A storyline almost worthy of Dennis Potter sees 8 part Granada teen drama serial The Intruder score perhaps a little higher than many of it’s contemporaries.
16 year old Arnold Haithwaite, something of a loner, is more than a little put out when his adoptive father allows the sinister Sonny (played with typical creepy elan by Milton Johns) to move into the family home. Arnold discovers that Sonny wants to turn the small seaside town of Skirlston into a proper tourist attraction. Arnold though is unsure of Sonny’s real motives.
A major sub-plot involves Arnold teaming up with friends Jane and Peter to try and discover the true facts of his parentage.
production details
UK / ITV – Granada / 8×25 minute episodes / Broadcast Sunday 6 February – 26 March 1972
Writers: Mervyn Haisman, Peter Plummer / Novel: John Rowe Townshend / Production Design: Peter Caldwell / Producer: Peter Plummer
cast
James Bate as Arnold Haithwaite
Sheila Ruskin as Jane Ellison
Simon Turner as Peter Ellison
Milton Johns as Sonny
Jack Woolgar as Ernest Haithwaite
Jean Alexander as Miss Binns
Maggie Don as Norma Benson
THE EPISODES
1. THE STRANGER
2. JANE
3. NORMA
4. MISS BINNS
5. PETER
6. JANE AGAIN
7. MAVIS
8. ME
