1 9 8 2 (UK)
4 x 50 minute episodes 1 9 8 4 (UK)
4 x 50 minute episodes
Henry Jay (Richard Griffiths) – a quiet 30-something civil servant in the Department of Commercial Development – is working on a case of computer fraud when, quite by chance, he unearths a massive financial conspiracy.
He decides to investigate further and, despite the close attentions of a shadowy organisation known as Le Pouvoir (“The Power”) – a loose federation of political, criminal, terrorist, intelligence, and police interests – and various bureaucratic attempts to silence him, Henry – who is pedantic and thorough to the point of fussiness – proves to be a determined detective.
Following the murder of his Fraud Squad associate, Richardson (Jim Broadbent), Henry goes on the run. Bidding goodbye to his bewildered wife, Anne (Carole Nimmons), he sells his stamp collection and sets up in a small rented flat, buying himself a powerful computer and borrowing network time from an old contact, discovering clues that point to the involvement of a Euro MP by the name of Hugo Jardine (Christopher Logue).
Meanwhile, Hendersley (Jeremy Child), Henry’s boss at the Department, assigns security officer Chambers (Trevor Martin) to work alongside Detective Sergeant Vine (Richard Ireson) to find Henry.
Following the success of this four-part drama, dubbed “a thriller for the electronic age”, a sequel (imaginatively titled Bird Of Prey 2), was made in 1984. In this, Henry – now on the run with his wife, Anne – continued to expose the murky activities of a revitalised Le Pouvoir.
Henry Jay
Richard Griffiths Anne Jay
Carole Nimmons Tony Hendersly
Jeremy Child Charles Bridgnorth
Nigel Davenport Harry Tompkins
Roger Sloman Rochelle Halliday
Ann Pennington Mario
Guido Adorni Dino
Eddie Mineo Hugo Jardine
Christopher Logue DI Richardson
Jim Broadbent DS Vine
Richard Ireson Chambers
Trevor Martin
He decides to investigate further and, despite the close attentions of a shadowy organisation known as Le Pouvoir (“The Power”) – a loose federation of political, criminal, terrorist, intelligence, and police interests – and various bureaucratic attempts to silence him, Henry – who is pedantic and thorough to the point of fussiness – proves to be a determined detective.
Henry Jay
