Playhouse: The Substitute (ITV 1972 with Adrian Shergold)

In ITV Playhouse drama The Substitute young Rod is finding it hard going living in one of the new inner-city tower blocks. His brother has just been signed by Manchester City football club but his dad is having a hard time coping with his homing pigeons. Rod would love a place of his own but his mum won’t let him. He realises his only option is to dig an escape tunnel – something that won’t be easy living six stories up.

No particularly big names in this edition of Playhouse which was written by Barrie Keefe. Lois Baxter would score a few prominent roles later in the decade including a regular role in When The Boat Comes In. Meanwhile Michael Kitchen would of course go on to be a big name (most recently as Foyle in Foyle’s War). Tommy Godfrey was a well known character actor and popped up in many a sitcom in the 1970’s from Love Thy Neighbour to George and Mildred.

Godfrey plays a talent scout in The Substitute and during his early days in variety he also worked as a talent scout for Wolverhampton Wanderers.

production details

UK / ITV – Granada / 1×60 minute episode / Broadcast Tuesday 27 June 2016 at 9.00pm

Writer: Barrie Keefe / Production Designer: Michael Grimes / Producer: Peter Beckersley / Director: Baz Taylor

cast
Adrian Shergold as Rod
James Ottaway as Dad
Hilda Fenemore as Mother
Trevor Adams as Andy
Lois Baxter as Nina
Reg Lye as Bert
Michael Kitchen as Jimmy
Tommy Godfrey as Harry
Rita Howard as Mrs Parker
Meg Johnson as Janice
Peter Dudley as Photographer