Frighteners, The (ITV 1972-1973, John Thaw, Ian Hendry)

The Frighteners was a shot on film anthology series of half hour suspense stories mostly about ordinary people threatened by situations out of their control. They all tended to have a bit of a sting in the tail too. Some fell a little flat but one or two were superb especially The Manipulators and The Disappearing Man.

The half hour format kept the stories tight and the writing and casting was excellent. Writers included Andrea Newman, Mike Hodges, Brian Phelan and Wilfred Greatorex.

Well known names appearing included John Thaw, Ian Hendry, Tom Bell, Warren Clarke, Brian Glover, Bryan Marshall, Michael Craig, Ian Holm, Jack Hedley and Talfryn Thomas.

Like similar series Shadows of Fear, the opening titles are quite creepy.

The broadcast dates below refer to it’s airing in London region. Although most regions did show the series they didn’t show it at the same time. Tom Bell in the opening episode The Minder

production details
UK / ITV – London Weekend Television / 13×25 minute episodes / Broadcast 7 July 1972 – 3 June 1973

Script Editor: John Burke / Producer: Paul Knight / Executive Producer: Peter Wildeblood

THE EPISODES
1. THE MINDER (7 Jul 72)
2. NIGHT OF THE STAG (14 Jul 72)
3. OLD COMRADES (21 Jul 72)
4. THE MANIPULATORS (28 Jul 72)
5. THE DISAPPEARING MAN (4 Aug 72)
6. FIRING SQUAD (11 Aug 72)
7. MISS MOUSE (25 Aug 72)
8. THE TREAT (1 Sep 72)
9. BED AND BREAKFAST (8 Sep 72)
10. YOU REMIND ME OF SOMEONE (23 Sep 72)
11. THE SCHOOLROOM (13 May 73)
12. GLAD TO BE OF HELP (20 May 73)
13. HAVE A NICE TIME AT THE ZOO, DARLING (3 Jun 73)