This comedy series from the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC) started life in December 1971 as a pilot called Our Man in Canberra which followed newly-elected MP Humphrey Sullivan (Jeff Ashby) as he muddled his way through his new role in parliament.
The series was due to air in June 1972 but production was halted just weeks beforehand due to an alleged breach of the Australian Broadcasting and Television Act that prohibited dramatisation “of any political matter which is current or was current at any time during the last five preceding years”.
Many were suspicious that the real reason was government pressure on the national broadcaster from those who thought the show’s political satire hit too close to the mark.
The show was scrapped – until a federal election in December 1972 saw a change of power in government and fresh support from the new Commissioner on the ABC Boartd.
Sullivan and his activities were then translated to the world of big business, although only a very thin veil disguised the roots of its satire. The cast was the same and several of the scripts were adapted and reused.
Humphrey Sullivan was now a newly-appointed company executive in the exports department of a large corporation. Katy Wilde was his wife, Kate, and Delore Whiteman was his housekeeper, Mrs Wheeler. Walter Sullivan played the Company Director with Benita Collings as his secretary.
Humphrey Sullivan
Jeff Ashby Kate Sullivan
Katy Wild The Director
Walter Sullivan Mrs Ena Wheeler
Delore Whiteman Turner
Benita Collings Clayton
Anthony Ingersent Men in Pub
Graham Rouse
Lex Mitchell
Episodes
Vacancy on the Board | Never Let It Be Said | A Row of Dots | Principle and Interest | Scarlet Woman | Let Women Go Free | Rural Crisis || Carnival Night in Lumpy’s Flat | Never Dance with a Man in Shiny Shoes | Sweet Fanny Adams | Two in One | Favour for a Friend | Red Alert | Follow the Leader | Poor Little Thing
