The Escape of R.D.7

The Escape of R.D.7
Radio Times cover featuring the series along with another BBC serial A Chance of Thunder
Genre	Sci-Fi, Drama
Written by	Thomas Clarke
Directed by	James Ormerod
Starring	Barbara Murray Jennifer Wright Ellen Pollock
Composer	Eric Spear
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language	English
No. of series	1
No. of episodes	5
Production
Producer	James Ormerod
Running time	45 minutes
Production company	BBC
Original release
Network	BBC Television
Release	21 November (1961-11-21) – 19 December 1961 (1961-12-19)

The Escape of R.D.7 is a British television series first broadcast in 1961. ^[1] A serial, it was transmitted by the BBC in five episodes. ^[2]

Synopsis

Virologist Doctor Anna Hastings develops a R.D.7, a virus she believes will wipe out rats. After her laboratory is closed down after her assistant is injured, she continues her work on a remote location in the marshes of Essex but soon becomes concerned that virus is beginning to spread amongst humans.

Main cast

• Barbara Murray as Dr. Anna Hastings (5 episodes)
• Jennifer Wright as Peggy Butler (5 episodes)
• Ellen Pollock as Dr. Mary Carter (5 episodes)
• Derek Waring as David Cardosa (5 episodes)
• Roger Croucher as Peter Warner (5 episodes)
• Edward Malin as Tucker (5 episodes)
• Doel Luscombe as Cafe proprietor (5 episodes)
• Nigel Arkwright as Mackie (5 episodes)
• Victor Platt as George Warner (4 episodes)
• Joan Newell as Mrs. Warner (4 episodes)
• Tony Bronte as Glass (4 episodes)
• Patrick Cargill as Patrice Constantine (3 episodes)
• John Dearth as Dr. Protheroe (3 episodes)
• William Fox as Dr. Harrington (3 episodes)
• Philip Holles as Dr. Blenkinsop (3 episodes)
• Paul Eddington as Michael Rabinowitz (2 episodes)
• Robin Wentworth as PC Crabtree (2 episodes)
• Michael Collins as Det. Sgt. Brady (2 episodes)
• Austin Trevor as Sir Charles Delman (2 episodes)
• Alec Ross as Bannard (2 episodes)
• John Moore as Porter (2 episodes)
• Basil Beale as Alan Fry (2 episodes)
• Patrick Connor as PC Hanley (2 episodes)
• Raymond Hodge as Policeman (2 episodes)
• Soraya Rafat as Secretary (2 episodes)

Series status

Due to the BBC archival policies at the time all 5 episodes were wiped from there archives and none of them are thought to have survived. ^[3]

References

1. Fulton p.160
2. Baskin p.58
3. "The Escape of R D 7". tvbrain.info.

Bibliography

• Baskin, Ellen. Serials on British Television, 1950-1994. Scolar Press, 1996.
• Fulton, Roger. The Encyclopedia of TV Science Fiction. Boxtree, 1990.

External links

• The Escape of R.D.7 at IMDb