Company of Five

1 9 6 8 (UK)
6 x 50 minute episodes

This weekly drama series from London Weekend Television starred a repertory company comprising just five players (hence the title) – John Neville, Gwen Watford, Ann Bell, Cyril Luckham and Ray Smith.

The series premiered on Sunday 3 November 1968, with ‘Arthur Gifford Is Alive and Well in Stoke Newington’ (by Leon Griffiths) – a bizarre drama about an elderly eccentric named Quinn (John Neville) and his extraordinary plan to kidnap the titular Labour Exchange clerk (Ray Smith), believing him to be missing Nazi party leader, Martin Bormann, who escaped after World War II.

In ‘Shaggy Dog’ (by Dennis Potter), a no-nonsense businessman named Mr Wilkie (Neville) was interviewed for a position with a top-of-the-line hotel chain. During the interview, Wilkie attempted to complete a shaggy-dog story and his frustrations led to a total breakdown. Eventually snapping completely, he pulled a gun on the interviewers (Luckham and Smith).

In ‘Thank U Very Much for the Family Circle’ (by Cecil P Taylor), door-to-door HP salesman Peter Sinclair (Neville) was the epitome of selfishness. He preferred status symbols to children; his father-in-law had paid for his bungalow, and he was partly supported by his wife. The crisis finally came when he wanted an expensive car – and someone to pay for it.

‘This Isn’t Just One of Those Physical Things’ (by Julian Bond) featured Neville and Watford as a middle-aged married couple in a marital comedy of manners directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg.

‘Stand By Your Screen’ (by Roy Minton) had Chris Gritter (Neville) in revolt against suburban conformity – a revolt inspired by a chance incident which caused him to withdraw entirely from his life as an ordinary working man.

He continued to live in his parents’ house (behind screens in their living room), but a curious relationship developed between them. The elder Gritters (played by Watford and Luckham) – unable to accept any disturbance to their status quo – simply ignored his existence. It was a situation hard to sustain with someone who talked so incessantly and so provocatively as Christopher.

The final play, ‘Gareth’ (by Alun Owen), again teamed Neville and Watford as husband and wife in the story of a politician who had lost his way in life. The director was Alan Clarke.

Episodes

Arthur Gifford Is Alive and Well in Stoke Newington | Shaggy Dog | Thank U Very Much for the Family Circle | This Isn’t Just One of Those Physical Things | Stand by Your Screen | Gareth