Skorpion (BBC-1 1983, Terrence Hardiman, Marianne Gorbo)

Spy drama series Skorpion saw Chief Superintendent Franks investigating a plane crash on the border between England and Scotland and discovering links to a terrorist cell operating out of Paris.

Very much a BBC thriller of it’s time, the first episode actually includes very little dialogue and lots of “mood music” from composer Simon May but things pick up once Terrence Hardiman’s Chief Superintendent Franks arrives on the scene.

The title sequence is quite interesting too featuring as they do a Tarantula crawling over a desk full of secret papers. All this even though the series called Skorpion although to be fair the title actually refers to a make of machine gun pistol.

The drama is the second of three thrillers, alongside Blood Money and Cold Warrior, to feature Captain Percival.

production details
UK / BBC-1 / 6×30 minute episodes / Broadcast 12 January – 16 February 1983

Writer: John Brason / Story: Arden Winch / Costumes: Valerie Green / Title Sequence: Michael Graham-Smith / Music: Simon May / Production Design: Campbell Gordon / Producer: Gerard Glaister / Director: Michael Hayes

cast
TERRENCE HARDIMAN as Chief Superintendent Franks
MARIANNE GORBO as Gabrielle
JACK McKENZIE as Chief Inspector Perry
DANIEL HILL as Inspector Clarke
NEVILLE JASON as Constant Delangre
TAMMY USTINOV as WPC Baker
DOROTHEA PHILLIPS as Celeste
ANNE-MARIE MARRIOTT as Michelle
MICHAEL ELDER as French Police Officer
ALEX LAREDO as Werner Werber
PETER PATTERSON as Railway Clerk