The Day Of The Janitor (ITV Playhouse, Arthur Whybrow)

In comedy drama The Day Of The Janitor, a mild mannered maintenance supervisor in an office block is more interested in paelantology than in what is going on around him but when he is ignored by one of the companies in the block he plans a sweet revenge, especially after he is called in to fix a leak. From that moment on the the company in his power.

Speaking to the TV Times for the week of the dramas broadcast author Chris Wilkins said it was the sudden, startling revelation that the humble anchovy has the power to put the world’s corn markets in a turmoil that helped inspire The Day of the Janitor, his second play for tele-vision and this Wednesday’s Playhouse presentation.

Wilkins, creative director with one of the country’s top advertising agencies, explains “Some time ago I was involved with a company dealing in corn for cooking oil when the cost went up. It turned out that Peru’s anchovy crop had failed and the increased demand for corn as alternative animal meal affected the price.”

Cast: ARTHUR WHYBROW as Washbrook / EDWARD DE SOUZA as Daniel / JOHN BASKCOMB as Darby / SARAH MARTIN as Caroline / RICHARD DURDEN as Roger / RONALD LACEY as Julius / STELLA TANNER as Dolly / IRENE SUTCLIFFE as Miss Walsh / HARRY LITTLEWOOD as O’Connor

Writer: Christopher Wilkins / Production Design: Anthony Cartledge / Producer: Michael Dunlop / Executive Producer: John Frankau / Director: Baz Taylor

UK / ITV – Thames (for the Playhouse strand) / 1×60 minute episode / Broadcast Wednesday 8 July 1981 @ 9.00pm

Alastair James is the editor-in-chief of Memorable TV, leading the charge in covering today's must-see television. A lifelong television enthusiast, his passion began with a deep dive into the world of classic sci-fi, culminating in his role as editor of "Beyond the Static," a publication devoted to celebrating iconic sci-fi series. While his love for classic television remains, Alastair's focus at Memorable TV is firmly on the present, analyzing the latest trends in the television landscape, from gripping crime dramas to the ever-evolving strategies of Survivor. His insights have been featured in numerous publications. At Memorable TV, Alastair's goal is to provide readers with sharp commentary, engaging reviews, and in-depth analysis of the shows dominating the current conversation.