Series 1:
Originally Broadcast: January 5th – April 1st, 1981
Originally Transmitted: 6:55pm to 7:20pm
1. 05.01.1981: By Luanshya Greer.
Who is the scantily-clad, attractive female on the crew’s private sun deck? Matt Taylor, Chief Engineer, assumes the task of telling her she shouldn’t be there. Ferry Story – BBC-1’s new twice-weekly serial follows the fortunes of the Triangle Line. Set at sea, it has broken new ground in drama production, having been recorded entirely on location and using portable video equipment rather than film. Richard Smith joined the cast and crew for a three-day cruise between the Line’s ports of call in Britain, Sweden and the Netherlands: The Triangle of BBC-1’s new serial is not the eternal triangle, although there may well be some of that, but the triangle formed by Felixstowe, Gothenburg and Amsterdam, from which the fictional shipping line plying these ports takes its name. Triangle is the brainchild of Bill Sellars, who produced BBC-1’s The Brothers and the television serialisation of the books of James Herriot, All Creatures Great And Small. Michael Craig: “The menu can get monotonous. The food’s marvellous but I’ve been through the card four times”: For three months the Triangle cast and crew lived and worked on the ferry Tor Scandinavia. “Jennifer Wilson from The Brothers launched the Tor Scandinavia,” says Sellars, “and at that time I wanted to film some inserts for an episode of The Brothers on board, but it was not possible”. New video-recording technology has now made it feasible. At Felixstowe, embarkation was delayed. People mingled in the quayside lounge. The Triangle cast retired to a hotel for lunch. They are all good-looking. There is Douglas Sheldon: he plays Arthur Parker, the passenger manager of the Line. He is the shore-based schemer who controls the fate of the business, but the real dramas take place at sea. There is Nicolette McKenzie: she plays the captain’s wife, Maya Anderson, whom she describes as “a bitch”. There is Elizabeth Larner from New York: she plays Jo Bailey, the night-club singer. There is the distinctive figure of Paul Jerricho: he plays Charles Woodhouse, the smooth, professional first officer. There is Cindy O’Callaghan. As a young cockney lass she was a Walt Disney contract star in Hollywood. Now she plays Linda Kennedy, the unsophisticated chambermaid. Earl Adair arrived by car with his backing group. He wore a bright pro-am golfing sweater. Earl plays Gary Rae, a cabaret singer who joins the ship for just one cruise. As the Tor Scandinavia sailed up the coast from Felixstowe, Wanda Moore leaned on the deck rail and stared at the surf. She plays Susan Porter, the urbane and correct catering manager. Nigel Stock was unfortunately not aboard for this trip. He plays Wally James, the ship’s purser, who’s been at sea all his life and who is now nearing retirement.
The strong cosmopolitan cast is headed by Michael Craig, Larry Lamb and Kate O’Mara. Pipe-smoking Michael Craig cuts a fine figure as Captain John Anderson, whom he descrives as “a straightforward sort of bloke, a professional sailor”. After five years living in Sydney, Australia, Craig returned to Britain two years ago to make The Foundation for ITV. “The Australians think you’re great if you’ve got a track record from overseas,” he says. “But after a few years think think: `He wouldn’t stay here if he was any good’. Any acting job is appealing, particularly this one. I like the sea and the fact that we can bring our wives and children with us is a big advantage. There’s plenty to do on board and, for relaxation, I play Scrabble and read. The thing to resist at all costs is sitting in the bar. I try to live as normal a life as possible. What I miss most are news and newspapers”. The Tor Scandinavia carries cars, freight and passengers, many of whom will be seen in the background throughout the series. The ship is geared for the short-voyage passenger.
“The menu can get monotonous,” says Craig. “The food’s marvelous but I’ve been though the card four times”. Craig’s working life began in 1944 when he was a seaman on a lake boat in Canada. “I always wanted to be sailor,” he says. “But this is a spaceship compared with the shops I was on. The equipment dials on the bridge, the computer, the engine-room: it’s completely different. I went ashore in 1949, to college in London to get my second mate’s certificate. I had a steady girlfriend for the first time and decided to settle down. At that time a lot of blokes who were at sea or in the forces thought they’d like to try acting. I wrote to repertory companies and I was eventually accepted by the Castle Theatre, Farnham”. A few years later he became a film star with Rank. Now he finds himself back at sea. “It’s an interesting job,” he says, “being all together on the ship as opposed to trying to recreate the situation in the studio. You get much more of a feel of what it’s supposed to be like”. Larry Lamb plays Matt Taylor, the chief engineer. “You can go down to the engine-room and really get a feel of what it’s like down there,” he says. “We’re not exactly involved in the technical side of our jobs: we’re more involved in the inter-personal relationships on board, but it makes the whole job much easier. There are problems working in the confined spaces on board, but they are able to deal with that with the new cameras”. Lamb is enjoying his time afloat. “You’d go nuts if there was nothing to do,” he says. “But there’s plenty, even when you’re not working. The ship’s crew seem very similar to us and have made their own private facilities available to us. They don’t get too involved in our work: they come on for two weeks at a time and work really hard. So the chances of their staying around and watching us work are very slim”. Kate O’Mara: “I always used to play sexy foreign birds: my face doesn’t fit my voice. Femmes fatales are much more interesting”: Larry Lamb is a much-travelled man, having worked in the oil industry for a number of years. “I was away from England for nine years,” he says. “I wanted to travel. I went to Germany, North Africa and then spent five years in Canada, where I got into the acting business”. After two successful seasons in the theatre at Stratford, Ontario, Lamb returned to Britain. He has had guest roles in ITV action series like The Professionals and The New Avengers and recently established himself as a television star with his performance as Joey Fox in ITV’s cockney saga Fox. Kate O’Mara plays Katherine Laker, a newcomer to the ship. “It’s only the second time I’ve played a character with my own name,” she says. “The first time was Kate in The Taming Of The Shrew. The part was written for me, or with me in mind. In The Brothers I played Jane Maxwell: this is the same lady, just a different name. Since The Brothers I’ve been given much better stage parts. I always used to play sexy foreign birds: my face doesn’t fit my voice. Femmes fatales are much more interesting. In the theatre I can play almost anything; distance leads enchantment. Katherine Laker is a fiercely tough, independent lady though she’s got a sense of humour. I hope to show her vulnerable side but at the moment she’s on the defensive”. Kate jogs round the deck before breakfast. “So far the weather has been good,” she says. “Let’s hope it doesn’t get too rough. I got homesick at first but I’ve always had a nomadic life: I’m the fifth generation of a theatrical family. As Katherine I’m in uniform most of the time and on call so I’m kept very busy. I sleep very easily: I find the rocking motion of the ship rather womb-like – a folk memory perhaps”.
Ian Brindle, seen walking purposefully with stop-watch and walkie-talkie, is the production unit manager. He’s an ex-RAF man and is responsible for the logistics of floating forty people and equipment round Europe. “All the studio production facilities are on board,” he says. “We even have our own wardrobe equipment down in the bowels of the ship”. Producer Bill Sellars: “With the new equipment we can make television in half the time. For us it’s a floating studio”: The Tor Scandinavia can carry one-thousand-four-hundred passengers. She boasts two car decks, six decks, a swimming pool, rows of fruit machines, a cafeteria, bars, lounges, a restaurant, a night-club and a casino. “The ship is a money-making machine,” says producer Bill Sellars. “It’s a business, and in Triangle we try to show that. We are a fictional, British-owned line but we will be keeping in much of the detail”. Triangle uses new light-weight cameras, sensitive to much lower lighting levels than normal television cameras. BBC technicians developed a portrable unit to contain the hardware, with audio and vision mixers attached. The equivalent of a studio production suite has been reduced to the size of a tea trolley. The crew calls this device “the Dalek”. The new approach allows for a higher picture quality. Locations on the ship provide documentary realism. Few studio productions with Triangle’s budget could afford ceilings. Triangle could do for soap opera what Citizen Kane did for movies. “I expect it will be called soap opera,” says Bill Sellars, “but it’s three steps removed. With the new equipment we can make television in half the time. For us it’s a floating studio. We just plug into the ship’s generator system. We’re bringing in ten minutes of programme a day. That’s four twenty-five-minute episodes every ten-day cruise. We’re attaining American rates of productivity. We make programmes quickly, efficiently, and well”. Always aboard during recording is script editor Ted Rhodes, who deals with last-minute literary amendments. He worked closely with Sellars on All Creatures Great And Small. He studied soap opera in the United States of America and for him that’s what Triangle is. “Soap opera is the most relevant dramatic form on television now,” he quotes. “Were hoping for big viewing figures,” says Rhodes. “I get the experts to check that the technical details are correct, and that covers the intellectual angle, but it’s the other nineteen million viewers I worry about”. With the Triangle team there is an atmosphere of optimism, enthusiasm, and work. “You make your own life on board,” says Bill Sellars.
(Radio Times, January 3, 1981 – Article by Richard Smith). With Jonathan Owen (Peter Nuttall), Philip Hatton (Tony Grant), Dennis Burgess (George Terson), Helena Breck (Sandy McCormick), Charles Bolton (Stephen Garrett), Kevin Hart (Brian) and Peter Durrent (The Pianist).
2. 07.01.1981: By Luanshya Greer.
With the passenger identified, the crew suspect that she is collecting evidence in the company’s plan to turn the line over to freight.
3. 12.01.1981: By Luanshya Greer.
Katherine Laker takes over from Wally James as Chief Purser and Terson is determined to remove her from the post. Arthur Parker also threatens – one mistake and she is out …
4. 14.01.1981: By Luanshya Greer.
Somebody has gone overboard and Peter finds a suicide note from a passenger – but Wally is missing.
5. 19.01.1981: By Luanshya Greer.
John’s wife Maya Anderson joins them on board and he is delighted – until he hears her reasons and her insinuations about Katherine Laker.
6. 21.01.1981: By Luanshya Greer.
Katherine meets Jeremy Gates and Parker’s suspicions are confirmed – Gates owns a large stock interest in the company. They are obviously working together – or is he her lover?
7. 26.01.1981: By Michael Armstrong.
Gary Rae arrives knowing something of Peter Nuttall’s past and Peter is sure he has been brought on board deliberately by Katharine Laker. With Earl Adair (Gary Rae).
8. 28.01.1981: By Michael Armstrong.
Matt Taylor plans an intimate dinner for two but is angry when he finds out that his guest may have been Gary Rae’s date for the night … With Earl Adair (Gary Rae).
9. 02.02.1981: By Leslie Elizabeth Thomas.
A passenger loses a valuable ring and when Peter tries to deal with it she insists on seeing the Purser, but Katherine cannot be found … With Jonathan Owen (Peter Nuttall).
10. 04.02.1981: By Leslie Elizabeth Thomas.
Katherine Laker makes an arrest and Matt is impressed and amused … but why is Linda Kennedy relieved that the police have not been called in?
11. 09.02.1981: By Leslie Elizabeth Thomas.
Sandy McCormick breaks off her engagement and Linda Kennedy appears to be hiding someone in her cabin – a stowaway perhaps … With Helena Breck (Sandy McCormick).
12. 11.02.1981: By Leslie Elizabeth Thomas.
The mysterious Mister Smith is identified and Katherine Laker has a nightmare.
13. 16.02.1981: By Luanshya Greer.
After the death of his wife, Charles Woodhouse returns to the ship and Captain Anderson, among others, discovers he has changed …
14. 18.02.1981: By Luanshya Greer.
When Linda Kennedy plays one of her tricks on Charles she does not get the reaction she expected …
15. 23.02.1981: By Luanshya Greer.
Starring Kate O’Mara, Michael Craig, Larry Lamb and Nigel Stock.
16. 25.02.1981: By Luanshya Greer.
Surprising news for Sandy McCormick. With Helen Breck (Sandy McCormick).
17. 02.03.1981: By Leslie Elizabeth Thomas.
Sandy McCormick, refusing to believe Peter Nuttall, asks Kate for advice; two passengers ask to be married by the Captain. With Helen Breck (Sandy McCormick) and Jonathan Owen (Peter Nuttall).
18. 04.03.1981: By Luanshya Greer.
Tony Grant is smuggling and when something is missing from his cabin, he accuses Jo Bailey. With Philip Hatton (Tony Grant).
19. 09.03.1981: By Leslie Elizabeth Thomas.
Alan Lansing surprises Katherine, and Arthur Parker decides to surprise Landing with news of Katherine and Matt Taylor’s relationship … With Don Warrington (Alan Lansing).
20. 11.03.1981: By Leslie Elizabeth Thomas.
Captain Anderson warns that someone on board could be accused of aiding and abetting, and attempted murder.
21. 16.03.1981: By Luanshya Greer.
The donor of the car is revealed – morally Katherine should return it, but she is no fool either …
22. 18.03.1981: By Luanshya Greer.
Tony Grant makes another contact with Collier Brown and an arrest is made … With Philip Hatton (Tony Grant) and Michael Lees (Collier Brown).
23. 23.03.1981: By Leslie Elizabeth Thomas.
Peter Nuttall, having been arrested, is determined to get even and enlists Linda Kennedy’s help … With Jonathan Owen (Peter Nuttall).
24. 25.03.1981: By Leslie Elizabeth Thomas.
John Anderson decides how he will use his five percent voting share, which forces a resignation.
25. 30.03.1981: By Sue Lake.
Marion Terson’s will is read, with some unexpected surprises.
26. 01.04.1981: By Luanshya Greer.
Katherine realises that had her father lived she might have one day managed to understand him.
Series 2:
Originally Broadcast: April 26th – July 20th, 1982
Originally Transmitted: 6:55pm to 7:20pm
1. 26.04.1982: By Sue Lake.
A change in direction for Triangle Line and Kate Laker has an important decision to make. With Tony Anholt (Nick Stevens).
2. 27.04.1982: By Sue Lake.
As the new crew assemble, Matt meets the son of an old friend – and John Anderson has a surprise visitor.
3. 03.05.1982: By David Hopkins.
John reminds Sarah Hallam that as ship’s master he has the authority to remove her from the ship, but she reminds him that she has the authority to remove him from his job.
4. 05.05.1982: By David Hopkins.
Judith Harper’s life on board takes a completely different aspect as a gentleman passenger takes an interest. With Sandra Payne (Christine Harris), Tony Anholt (Nick Stevens) and Sandra Dickinson (Penny Warrender).
5. 10.05.1982: By David Hopkins.
Kevin Warrender (Peter Arne) has been taken to task for abandoning his integrity – but strange that somebody should want to pay him for recovering it …
6. 11.05.1982: By David Hopkins.
Bill Ryan complains about nepotism – “There’s men unemployed and here’s someone jumping in at the front of the queue”. With Jamie Roberts (Bill Ryan).
7. 17.05.1982: By Ben Steed.
An emergency, and there is no doctor on board – the earliest ETA for the helicopter could be too late. With Tony Anholt (Nick Stevens) and Sandra Dickinson (Penny Warrender).
8. 18.05.1982: By Ben Steed.
Charles Woodhouse accuses Sarah Hallam of having more concern over the company than whether a man lives or dies …
9. 24.05.1982: By Ben Steed.
Marion’s increased involvement with Triangle’s competitor causes John some misgivings – but David West is not all that he appears. With Jonathan Newth (Roger Powell), Tony Anholt (Nick Stevens) and Sandra Payne (Christine Harris).
10. 25.05.1982: By Ben Steed.
A quiet moment for Matt and Sarah Hallam is interrupted by an emergency in the boiler room.
11. 31.05.1982: By David Hopkins.
“If some demented nut wants to drop a spanner in the works there is little that anyone can do about it …”. With Sandra Payne (Christine Harris) and Tony Anholt (Nick Stevens).
12. 01.06.1982: By David Hopkins.
Marion is angry over the newspaper article and blames John – Warrender might have been bribed, but by whom …?
13. 08.06.1982: By Sue Lake.
A dog disappears overboard.
14. 09.06.1982: By Sue Lake.
Episode fourteen of the North Sea ferry drama.
15. 14.06.1982: By Jack Mott.
Did Draper go overboard? Charles believes he did not and orders a search of the ship … With Tony Anholt (Nick Stevens), Sandra Payne (Christine Harris) and Derek Fowlds (“Mozz” Barker).
16. 15.06.1982: By Jack Mott.
“What Bill is doing is illegal and counts as mutiny – time he was taught a lesson”.
17. 21.06.1982: By Sue Lake.
Sarah Hallam accuses Christine Harris of wishing the company harm – but Christine assures her she is in for a big surprise. With Derek Fowlds (“Mozz” Barker), Tony Anholt (Nick Stevens) and Sandra Payne (Christine Harris).
18. 22.06.1982: By Sue Lake.
Judith Harper meets an unidentified passenger who says she is looking for her daughter.
19. 28.06.1982: By Colin Davis.
Helping others in distress is the first rule of the sea – but has John Anderson got his priorities wrong? With Derek Fowlds (“Mozz” Barker) and Jean Boht (Mrs Carter).
20. 29.06.1982: By Collin Davis.
The shares in the ferry company are taking a tumble. Who is going to take the blame?
21. 05.07.1982: By Dawn Lowe-Watson.
Matt believes that if Sarah Hallam leaves, Triangle will be losing the best thing that ever happened to it …
22. 06.07.1982: By Dawn Lowe-Watson.
Marion is asked for money, but it is not her place to give hand-outs to “every lame duck that comes along”.
23. 12.07.1982: By David Hopkins.
John thinks his son is in some kind of trouble – “I guess we are all human when it comes to it …”.
24. 13.07.1982: By David Hopkins.
Barbara goes missing and Amsterdam is a big place – but John has an idea …
25. 19.07.1982: By Ben Steed.
West believes it is a “fool who lives to work, the wise man works to live” – and Marion proposes marriage …
26. 20.07.1982: By Ben Steed.
The power struggle in Triangle shifts and John believes that once-upon-a-time going to sea meant getting away from it all.
Series 3:
Originally Broadcast: April 5th – July 6th, 1983
Originally Transmitted: 6:55pm to 7:20pm
1. 05.04.1983: By David Hopkins.
Part one of a new twenty-six episode drama concerning a North Sea ferry company.
2. 06.04.1983: By David Hopkins.
Part two of the North Sea ferry drama.
3. 12.04.1983: By David Hopkins.
Matt Taylor finds a stowaway on board the ship and, touched by the old man’s story, he makes plans to help him.
4. 13.04.1983: By David Hopkins.
Episode four of the North Sea ferry drama.
5. 19.04.1983: By David Hopkins.
Matt Taylor is accused of aiding an illegal immigrant.
6. 20.04.1983: By David Hopkins.
Captain Anderson receives a message that two explosive devices have been planted on board. Is it a hoax?
7. 26.04.1983: By Robert Del Valle.
With only a short time before the deadline, the search for the bombs continues …
8. 27.04.1983: By Robert Del Valle. John Anderson finds himself attracted to Mrs Landers and Ted Anderson confides in Lisa Watkins that he could be in love. With Jonathan Scott-Taylor (Ted Anderson) and Marion Owen Smith (Lisa Watkins).
9. 03.05.1983: By Robert Del Valle.
Lisa Watkins is horrified that her diary is missing and West offers Captain Anderson a new command. With Marion Owen Smith (Lisa Watkins).
10. 04.05.1983: By David Hopkins.
Matt discovers who tipped off the police and a royal person comes aboard …
11. 10.05.1983: By Ben Steed.
A passenger reports seeing a rabid dog and the search begins.
12. 11.05.1983: By Ben Steed.
Sarah says goodbye to Cade Jackson, who points out the man who has been following him. With Jerry Harte (Cade Jackson).
13. 17.05.1983: By Robert Del Valle.
Matt meets his son and is reluctantly pressed to join the family for dinner …
14. 18.05.1983: By Robert Del Valle.
Claire de Haan is interviewed for a job on board and is alarmed when told she will need a medical report. With Thera van Horneyer (Claire de Haan).
15. 21.05.1983: By Dawn Lowe-Watson.
Ted Anderson has plans for Claire de Haan to stay in an Amsterdam hotel – and Charles Woodhouse discovers the truth about Beth Brook’s relationship with Matt. With Jonathan Scott-Taylor (Ted Anderson), Thera van Horneyer (Claire de Haan) and Janette Legge (Beth Brook).
16. 01.06.1983: By Dawn Lowe-Watson.
A “mysterious passenger” comes aboard and the First Engineer is attacked.
17. 07.06.1983: By David Hopkins.
The “mysterious passenger” has a court order for the return of Robert Brooks to his father and Charles Woodhouse intervenes … With Joshua Le Touzel (Robert Brooks).
18. 08.06.1983: By David Hopkins.
The ship is held over in Amsterdam because of engine trouble – and on the Mediterranean Mrs Lander and John start a romance …
19. 14.06.1983: By Ben Steed.
Sarah discovers Ted Anderson’s hotel fiddle; Charles Woodhouse threatens to tell his father. With Jonathan Scott-Taylor (Ted Anderson).
20. 15.06.1983: By Ben Steed.
Ted asks his father for permission to marry, which has unexpected repercussions. With Jonathan Scott-Taylor (Ted Anderson).
21. 21.06.1983: By David Hopkins.
Mrs Landers tries to persuade John to gibe Ted Anderson his job back and Sarah learns something of Mrs Landers’ past. With Jonathan Scott-Taylor (Ted Anderson).
22. 22.06.1983: By David Hopkins.
Ted has a row with Barry Peters over Claire de Haan, but Penny Warrender has a much better idea how he can win her back. With Jonathan Scott-Taylor (Ted Anderson), Christopher Gray (Barry Peters), Thera van Hroneyer (Claire de Haan) and Sandra Dickinson (Penny Warrender).
23. 28.06.1983: By Robert Del Valle.
Christine tells Sarah she has letters from David West that could of interest.
24. 29.06.1983: By Robert Del Valle.
Traces of vermin are found in the hold. Tom Kelly organises a search.
25. 05.07.1983: By Ben Steed.
Claire de Haan is taken to a clinic in Amsterdam and Christine learns some surprising news. With Thera van Horneyer (Claire de Haan) and Sandra Payne (Christine Harris).
26. 06.07.1983: By Ben Steed.
John is back on the bridge and Matt thinks Sarah is obsessed with defeating David West, but it is a matter of conscience …
Information provided by Matthew Lee
Return back to Triangle main page.
Last Update: 19/06/04
You are visitor
since 10/06/04.
Get your own Free Home Page