Girl in a Black Bikini

1 9 6 7 (UK)
6 x 30 minute episodes

This six-part BBC2 thriller written by John Roddick (who wrote for The Saint, No Hiding Place and Danger Man) aired in February and March 1967 and possessed a virtue rare in thrillers – it was notable for the absence of cliched dialogue and heavy-handed writing, direction or acting.

The story related the finding of a dress belonging to Lisa Martin a year after her death, in the exact spot where her body was recovered from the Thames. This find and the murder of a young man – played by future Blue Peter presenter Peter Purves – set up a chain of strange events.

The three central characters were barrister Robert Sheridan (John Carson), his daughter Kathy (Angela Scoular), and Detective Sergeant Napier (Glyn Houston).  Calvin Lockhart was the coffee club proprietor whose exaggerated air of non-involvement neatly reinforced the prevailing sense that everyone was hiding something.

Robert Sheridan
John Carson
Det. Sgt. Napier
Glyn Houston
Kathy Sheridan
Angela Scoular
Grace Heager
Jean Harvey
Det. Con. Ashwood
Brian Cant
Francis Heager
John Barron
Leo Pettit
Frederick Jaeger
Alan Ramsey
John Cater
Edward Mitchell
Brian Wilde
Lee Anderson
Calvin Lockhart
Jill
Anne Hardcastle
Ann Napier
Judy Parfitt
Horton
George Betton
Kim
Ros Drinkwater
Inspector
Frederick Hall
Peter Jarrett
Peter Purves