draper as Young Man
Philip Manikum as Tim