About this season
The Expert is a British television series produced by the BBC between 1968 and 1976. The series starred Marius Goring as Dr. John Hardy, a pathologist working for the Home Office and was essentially a police procedural drama, with Hardy bringing his forensic knowledge to solve various cases. The Expert was created and produced by Gerard Glaister. The series was also one of the first BBC dramas to be made in colour, and throughout its four series had numerous high quality guest appearances by actors such as John Carson, Peter Copley, Rachel Kempson, Peter Vaughan, Clive Swift, Geoffrey Palmer, Peter Barkworth, Jean Marsh, Ray Brooks, George Sewell, Anthony Valentine, Bernard Lee, Lee Montague, Geoffrey Bayldon, Mike Pratt, Edward Fox, André Morell, Brian Blessed, Nigel Stock, Philip Madoc and Warren Clarke.
Episodes (13)
1. A Way to Die
Aired 3 January 1971 • 50 min
The body of a student is found in a pig-fattening shed. Hardy has to establish the cause of death.
2. Where Are You Going?
Aired 10 January 1971 • 50 min
The body of an attractive young girl is found by the roadside. Who was she? How did she get there? How did she die? Hardy and Fleming are faced with finding the answer.
3. The Man on My Back
Aired 17 January 1971 • 50 min
Fleming and Hardy are used to hit-and-run cases where they find a body but no car. In this curious case the situation is reversed: a blood-stained car but no body.
4. Go Somewhere Else
Aired 24 January 1971 • 50 min
Gypsies led by Samuel Brown arrive in the Hardy neighbourhood - to the horror of many residents. A public meeting is called to discuss the 'problem.' But protest can go too far.
5. Whose Child?: Part 1: The Wife
Aired 31 January 1971 • 50 min
After fifteen years of childless marriage, Ruth Fletcher has a son. But she has a problem which she takes to Jo Hardy: is it possible that her husband is not the father?
6. Whose Child?: Part 2: The Husband
Aired 7 February 1971 • 50 min
Dr Hardy has told Harry Fletcher that he could not be the father of his wife's child. Harry confronts his wife's lover, Michael Jackson.
7. Cedric
Aired 14 February 1971 • 50 min
Cedric Lambert, a lonely 54-year-old bachelor, visits Dr Jo Hardy in her surgery. But apparently there is nothing wrong with his health - all he wishes to do is to show her an antique book.
8. A Scientific Fact
Aired 21 February 1971 • 50 min
Hardy is much possessed by the problems surrounding the scientific fact of death. And in this story of an elderly retired Major, his wife and son, the police become totally involved as well.
9. The Coat
Aired 28 February 1971 • 50 min
Early one morning a young Maltese girl is found stabbed to death. Fleming is immediately convinced that her ex-boyfriend is guilty. Hardy has other ideas.
10. True Confession
Aired 7 March 1971 • 50 min
A young librarian finds a body in the woods. He does not tell the Police but the Press - which for Hardy and Fleming adds confusion to an already confusing case.
11. Smithereens
Aired 14 March 1971 • 50 min
The milkman pays his morning call on Mrs Carr, and finds her lying unconscious on the conservatory floor. She is surrounded by fragments of a milk bottle - which lead to several sleepless nights for Hardy and Sandra.
12. Hothouse
Aired 21 March 1971 • 50 min
Two young boys have their day's fishing disturbed when they find a body in the river. The question facing Fleming and Hardy: did he fall or was he pushed?
13. A Clear and Easy Duty
Aired 28 March 1971 • 50 min
In the last of this series, Hardy and Fleming are faced with the kidnapping of a son of wealthy parents - not so unusual for them but strange and unfortunate for Jo when she becomes involved.