Armchair Thriller: Dead Man’s Kit (ITV 1980, Larry Lamb, Cherie Lunghi)

In Armchair Thriller serial Dead Man’s Kit chief petty officer Chalky White is investigating the strange death of the master at arms aboard his ship HMS Diana. Convinced that Lt Cmdr Kabal, an exchange officer currently working on the Diana is to blame White digs further only to find himself targeted by Naval Intelligence who have their own reasons for keeping an eye on Kabal. Things begin to turn really difficult for White when another body turns up.

Dead Man’s Kit was one of two stories made by Southern Television rather than Thames and often not included in Armchair Thriller write ups but definitely part of the canon.

Nothing psychological about the story which is very much a straightforward thriller but entertaining and with some good names amongst the cast. It seems before Maurice Colbourne was the nice guy in Howard’s Way he specialised somewhat in playing criminal types.

Ships used in the filming were H.M.S’s Russell, Diamond, Apollo and June.

production details
UK / ITV Network – Southern / 4×30 minute episodes / Broadcast 29 January – 7 February 1980

Writer: Tom McClenaghan / Costumes: Serena Brown / Music: Andy Roberts / Production Design: John Dilly / Producer: Andrew Brown / Director: Colin Bucksey

cast
LARRY LAMB as Chief Petty Officer Chalky White
CHERIE LUNGHI as Stephanie
PHILIP LOCKE as Commander Lloyd
MAURICE COLBOURNE as Lieutenant Commander Kobahl
CLIVE MERRISON as Commander Maybury
ROBERT OATES as Dave
PAUL KEMBER as Peters
FREDDIE FLECHER as M.A.A. Toberman
NELL CAMPBELL as Zoe Summers
MICK FORD as “Drunken” Duncan
JAMIE FOREMAN as Operator 1
JULIAN LITTMAN as Mouth Organist
DAVID TOGURI as Chinese Laundry Man
VICTORIA FAIRBROTHER as Jean Toberman
RICHARD KANE as Winterman
WILLIAM RUSSELL as Senior Officer
ANGELA MORANT as Mrs Kobahl
TIMOTHY BLOCK as Operator
BARRY WOOLGAR as Dockyard Policeman
DAVID ELLISON as Naval Patrolman
JULIA McCARTHY as Housekeeper
TIM BLOCK as Operator 2
O.T. as Russian Officer
DAVID ELLISON as Russian Patrolman

• Armchair Thriller: Quiet As A Nun (ITV Drama, Maria Aitken)

• Armchair Thriller: The Girl Who Walked Quickly (ITV 1978, Denis Lawson)

• Armchair Thriller: Rachel In Danger (ITV 1978, Stephen Greif)

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

• Armchair Thriller: The Circe Complex (ITV 1980, Trevor Martin, James Hazledine)

• Armchair Thriller: A Dog’s Ransom (ITV 1978, Zena Walker)

• Dangerous Knowledge (ITV Thriller, John Gregson, Patrick Allen)

• Play For Today: The Bankrupt (BBC 1972, Joss Ackland)

• Hamlet at Elsinore (BBC 1964, Christopher Plummer, Robert Shaw)

• A Handful of Thieves (BBC One 1969, Helen Worth, Martin Ratcliffe)

• Hands Across the Sea (BBC, 1938, Nadine March, Nicholas Phipps)

• My Son Reuben (Thames 1975, Bernard Spear, Lila Kaye,)

• The Franchise Affair (BBC 1962, Rosalie Crutchley, Michael Aldridge)

• The Galactic Garden