Armchair Thriller — Season 1

Aired 21 February 1978 • 23 min

Ten-year-old Rachel is sent to live with her estranged father. However, just hours before her arrival, her father is murdered and his identity stolen by a terrorist.

Aired 23 February 1978

Rachel meets her supposed stepmother--in reality, another member of a terrorist group with plans for the upcoming Royal Garden Party at the palace. The conspirators are divided over whether to dispose of Rachel or use her as a front.

Aired 28 February 1978 • 25 min

One of the team gets cold feet about killing a kid. Left to her own devices, Rachel tries to get a message to the police. She seizes her chance on a shopping outing for the next day's royal event.

Aired 2 March 1978 • 24 min

Too late, the police uncover the plot against the palace. Rachel's "father" has his target in his sights, while her "stepmother" has her hands on the girl's throat. Unable to rely on the adults in her world, Rachel must find a way to save herself.

Aired 7 March 1978

A quiet, middle-aged couple living in Chelsea start to receive threatening letters through the post - and then things take a sinister turn as their beloved poodle, Tina, is kidnapped. Should they comply and pay up the ransom?

Aired 9 March 1978

Despite complying with the kidnapper's demands, Tina isn't safely returned to her owners as agreed. A smart young copper from the local force (who took the couple's problem seriously) decides to investigate - despite the indifference and cynicism of his police colleagues.

Aired 14 March 1978

Thanks to Clarence's intervention, the dog kidnapper is apprehended and charged. But the CID officers' cynicism towards the case continues, leaving Clarence in a position of distrust, and the dog's owners vulnerable.

Aired 16 March 1978

Clarence is suspended from the police after accepting an alleged bribe from the bailed Kowajinski, and his girlfriend is being targeted by him (and the police) now too. After spotting Kowajinski spying on her flat, Clarence has had enough, and follows him to finally confront him.

Aired 21 March 1978

Clarence found Kowajinski and attacked him in a fit of rage - before he himself was attacked and hospitalised by a group of hooligans the same night. With Kowajinski now dead, and the bribery charges dropped, he is living with the Reynoldses after being dumped by Marion. But, as police investigation into Kowajinski's death increases, Clarence is left to his fate.

Aired 23 March 1978

The police investigation into Kowajinski's death continues, with Clarence still their number one suspect. After a night of intense interrogation, they finally let him go - but is it really the end?

Aired 28 March 1978

When young student David Cooper (Denis Lawson) disappears, both his girlfriend and his tutor suspect he is in danger. David has a paralysing fear of lifts and other confined spaces and, while the duo are searching for him, his phobia is proving invaluable to a menacing group of people with a sinister and ruthlessly violent agenda.

Aired 30 March 1978

While Dave's girlfriend and his tutor desperately make inquiries to solve his disappearance, the political group who have brainwashed him send him out to do their dirty work - or is it just a dress rehearsal for what's really being planned?

Aired 4 April 1978

Aired 6 April 1978

Aired 20 April 1978

A reporter is asked to look into the mysterious death of a nun who died in a locked room at a convent.

Aired 25 April 1978

Shore learns that Sister Miriam had recently inherited a fortune. While one nun warns Shore to get out while she can, another is all too eager to confide her suspicions.

Aired 27 April 1978

After a bout of heavy drinking, Mark Omney cannot account for his movements over the last 12 hours. When he sobers up, he learns that his wife Clare, has had a car accident.

Omney suspects that Clare is being held against her will at Meadowbank Clinic. Or has she finally left him, sick of his drunken and aggressive behavior?

For help, Omney turns to Annabelle Fraser, his old girlfriend. He is convinced that a conspiracy is afoot--and that Clare is sending him covert messages.

Omney attends the funeral of one of the clinic's former residents, suspecting his wife's body lies inside the coffin. Later that night, he and Annabelle return to find out for themselves.

The police catch Omney red-handed, and a deadly attack leaves him with only one way out.

Omney turns up the heat on Meadowbank, which is forced into the most desperate of measures.