Bird of Prey/Bird Of Prey 2

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