About this season
The Troubleshooters is a British television series made by the BBC between 1965 and 1972, created by John Elliot. During its run, the series made the transition from black and white to colour transmissions. The series was based around an international oil company – the "Mogul" of the title. The first series was mostly concerned with the internal politics within the Mogul organisation, with episodes revolving around industrial espionage, internal fraud and negligence almost leading to an accident on a North Sea oil rig.
Episodes (17)
1. The Slick And The Dread
Aired 18 May 1970 • 60 min
Stead is back in his haven, all's right with the world. But his quiet trip to the Caribbean on a Mogul supertanker produces unexpected developments.
2. A Pig In A Pipe
Aired 25 May 1970 • 60 min
Stead's visit to a Mogul refinery in Africa causes problems for Peter Thornton. The simple job of organizing a ceremonial event becomes highly dangerous when a sacked engineer threatens to blow up the refinery.
3. Camelot On A Clear Day
Aired 1 June 1970 • 60 min
A world famous leprosy hospital lies in the path of Mogul's exploration teams in East Africa. The ageing Dr. Hoffman who runs it is idolised by millions, including Willy Izard, who, with Thronton's help, has to cope with the problems involved.
4. Who Did You Say Inherits The Earth?
Aired 8 June 1970 • 60 min
5. The Price Of A Bride
Aired 15 June 1970 • 60 min
What is the price of a bride? When the government of the African state of Manzaya decide to throw out Mogul's manager three men are faced with this question: Ralph Grant, the manager with a South African wife, Jack Robbins, who lives up country with an African girl, and Peter Thornton himself.
6. Operation Black Gold
Aired 22 June 1970 • 60 min
What is it like to be captured by dangerous mercenaries in an African civil war? Willy Izard finds out when he replaces Thornton on a trip to Ebon. Mogul's frantic attempts to free him centre on Jane Webb, Stead's former secreatary.
7. We All Need Experts
Aired 29 June 1970 • 60 min
When management efficiency experts arrive, rumours of redundancy sweep Mogul's head office.
8. I'm Glad I'm Just an Oilman...
Aired 6 July 1970 • 60 min
In the desert water can be just as valuable as oil - and just as explosive, as Peter Thornton finds out to his cost.
9. Boys And Girls Come Out To Play
Aired 13 July 1970 • 60 min
The attempts of Stead, Thornton and Izard to pin down a multi-millionaire take them to a health farm, the Cannes Film Festival, a continental casino and a Scottish cattle sale.
10. The Dangerous Green Impala
Aired 20 July 1970 • 60 min
Haiti is notorious for its voodoo and its secret police. Stead becomes involved in a desperate and dangerous battle for control of Mogul's local company.
11. A Truly Exotic Development
Aired 27 July 1970 • 60 min
Alec Stewart is involved in an explosive situation. Mogul's drilling rig on a Caribbean island has been sabotaged. Stead send Alec's old rival Thornton out to investigate.
12. That's Africa, Baby
Aired 3 August 1970 • 60 min
Tribal quarrels, witch doctors, political double-dealing, a drunken hotel-keeper and a mysterious blow-back on a decrepit drilling rig - all hundreds of miles from nowhere in the African bush.
13. They Shall Not Pass
Aired 10 August 1970 • 60 min
14. Let's See The Colour Of Your Money
Aired 17 August 1970 • 60 min
15. Hey We've Got A Problem Here
Aired 24 August 1970 • 60 min
Mogul's experiments in shipping oil out of Alaska under the ice in giant submarine tankers have gone well. Now Izard, Stead and Thornton visit their submarine, not in Alaska but in the Caribbean. But even there things can go wrong, as Stead finds out on his first underwater dive.
16. The Order Of The Good Time
Aired 31 August 1970 • 60 min
Industry, pollution, overcrowding - Stead is feeling the pressures of them all when he gets to Nova Scotia. Here he finds the perfect site for Mogul's new refinery. But is it perfect? In the peace of a small country hotel, Stead finds time to think.
17. Injury To The Nation
Aired 7 September 1970 • 60 min
Stead, Thornton and Izard are on trial tonight. State secrets have been leaked to a foreign power, and the Ministry of defence investigator, Commander Frayne, says the leak must be from one of these three men.