Armchair Thriller

1978 - 1981

Rachel in Danger (Part 1)

21st February 1978

Episode 1

"Shall we meet the Queen? " Peter Warmington returns to England after a long spell teaching at a university in South America. Immediately upon his return, he spots an old acquaintance called Juan whom he enthusiastically invites back to his new flat. Unfortunately, he has no inkling that his "friend" is actually a terrorist, who quickly murders his host and assumes his identity in order to carry out a political assassination. But Juan himself does not realise that Warmington's 10 year old daughter is en route to London to spend her holidays with the father she has never seen. When Rachel arrives at the train station, the transit police become concerned when no-one seems to have arrived to collect her. They take her under their wing and send an officer round to her father's flat to investigate. Taken by surprise, Juan manages to bluff his way through the resultant questions when he arrives to collect his "daughter" from the station. Fortunately for him, Rachel does not suspect anything and the only photograph she has of her father is too indistinct to be of any use. Although slightly uneasy about the whole business, the police hand over Rachel to Juan but - as the sergeant asks a constable as they are leaving - "Why did he take his glasses off to look at the photo..?" Arriving back at the flat, Juan introduces Rachel to her "stepmother" Aiyako - in fact another terrorist. Aiyako and another member of the organisation, Hassel, want the girl killed but Juan manages to convince them to continue with the deception as he believes that Rachel is an asset to their mission. The object of that mission soon becomes clear when Juan cheerfully asks the girl "We've been invited to a royal garden party, Rachel...would you like to go?" As preparations for their mission move into full gear, an unexpected complication arises when, appalled, Rachel finds the body of her dead father in the linen closet. Uncertain of who the man is, she manages to leave behind a message for the police when Juan takes her to have a dress fitted for the party. Attempting an escape, she is caught by Juan and taken back to the flat where the three agree that she must be killed after the mission has been completed. However a fourth member, Wormald, disagrees strongly and virtually blackmails the others into allowing him to take Rachel back to her home in Scotland afterwards. Caught in a bind, the "organisation" agrees and Wormald spends a fearful night alone in hiding. As time slips away, the little girl's message is discovered by the police...but it already may be too late, as Rachel, Juan and Aiyako arrive at the royal reception, invitations in hand, ready to meet the Queen...

Rachel in Danger (Part 2)

23rd February 1978

Episode 2

Rachel meets her supposed stepmother--in reality, another member of a terrorist group with plans for the upcoming Royal Garden Party at the palace. The conspirators are divided over whether to dispose of Rachel or use her as a front.

Rachel in Danger (Part 3)

28th February 1978

Episode 3

One of the team gets cold feet about killing a kid. Left to her own devices, Rachel tries to get a message to the police. She seizes her chance on a shopping outing for the next day's royal event.

Rachel in Danger (Part 4)

Episode 4

Too late, the police uncover the plot against the palace. Rachel's "father" has his target in his sights, while her "stepmother" has her hands on the girl's throat. Unable to rely on the adults in her world, Rachel must find a way to save herself.

A Dog's Ransom (Part 1)

Episode 5

"Tiiii-na...good dog...Tiiii-na...come heeeerrre..." Edward and Gina Reynolds are an affluent but lonely middle class couple living in Chelsea. Devoted to each other, their other great joy is their white poodle Tina, whom they look upon almost as a child. But a series of unpleasant letters that begin to arrive on a daily basis threaten their cosy lifestyle, with the unknown sender accusing Mr Reynolds of being a "snob" with a "snob dog". Though distressed, they pass the letters off as the work of a crank until their beloved Tina vanishes in the park one night. After searching high and low, they soon discover her fate when another letter arrives and demands 200 pounds for the return of the dog. They acquiesce, and Edward Reynolds leaves the sum between the railings of a fence that evening. But the dog is not returned, and another letter arrives demanding still more money. Turning to the police, Mr Reynolds receives no joy when they fail to take the matter seriously. However a young, ambitious constable named Clarence Duhamel believes he can help the Reynolds and visits their flat with the intention of helping them in his own time. Sadly, unbeknownst to everyone, the dog is already dead - drowned at the hands of a Polish sociopath named Kowajinski. Using confidential information gleaned from his social worker girlfriend Marion, constable Duhamel or "Clarrie" as he is known stumbles across the dognapper and demands the return of the poodle to the Reynolds. However Clarrie does not reckon on the vindictive, bitter nature of Kowajinski, and quickly finds himself outwitted by the old man and accused of taking a bribe. Now under official investigation, Duhamel is pushed into a show of strength as he faces the ire of his police colleagues, who dislike him because of his Cambridge background. One detective in particular - Choley - despises Clarrie, whom he derogatively refers to as "Girlie". Clarrie turns to the Reynolds, whom he feels an affinity with and who begin to look upon him as their own son. Kowajinksi, meanwhile, is released and becomes intent on teaching the interfering constable and his traitor girlfriend a lesson. He begins to watch Susie's flat, and even sends her obscene packages. Enraged, Clarrie trails Kowajinki and beats him so badly that he appears to die. But, in a complete co-incidence, the constable himself is subsequently knifed by football hooligans only a few blocks away, and the thugs escape with the truncheon Clarrie had beaten the old man with. After recovering at the Reynold's, Clarrie faces a new series of accusations surrounding Kowajinsk's death. Despairing and alone, he confides to the Reynolds that he beat the old man to death...but how is he to know that Kowajinski in fact died of strangulation, and that he is in far greater danger than he could ever have imagined?

A Dog's Ransom (Part 2)

Episode 6

Despite complying with the kidnapper's demands, Tina isn't safely returned to her owners as agreed. A smart young copper from the local force (who took the couple's problem seriously) decides to investigate - despite the indifference and cynicism of his police colleagues.

A Dog's Ransom (Part 3)

14th March 1978

Episode 7

Thanks to Clarence's intervention, the dog kidnapper is apprehended and charged. But the CID officers' cynicism towards the case continues, leaving Clarence in a position of distrust, and the dog's owners vulnerable.

A Dog's Ransom (Part 4)

16th March 1978

Episode 8

Clarence is suspended from the police after accepting an alleged bribe from the bailed Kowajinski, and his girlfriend is being targeted by him (and the police) now too. After spotting Kowajinski spying on her flat, Clarence has had enough, and follows him to finally confront him.

A Dog's Ransom (Part 5)

21st March 1978

Episode 9

Clarence found Kowajinski and attacked him in a fit of rage - before he himself was attacked and hospitalised by a group of hooligans the same night. With Kowajinski now dead, and the bribery charges dropped, he is living with the Reynoldses after being dumped by Marion. But, as police investigation into Kowajinski's death increases, Clarence is left to his fate.

A Dog's Ransom (Part 6)

23rd March 1978

Episode 10

The police investigation into Kowajinski's death continues, with Clarence still their number one suspect. After a night of intense interrogation, they finally let him go - but is it really the end?

The Girl Who Walked Quickly (Part 1)

28th March 1978

Episode 11

When young student David Cooper (Denis Lawson) disappears, both his girlfriend and his tutor suspect he is in danger. David has a paralysing fear of lifts and other confined spaces and, while the duo are searching for him, his phobia is proving invaluable to a menacing group of people with a sinister and ruthlessly violent agenda.

The Girl Who Walked Quickly (Part 2)

30th March 1978

Episode 12

While Dave's girlfriend and his tutor desperately make inquiries to solve his disappearance, the political group who have brainwashed him send him out to do their dirty work - or is it just a dress rehearsal for what's really being planned?

The Girl Who Walked Quickly (Part 3)

Episode 13

No overview available.

The Girl Who Walked Quickly (Part 4)

Episode 14

No overview available.

Quiet as a Nun (Part 1)

20th April 1978

Episode 15

A reporter is asked to look into the mysterious death of a nun who died in a locked room at a convent.

Quiet as a Nun (Part 2)

25th April 1978

Episode 16

Shore learns that Sister Miriam had recently inherited a fortune. While one nun warns Shore to get out while she can, another is all too eager to confide her suspicions.

Quiet as a Nun (Part 3)

27th April 1978

Episode 17

No overview available.

Quiet as a Nun (Part 4)

Episode 18

No overview available.

Quiet as a Nun (Part 5)

Episode 19

No overview available.

Quiet as a Nun (Part 6)

Episode 20

No overview available.

The Limbo Connection (Part 1)

Episode 21

After a bout of heavy drinking, Mark Omney cannot account for his movements over the last 12 hours. When he sobers up, he learns that his wife Clare, has had a car accident.

The Limbo Connection (Part 2)

Episode 22

Omney suspects that Clare is being held against her will at Meadowbank Clinic. Or has she finally left him, sick of his drunken and aggressive behavior?

The Limbo Connection (Part 3)

Episode 23

For help, Omney turns to Annabelle Fraser, his old girlfriend. He is convinced that a conspiracy is afoot--and that Clare is sending him covert messages.

The Limbo Connection (Part 4)

Episode 24

Omney attends the funeral of one of the clinic's former residents, suspecting his wife's body lies inside the coffin. Later that night, he and Annabelle return to find out for themselves.

The Limbo Connection (Part 5)

Episode 25

The police catch Omney red-handed, and a deadly attack leaves him with only one way out.

The Limbo Connection (Part 6)

Episode 26

Omney turns up the heat on Meadowbank, which is forced into the most desperate of measures.

Top Cast

Ian McKellen•Marc Zuber•Lorna Yabsley

Armchair Thriller is a British television programme, broadcast on ITV in two series in 1978 and 1980. Owing something to some of the off-shoots of the earlier Armchair Theatre, the new series used scripts adapted from published novels and stories. Although not properly a horror series it included several supernatural elements. Armchair Thriller was produced by Thames Television, but it included serials made by Southern Television. The format was of a twice weekly 25 minute episodes, usually screened on a Tuesday or Thursday at 20:00-21:00.

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Full Cast

Ian McKellen Image

Ian McKellen

Anthony Skipling

Marc Zuber

Lorna Yabsley

Sue Craig

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Andrew Brown

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