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''Spindoe'' is a British television series shown on
ITV ITV or iTV may refer to: ITV *Independent Television (ITV), a British television network, consisting of: ** ITV (TV network), a free-to-air national commercial television network covering the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islan ...
in the spring of 1968. It was named after the lead character, Alec Spindoe, a
South London South London is the southern part of London, England, south of the River Thames. The region consists of the Districts of England, boroughs, in whole or in part, of London Borough of Bexley, Bexley, London Borough of Bromley, Bromley, London Borou ...
gangster; the plot of the series showed how Spindoe re-established his gangland empire after he had been supplanted during a term of imprisonment but found that once he had succeeded, he was no longer interested.


Background

The character of London extortioner and gangland boss Alec Spindoe (played by
Ray McAnally Ray McAnally (30 March 1926 – 15 June 1989) was an Irish actor. He was the recipient of three BAFTA Awards in the late 1980s: two BAFTA Film Awards for Best Supporting Actor (for ''The Mission'' in 1986 and ''My Left Foot'' in 1989), and a ...
) first appeared in several episodes of
Granada TV ITV Granada, formerly known as Granada Television, is the ITV franchisee for the North West of England and Isle of Man. From 1956 to 1968 it broadcast to both the north west and Yorkshire but only on weekdays as ABC Weekend Television was it ...
's serial '' The Fellows''. In that series, two university academics based in
Cambridge Cambridge ( ) is a university city and the county town in Cambridgeshire, England. It is located on the River Cam approximately north of London. As of the 2021 United Kingdom census, the population of Cambridge was 145,700. Cambridge bec ...
solve crimes in the outside world by pure theory, without ever leaving their university buildings. Spindoe falls foul of one of these theories when he panics over a threatening letter, in truth sent to him by one of the Fellows in the hope that he will react exactly as he does. His panic leads him to set up a jewellery shop robbery, where he is caught and arrested. The following year, Spindoe returned in his own series, which depicted events after Spindoe's release from prison. The series, devised by
Robin Chapman Robin John Chapman (18 January 1933 – 29 July 2020) was an English novelist, playwright and screenwriter. Early life Chapman was born in Croydon, Surrey. He was educated at Selhurst Grammar School (later Selhurst High School) and Christ' ...
, tried to portray London gangland in a realistic and consequently unpleasant light. Characters can be both sympathetic and repulsive in the space of a few lines and there is little room for usual TV moralising.


Plot outline


You Come Out From Nothing

At the beginning of the first episode, Spindoe is released from prison and is surprised to find that his deputy Eddie Edwards (
Anthony Bate Anthony Bate (31 August 1927 – 19 June 2012) was an English actor. He is possibly best known for his role as Oliver Lacon in the BBC television adaptations of the John le Carré novels ''Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy'' and ''Smiley's People'' and ...
) is not there to meet him. North London gang boss Henry Mackleson (
Richard Hurndall Richard Gibbon Hurndall (3 November 1910 – 13 April 1984) was an English actor. He is best remembered for replacing William Hartnell in the role of the First Doctor for '' Doctor Who's'' 20th anniversary special ''The Five Doctors''. Career ...
) is and offers him a chance to work for him, which Spindoe declines. Mackleson then arranges a 'demonstration' assassination attempt to impress on Spindoe his power. Spindoe discovers that his entire savings and crime empire and his wife Sheila, have been taken over by Edwards. By chance, he meets up with a former associate, Larry Bolsover, who is tricked into lending Spindoe his car to go and see Edwards. Edwards and his Norwegian 'chauffeur' Hans Burkwald then humiliate Spindoe, who turns the tables on Burkwald and steal his gun; he orders his wife to return to him "in two days, or die". Edwards then gives orders for Bolsover to be murdered to show that no-one should associate with Spindoe. Mackleson, hearing of the events at Edwards' house, begins his preparation to kill Sheila Spindoe and frame Alec for her murder. Burkwald, who secretly works for Mackleson rather than Edwards, arranges for his gun (complete with Spindoe's fingerprints) to be taken from him by Renata, a croupier at the club where Spindoe is gambling.


And The Blood Starts Flowing

Larry Bolsover's body is discovered by the police. Spindoe goes to see a private detective Ray Scaliger (
George Sewell George Sewell (31 August 19242 April 2007) was an English actor, best known for his television roles, but also active on stage and in films. Early life and career The son of a Hoxton printer and a florist, Sewell left school at the age of 14 a ...
), to get evidence of his wife's adultery and to tell him who is visiting Edwards. When he returns to Bolsover's flat, he finds the police there who tell him of Bolsover's death. After giving a statement to the police, he visits his solicitor but is again waylaid by Mackleson who repeats his offer and gets another refusal. While snooping at Edwards' house, Scaliger is spotted and captured by Burkwald, and beaten up during interrogation by Edwards. Spindoe spots the absence of his gun and realises Renata has stolen it; he is unable to persuade her to explain what happened but she does introduce him to the last man to speak to Larry Bolsover, a waiter. The waiter identifies Burkwald as the man who took Bolsover to his death. Scaliger returns to Edwards' house where he spots Edwards and Burkwald leaving (they are going to Mackleson to discuss merging their operations) and so phones Spindoe to tell him he can visit. Spindoe's letter repeating his ultimatum to his wife is delivered; meanwhile Mackleson's plot to murder Sheila is put into operation. Scaliger observes the Spindoe lookalike arriving and enters the house just as Sheila is murdered using the gun with Spindoe's fingerprints (the maid is conveniently able to witness the Spindoe lookalike); Spindoe arrives to find his wife dead and Scaliger presenting him with his letter threatening to kill her.


But You're Back and Fighting

Edwards, very distressed at the death of Sheila, believes Spindoe killed her and wants revenge. Mackleson orders Renata (who has her suspicions of him) to get Spindoe out of her flat, which sets him thinking. Spindoe goes to one of his former betting shops, now part of Edwards' empire, where he meets Billy Humphries (
Glynn Edwards John Glynn Edwards (2 February 1931 – 23 May 2018) was a British television and cinema character actor, who came to national prominence for his portrayal of the barman Dave Harris in the 1970s–1990s British television comedy-drama ''Minder' ...
), a former associate who has faked his death. Humphries tells Spindoe that Renata and Burkwald are all working for Mackleson, which confirms to Spindoe that Mackleson killed Sheila. Spindoe tries to get Renata to confess; she admits working for Mackleson. Scaliger, who has also worked out that Spindoe was being framed for Sheila's murder, tells the police. Spindoe then arranges a meeting with Mackleson, deliberately revealing to him that he knows Renata's role. She is summoned to Mackleson who has her face slashed with a razor as punishment. Spindoe and Humphries go to Edwards' house, and when Burkwald returns he is forced to say where Edwards is. A morose Edwards is still vowing revenge against Spindoe when Spindoe arrives to confront him. Spindoe tells him Burkwald is working for Mackleson and explains why Mackleson had Sheila killed; Edwards is reluctant to believe it. But just as Spindoe is about to shoot Edwards, Scaliger intervenes and in the struggle Edwards manages to escape.


You Start Winning

At the funeral of Sheila, Spindoe turns up despite the danger. Edwards' henchmen are about to stab him at the graveside when Spindoe spots the knife and escapes. Edwards begins to suspect Burkwald's loyalty, but is assuaged. Both Edwards and Burkwald are then arrested for the murder of Bolsover. Spindoe is beginning to receive declarations of loyalty from his old associates but he is arrested for the murder of his wife. When they are brought face to face by the police they work out that each can clear the other. Mackleson sends his associate Webster to try to recruit Scaliger, who refuses. Humphries also fails to persuade him to help free Spindoe but does send him to see Renata in hospital. Although Renata blames Spindoe for the attack on her, she tells Humphries how the gun was picked up in return for a pledge that Spindoe will pay for her face to be rebuilt. Humphries and Scaliger then agree to bail Spindoe out and Scaliger tells Renata's story to the police. When Spindoe is released, he is angry that Humphries had paid Scaliger and pledged that he must help Renata (which he refuses to do). Edwards' solicitor is unable to find a legal way of bailing him so he arranges with Mackleson to spring him from the Magistrates' Court. Mackleson hides him at his house, telling Edwards that he had framed Spindoe for Sheila's murder. The police apply pressure to Burkwald who admits to working for Mackleson but refuses to sign a statement. Mackleson invites Spindoe to dinner, which Spindoe knows to be an invitation to kill and dispose of Edwards; he accepts and arranges for his reunited team to be present to carry out the murder. Edwards is duly murdered. Spindoe and Mackleson discuss the merging of their operations but Spindoe makes an excuse so that he can go back to assess his newly reconquered empire; Mackleson's deputy Webster is there to 'go through the books' with him.


How is it You're Losing?

Billy Humphries drives an unconscious Webster back to Mackleson's house. The police go through the situation and have worked out that a full gang war is about to break out; they decide that Scaliger is the key; before they can get to him, Mackleson's associates kidnap him. He again refuses to work for Mackleson despite his threats and endures a beating. Mackleson prepares an arson attack on many of Spindoe's clubs. Spindoe is making his protection rackets productive, only wanting to control South London. He decides to keep the legitimate betting shops but sell the nightclubs. Humphries believes he must have a deal with Mackleson and produces Renata asking for plastic surgery but Spindoe again refuses to help her because of her betrayal of him. Scaliger manages to escape from Mackleson's house and goes to Spindoe, trying to sell him the story of Mackleson's arson attack; Spindoe refuses to buy but learns by telephoning Mackleson that the attacks have already happened. In the morning, Spindoe orders a revenge attack on Mackleson's businesses that afternoon, which Scaliger leads. Mackleson avenges this attack by kidnapping Billy Humphries. Spindoe's cold reaction to Humphries' kidnap outrages Scaliger who goes out to search for him and finds him but cannot free him. Mackleson arranges for the police to be tipped off about Spindoe's henchmen who murdered Edwards and they implicate Spindoe. Realising he is in danger of returning to prison, Spindoe goes off to try to murder Mackleson; he recruits Scaliger, who is more concerned with freeing Billy. In the attack at Mackleson's house, Humphries is killed and Mackleson survives; Spindoe escapes.


Now You're Running


Cast and crew

The character of seedy-but-wise private detective Scaliger (George Sewell) was supposed to appear in a subsequent Robin Chapman series, the controversial ''
Big Breadwinner Hog ''Big Breadwinner Hog'' is a British television thriller serial devised by Robin Chapman, produced by Granada TV and transmitted in eight parts, starting at 9.00pm on 11 April 1969 on the ITV network. Overview The series focussed on the rut ...
'' in 1969 but Sewell's unavailability led to the part being re-written and the character renamed. ''Spindoe'' was directed by Cormac Newell, better known as Mike Newell, director of ''
Four Weddings and a Funeral ''Four Weddings and a Funeral'' is a 1994 British romantic comedy film directed by Mike Newell. It is the first of several films by screenwriter Richard Curtis to feature Hugh Grant, and follows the adventures of Charles (Grant) and his circle ...
'' and ''
Donnie Brasco Joseph Dominick Pistone (born September 17, 1939), is an American former FBI agent who worked undercover as Donnie Brasco between September 1976 and July 1981, as part of an infiltration primarily into the Bonanno crime family, and to a lesser ...
''. Glynn Edwards was later better known in his role as 'Dave the Barman' in ''
Minder A minder is the person assigned to guide or escort a visitor, or to provide protection to somebody, or to otherwise assist or take care of something, i.e. a person who " minds". Government-appointed persons to accompany foreign visitors are of ...
''.


Cast

* Alec Spindoe —
Ray McAnally Ray McAnally (30 March 1926 – 15 June 1989) was an Irish actor. He was the recipient of three BAFTA Awards in the late 1980s: two BAFTA Film Awards for Best Supporting Actor (for ''The Mission'' in 1986 and ''My Left Foot'' in 1989), and a ...
* Scaliger —
George Sewell George Sewell (31 August 19242 April 2007) was an English actor, best known for his television roles, but also active on stage and in films. Early life and career The son of a Hoxton printer and a florist, Sewell left school at the age of 14 a ...
* Billy —
Glynn Edwards John Glynn Edwards (2 February 1931 – 23 May 2018) was a British television and cinema character actor, who came to national prominence for his portrayal of the barman Dave Harris in the 1970s–1990s British television comedy-drama ''Minder' ...
* Peach —
Bryan Marshall Bryan Marshall (19 May 1938 – 25 June 2019) was a British actor, with a number of major credits in film and television to his name, in both his native country and Australia. Early life Marshall was born in Battersea, south London. He was educ ...
* Tierney —
Basil Dignam Basil Dignam (24 October 1905 – 31 January 1979) was an English character actor. Basil Dignam was born in Sheffield, West Riding of Yorkshire. Before the acting, he tried many jobs, from a company clerk to a journalist. He acted on film and ...
* Mackelson —
Richard Hurndall Richard Gibbon Hurndall (3 November 1910 – 13 April 1984) was an English actor. He is best remembered for replacing William Hartnell in the role of the First Doctor for '' Doctor Who's'' 20th anniversary special ''The Five Doctors''. Career ...
* Edwards —
Anthony Bate Anthony Bate (31 August 1927 – 19 June 2012) was an English actor. He is possibly best known for his role as Oliver Lacon in the BBC television adaptations of the John le Carré novels ''Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy'' and ''Smiley's People'' and ...
* Renata —
Rachel Herbert Rachel Herbert (born 1935) is a British actress whose television appearances include roles in ''Deadline Midnight'' (1960), ''Thursday Theatre'' (1964), ''The Villains'' (1964), ''No Hiding Place'' (1963–65), ''Danger Man'' (1965), ''The Power G ...


External links

* {{Unreferenced, date=December 2007 1968 British television series debuts 1968 British television series endings 1960s British drama television series 1960s British crime television series ITV television dramas 1960s British television miniseries Television series by ITV Studios Television shows produced by Granada Television English-language television shows