Danedyke Mystery, The

1 9 7 9 (UK)
6 x 30 minute episodes

Granada presented this thriller serial for children with a vicar as the hero.

The Reverend Septimus Treloar (Michael Craig) was a former Chief Inspector who had put his police days behind him and now operated from his church in the village of Danedyke St Mary.

One night, his organist Mrs Crowle (Fanny Rowe) was attacked by the church ghost – but as Septimus deduced, what sort of ghost goes around knocking people out? It is thought that the perpetrator may well be after Our Lady’s Cup, a religious relic that has been in the church for several centuries.

Septimus is confused, though. Surely no professional thief would come looking for such an unremarkable piece of silverware unaware that it currently resides in a bank vault?

In fact, the weasly Major (Kenneth Colley) and his burly henchman, Armchair (John Rhys-Davies) are after the long lost golden cup, the original work of art that is much, much older and may well still be hidden somewhere in the church of St Marys.

Septimus was assisted by Angela Horton (Tessa Peake-Jones) and Tom Richards (Derek Thompson) in this rather sedate programme that wasn’t an obvious choice for a children’s serial.

Rev. Septimus Treloar
Michael Craig
The Major
Kenneth Colley
Angela Horton
Tessa Peake-Jones
Armchair
John Rhys-Davies
Narrator
David Sumner
Tom Richards
Derek Thompson
Russell Skingle
Adrian Delaney
Dr Henry Simmonds
Preston Lockwood
Det. Insp. Burroughs
Peter Vaughan
Sir James Carruthers
Jeremy Child
Mary Crowle
Fanny Rowe