Campion (1989 TV series)

Campion is a British television mystery drama first broadcast on the BBC on 22 January 1989.[1] Each of the eight stories featured across the two series, broadcast in 1989 and 1990 respectively, are adapted from the Albert Campion mystery novels written by Margery Allingham. The series starred Peter Davison as Albert Campion, Brian Glover as his manservant Magersfontein Lugg and Andrew Burt as his policeman friend Stanislaus Oates.

Campion
Peter Davison as Campion with his Lagonda
GenreMystery drama
Created byMargery Allingham
Developed byJohn Hawkesworth
Written byMargery Allingham Jeremy Paul
StarringPeter Davison
Brian Glover
Andrew Burt
ComposerNigel Hess
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series2
No. of episodes16 (list of episodes)
Production
ProducersKen Riddington
Jonathan Alwyn
CinematographyJohn Baker
Nigel Walters
Running time50 minutes
Production companiesConsolidated Productions
WGBH Boston
Original release
NetworkBBC1
Release22 January 1989 (1989-01-22) –
16 March 1990 (1990-03-16)

Four novels were adapted for each series, each of which was originally broadcast as two separate hour-long episodes. Davison himself sang the title music for the first series; in the second series, it was replaced with an instrumental version. A Lagonda 16/80 featured extensively in the series. The car used in the series is now kept in Germany.

The complete series was released on DVD on 12 May 2008, distributed by Acorn Media UK.[2]

Cast

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Episodes

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Series 1 (1989)

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No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
1"Look to the Lady"Martyn FriendAlan Plater22 January 1989 (1989-01-22)
29 January 1989

Campion learns that a mediaeval relic called the Gyrth Chalice, which for hundreds of years has been in the care of the Gyrth family at the village of Sanctuary, is threatened by an international gang of art thieves. For the Gyrths the stakes are high – if they lose the Chalice, their country estate will revert to the Crown. Campion travels to Sanctuary with Val Gyrth, and almost at once Val's aunt Lady Diana is found dead in the middle of a wood, apparently frightened to death... it seems the gang is already on the job.

Guest stars: Gordon Jackson, Barbara Jefford, John Horsley, Martin Benson, Roy Evans and John Gill
2"Police at the Funeral"Ronald WilsonJeremy Paul5 February 1989 (1989-02-05)
12 February 1989

A murderer is on the loose at Cambridge, where the family of the late Professor John Faraday is being murdered. His niece's husband Andrew is found in the river with a bullet in his head, then his daughter Julia is poisoned and his son William is attacked. Campion is called in by a friend, and Caroline Faraday, the Professor's widow, retains him to protect her eccentric children William and Kitty and to find the murderer. Campion finds himself working on the case with Inspector Stanislaus Oates.

Guest stars: Timothy West, Mary Morris, Tim Wylton and John Franklyn-Robbins
3"The Case of the Late Pig"Robert ChetwynJill Hyem19 February 1989 (1989-02-19)
26 February 1989

Campion investigates the murder of 'Pig' Peters, whose funeral he attended three months earlier. But after being buried, he turns up dead again.

Guest stars: Michael Gough, Moray Watson, John Fortune, Dilys Laye, Rob Edwards, Amanda Elwes, Peter Tuddenham and Robert Eddison
4"Death of a Ghost"Michael Owen MorrisElaine Morgan5 March 1989 (1989-03-05)
12 March 1989

Campion, getting away from it all, visits his friend Belle Lafcadio, a rich art collector. Trouble begins with the murder of Claire Potter at an exhibition of works by a dead artist. Later, the inquest into her death reveals that she died from nicotine poisoning.

Guest stars: Jean Anderson, Adrian Lukis, Carole Ruggier, Rosalie Crutchley and Milton Johns

Series 2 (1990)

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Episode # Title Directed by Written by Original air date
1"Sweet Danger"Robert TronsonJill Hyem12 January 1990 (1990-01-12)
19 January 1990

Campion is asked to find documents that will prove that the Fittons are the rightful owners of a tiny Dalmatian state where oil has been discovered. Campion returns to Pontisbright in disguise in order to track down Savanake.

Guest stars: Iain Cuthbertson, Lysette Anthony, David Haig, Richard Pearson, Frank Mills, Paul Brooke and Arthur Blake
2"Dancers in Mourning"Christopher HodsonJeremy Paul9 February 1990 (1990-02-09)
16 February 1990

Campion visits the country house of the famous dancer Jimmy Sutane to investigate a string of unpleasant practical jokes, and falls in love. On Campion's first night at White Walls, another guest, Chloe Pye dies – though whether by accident, murder or suicide remains to be seen. Influenced by his feelings for Linda Sutane, Campion refuses to believe the evidence against her husband Jimmy, and continues trying to clear his name. But when another murder occurs, Sutane's innocence becomes impossible to sustain.

Guest stars: Ian Ogilvy, Pippa Guard, Michael Melia, Tony Steedman, Paddy Joyce, Patricia Brake and Stephen Churchett
3"Flowers for the Judge"Michael Owen MorrisBrian Thompson23 February 1990 (1990-02-23)
2 March 1990

Campion is drawn into the family feuds besetting the Golden Quill publishing business. One of the Barnabas family, who own the company, is found dead, leaving Campion's friend, Mike Barnabas, as the chief suspect. Campion is determined to prove the innocence of his friend Mike Barnabas, arrested for the murder of Paul Brande, but in trying to do so he puts his own life in jeopardy.

Guest stars: Robert Lang, Barrie Ingham, Christopher Benjamin, Patricia Maynard, John Bardon, Roy Spencer and Christian Rodska
4"Mystery Mile"Ken HannamJohn Hawkesworth9 March 1990 (1990-03-09)
16 March 1990

American Judge Crowdy Lobbett has suffered several attempts on his life and has decided to leave the United States and travel to England in the hope of finding a safe haven. The Lobbett family meet Campion on board their transatlantic liner, and the Judge's son Marlowe asks him to help with their problems. Judge Lobbett mysteriously disappears, Biddy Pagett is kidnapped, and Lugg tries to warn Campion off the Simister mob investigation, but he refuses to give in.

Guest stars: Miles Anderson, Geoffrey Bayldon, Edward Kelsey, Roger Hammond, Donald Bisset and John Tordoff

References

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  1. ^ "Campion | Drama Channel".
  2. ^ "Campion: The Complete Collection". UK: Amazon. 12 May 2008.
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