A very interesting story from series 1, about the extremes of advertising including subliminally transmitted instructions to unsuspecting public. Maurice Roeves , Stott from Dr Who Caves of Androzani is great in this. Archivetvmusings review below, as mentioned the tension between Quist and Ridge is evident here and really adds a level of intrigue to the series as a whole. Recommended.
The episode opens with four young women, dressed in checkerboard miniskirts, who are offering samples of sweets. A group of businessmen are eager to sample them and Pat Hunnisett, who’s a bit pressed for time, also grabs one.
In the Doomwatch office, Quist is interested in a computer report that smoking has increased by 49% in the local London area. There’s been no new brands launched, so why the staggering change in the figures? Ridge is sent to buy sample cigarettes from various shops whilst Wren visits Checkerboard cigarettes.
Checkerboard certainly seems to be the common factor – Ridge discovers that the majority of the increased sales are for their products. The trail leads to Shiptons, an advertising agency who have the Checkerboard contract. The company is run by Peter Shipton (Maurice Roëves) who clearly has something to hide, as well as a very natty dress sense.
After numerous tests, the incredible truth comes out – the chocolates are laced with a drug that over time generates a craving for Checkerboard cigarettes. Since Pat has eaten a chocolate, she’s an ideal guinea pig for the team to test, but she becomes increasingly ill and is rushed to hospital.
Ridge is still attempting to get the truth from Shipton and Pegg (the owner of the chocolate factory) when he receives a devastating call – Pat is dead and his anger is enough to force the whole story out of them. Ridge remains angry though, especially when he learns that Pat is fine – Quist had arranged for the call to be made stating that she’d died in order to force Shipton and Pegg’s hand.
The episode opens with four young women, dressed in checkerboard miniskirts, who are offering samples of sweets. A group of businessmen are eager to sample them and Pat Hunnisett, who’s a bit pressed for time, also grabs one.
In the Doomwatch office, Quist is interested in a computer report that smoking has increased by 49% in the local London area. There’s been no new brands launched, so why the staggering change in the figures? Ridge is sent to buy sample cigarettes from various shops whilst Wren visits Checkerboard cigarettes.
Checkerboard certainly seems to be the common factor – Ridge discovers that the majority of the increased sales are for their products. The trail leads to Shiptons, an advertising agency who have the Checkerboard contract. The company is run by Peter Shipton (Maurice Roëves) who clearly has something to hide, as well as a very natty dress sense.
After numerous tests, the incredible truth comes out – the chocolates are laced with a drug that over time generates a craving for Checkerboard cigarettes. Since Pat has eaten a chocolate, she’s an ideal guinea pig for the team to test, but she becomes increasingly ill and is rushed to hospital.
Ridge is still attempting to get the truth from Shipton and Pegg (the owner of the chocolate factory) when he receives a devastating call – Pat is dead and his anger is enough to force the whole story out of them. Ridge remains angry though, especially when he learns that Pat is fine – Quist had arranged for the call to be made stating that she’d died in order to force Shipton and Pegg’s hand.
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