This tense thriller of international political intrigue dramatised the events surrounding the combined attempts of an IRA and Arab (PLO) terrorist, McCoy (Aaron Harris) and Famy (Gary Brown) – the “Glory Boys” of the title – to assassinate Professor David Sokarev (Rod Steiger), an Israeli nuclear scientist who – disillusioned with his work – wished to seek political asylum in Britain.
The task of safeguarding Sokarev’s life was handed to Jones (Alfred Burke), the head of British security, who reluctantly handed the assignment to Jimmy (Anthony Perkins), a down-on-his-luck whiskey-swilling security agent.
The story depicted Jimmy’s attempts to keep Sokarev alive by staying one jump ahead of the terrorists as they threaded their way to their target through the body-strewn streets of London.
The New Avengers star Joanna Lumley played Jimmy’s girlfriend, Helen, who was also Jones’ secretary.
The miniseries from Yorkshire Television – which aired on ITV on consecutive nights in October 1984 – was overlong but impressive (apart from Perkins’ attempt at an English accent, which was about as Cockney as the Queen).
The series (Yorkshire TV’s most expensive drama project to date) was adapted from a novel of the same name by former ITN newsman Gerald Seymour.
Arriving in England to film the series, Anthony Perkins was arrested at Heathrow Airport when authorities found eight grams of marijuana and three spots of LSD in his possession. He pleaded guilty and was fined £100.
Professor David Sokarev
Rod Steiger Jimmy
Anthony Perkins Philip Jones
Alfred Burke Helen
Joanna Lumley Norah
Sallyanne Law Cillian McCoy
Aaron Harris Famy
Gary Brown Mrs Sokarev
Sheila Allen Mackiewicz
Michael J Jackson
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The task of safeguarding Sokarev’s life was handed to Jones (Alfred Burke), the head of British security, who reluctantly handed the assignment to Jimmy (Anthony Perkins), a down-on-his-luck whiskey-swilling security agent.
