The Lotus Eaters | |
---|---|
Genre | Drama |
Created by | Michael J. Bird |
Directed by |
|
Starring | |
No. of series | 2 |
No. of episodes | 15 |
Production | |
Producers |
|
Production location | Aghios Nikolaos, Crete |
Original release | |
Network | BBC2 |
Release | 23 April 1972 – 12 August 1973 |
Related | |
Who Pays the Ferryman? |
The Lotus Eaters is a BBC television drama first broadcast in 1972 and 1973.
The series, written by Michael J. Bird, deals with the lives of British expatriates living on the island of Crete, and their reasons for being there.
The central characters are a married couple, Erik (Ian Hendry) and Ann Shepherd (Wanda Ventham), who run a tavern called "Shepherd's Bar".
Ann is revealed in the first episode to be a sleeper agent of British Intelligence, Erik having been a broken-down drunk whom she was made to marry as part of her cover story. Other episodes deal with the other expatriates who frequented the bar. The most intriguing character in both series is the Greek police captain, Michael Krasakis (Stefan Gryff). In the second series the British Intelligence aspect is developed, until a clash with Soviet and Chinese agents results in both Ann and Erik having to leave Crete. In the final scene, about to board a plane leaving Heraklion airport, they have a partial reconciliation, since each is the only person the other can trust.
Location scenes in The Lotus Eaters were filmed in the Cretan resort of Aghios Nikolaos and derived its title from the lotus-eaters of Greek mythology, where those who ate the fruit of the lotus tree lost the desire to return home.
The series was also the first of the Mediterranean-based dramas written by Michael J Bird for the BBC. The others included Who Pays the Ferryman? , also set in Crete; The Aphrodite Inheritance , set in Cyprus; and The Dark Side of the Sun , set in Rhodes.
The series' theme is "Ta Trena Pou Fyghan" (Τα Τραίνα Που Φύγαν" = "The Trains That Departed), from the album Hellespont, composed by Stavros Xarchakos. [1]
1–1 Cold Wind from the North | (23 Apr 1972) | [2] |
Writer / Creator | Michael J. Bird | |
Associate Producer | Michael Glynn | |
Director | Cyril Coke | |
Studio lighting | Nigel Wright | |
Studio sound | Gordon Mackie | |
Designer | Colin Shaw | |
Producer | Anthony Read | |
Erik Shepherd | Ian Hendry | |
Nikos | Anthony Stamboulieh | |
Katerina | Karan David | |
Franz Zimmermann | John G. Heller | |
Ann Shepherd | Wanda Ventham | |
Donald Culley | James Kerry | |
Ruth Stewart | Cyd Hayman | |
Leigh Mervish | Carol Cleveland | |
Philip Mervish | Karl Held | |
Kirsten McLuhan | Julia Goodman | |
Mark Potter | Martin Howells | |
Major Woolley | Thorley Walters | |
Mrs Woolley | Sylvia Coleridge | |
Nestor Turton | Maurice Denham | |
Vassilakis | Michael Zorba | |
First boy | Ziggy Byfield | |
Second boy | Charles Marriott | |
Girl | Alison Griffin | |
Policeman | Antonio Di Maggio | |
Controller | Frank Duncan | |
Instructor | Milos Kirek |
1–2 The Present Mrs Clive | (30 Apr 1972) | [3] |
Writer / Creator | Michael J. Bird | |
Producer | Michael Glynn | |
Director | Douglas Camfield | |
Costumes | Judy Allen | |
Make-up | Jacquie Jefferies | |
Designer | Michael Young | |
Producer | Anthony Read | |
Erik Shepherd | Ian Hendry | |
Ann Shepherd | Wanda Ventham | |
Katerina | Karan David | |
Major Woolley | Thorley Walters | |
Mrs Woolley | Sylvia Coleridge | |
David Clive | Michael McStay | |
Jennifer Neal | Susan Tebbs | |
Nikos | Anthony Stamboulieh | |
Captain Krasakis | Stefan Gryff | |
Mark Potter | Martin Howells | |
Kirsten McLuhan | Julia Goodman | |
Nestor Turton | Maurice Denham | |
Lorna Clive | Ann Firbank | |
Philip Mervish | Karl Held | |
Leigh Mervish | Carol Cleveland |
1–3 And Hera Had a Sister | (7 May 1972) | [4] |
Writer / Creator | Michael J. Bird | |
Producer | Michael Glynn | |
Director | Douglas Camfield | |
Designer | Michael Young | |
Producer | Anthony Read | |
Erik Shepherd | Ian Hendry | |
Ann Shepherd | Wanda Ventham | |
Katerina Carol Sadler | Karan David | |
Nikos | Anthony Stamboulieh | |
Postman | Andrew Andreas | |
Clerk of the Court | Neville Barber | |
Policeman | Clive Roger | |
Major Woolley | Thorley Walters | |
Mrs Woolley | Sylvia Coleridge | |
Philip Mervish | Karl Held | |
Leigh Mervish | Carol Cleveland | |
Fisherman | John Eastham | |
Nestor Turton | Maurice Denham | |
Donald Culley | James Kerry | |
Controller | Frank Duncan | |
Captain Krasakis | Stefan Gryff | |
Sheila Fleming | Pamela Roland | |
Machin | Derek Ware |
1–4 A Touch of Home | (14 May 1972) | [5] |
Writer / Creator | Michael J. Bird | |
Producer | Michael Glynn | |
Director | Cyril Coke | |
Designer | Michael Young | |
Producer | Anthony Read | |
Erik Shepherd | Ian Hendry | |
Major Woolley | Thorley Walters | |
Ann Shepherd | Wanda Ventham | |
Nikos | Anthony Stamboulieh | |
Mrs Woolley | Sylvia Coleridge | |
Kirsten McLuhan | Julia Goodman | |
Mark Potter | Martin Howells | |
Katerina | Karan David | |
Leigh Mervish | Carol Cleveland | |
Philip Mervish | Karl Held | |
Clerk | Andreas Markos | |
Captain Krasakis | Stefan Gryff |
1–5 Aphrodite | (22 May 1972) | [6] |
Creator | Michael J. Bird | |
Writer | Jack Ronder | |
Associate Producer | Michael Glynn | |
Director | David Cunliffe | |
Designer | Austin Ruddy | |
Producer | Anthony Read | |
Erik Shepherd | Ian Hendry | |
Mark Potter | Martin Howells | |
Kirsten McLuhan | Julia Goodman | |
Ann Shepherd | Wanda Ventham | |
Julie | Suzan Farmer | |
Nikos | Anthony Stamboulieh | |
Katerina | Karan David | |
Nestor Turton | Maurice Denham | |
Police Sergeant | Tony Boyd | |
Captain Krasakis | Stefan Gryff | |
Val | Ingrid Hafner | |
Nat | Gary Waldhorn | |
Policeman | Antonio Di Maggio |
1–6 A Tiger in Bristol Street | (28 May 1972) | [7] |
Creator | Michael J. Bird | |
Writer | David Fisher | |
Associate Producer | Michael Glynn | |
Director | Cyril Coke | |
Designer | Colin Shaw | |
Producer | Anthony Read | |
Erik Shepherd | Ian Hendry | |
Jervis Duncan | Peter Woodthorpe | |
Monica Turton | Alethea Charlton | |
Nestor Turton | Maurice Denham | |
American Husband | Peter Carlisle | |
Nikos | Anthony Stamboulieh | |
Katerina | Karan David | |
Captain Krasakis | Stefan Gryff | |
Controller | Frank Duncan | |
Donald Culley | James Kerry |
1–7 The Fascinating Couple | (4 Jun 1972) | [8] |
Creator | Michael J. Bird | |
Writer | David Weir | |
Associate Producer | Michael Glynn | |
Director | David Cunliffe | |
Producer | Anthony Read | |
Erik Shepherd | Ian Hendry | |
Mark Potter | Martin Howells | |
Kirsten McLuhan | Julia Goodman | |
Ann Shepherd | Wanda Ventham | |
Philip Mervish | Karl Held | |
Leigh Mervish | Carol Cleveland | |
Nikos | Anthony Stamboulieh | |
Nestor Turton | Maurice Denham |
1–8 You Might Get Hurt, Jocasta | (11 Jun 1972) | [9] |
Creator | Michael J. Bird | |
Writer | David Weir | |
Associate Producer | Michael Glynn | |
Director | Douglas Camfield | |
Producer | Anthony Read | |
Jocasta | Anouska Hempel | |
Alan Fletcher | Griffith Jones | |
Alexia | Thalia Kouri | |
Erik Shepherd | Ian Hendry | |
Katerina | Karan David | |
Ann Shepherd | Wanda Ventham | |
Donald Culley | James Kerry |
1–9 The Climbing Wave | (18 Jun 1972) | [10] |
Creator / Writer | Michael J. Bird | |
Designer | Colin Shaw | |
Associate Producer | Michael Glynn | |
Director | David Cunliffe | |
Producer | Anthony Read | |
Erik Shepherd | Ian Hendry | |
Katerina | Karan David | |
Nikos | Anthony Stamboulieh | |
Ann Shepherd | Wanda Ventham | |
Donald Culley | James Kerry | |
Mark Potter | Martin Howells | |
Nestor Turton | Maurice Denham | |
Kirsten McLuhan | Julia Goodman | |
Controller | Frank Duncan | |
Captain Krasakis | Stefan Gryff |
2–1 There and Back by Candlelight | (8 Jul 1973) | [11] |
Creator / Writer | Michael J. Bird | |
Designer | Michael Young | |
Associate Producer | Michael Glynn | |
Director | Cyril Coke | |
Nestor Turton | Maurice Denham | |
Erik Shepherd | Ian Hendry | |
Ann Shepherd | Wanda Ventham | |
Nikos | Anthony Stamboulieh | |
Captain Krasakis | Stefan Gryff | |
Nicholson | Godfrey James | |
Cotton | Frank Duncan | |
Major Constantinos | John Savident | |
Richards | Ian Fairbairn | |
Gerald Mace | Timothy Carlton | |
Doctor | Frederick Peisley |
2–2 A Kind of Treason | (15 Jul 1973) | [12] |
Creator / Writer | Michael J. Bird | |
Designer | Austin Ruddy | |
Associate Producer | Michael Glynn | |
Director | Viktors Ritelis | |
Ann Shepherd | Wanda Ventham | |
Erik Shepherd | Ian Hendry | |
Gerald Mace | Timothy Carlton | |
Nestor Turton | Maurice Denham | |
Nicholson | Godfrey James | |
Major Constantinos | John Savident | |
Richards | Ian Fairbairn | |
Captain Krasakis | Stefan Gryff | |
Nikos | Anthony Stamboulieh | |
Cotton | Frank Duncan | |
Chief Supt Fowler | Antony Carrick | |
Ariadne Mazonaki | Calliope Petrohilos | |
Sam Webber | Paul Maxwell | |
Imogen Lundqvist | Susan Engel | |
Dr Dartington | Ronald Howard | |
Sir Hugh Russell | John Horsley |
2–3 A Very Long Spoon | (22 Jul 1973) | [13] |
Creator / Writer | Michael J. Bird | |
Designer | Graham Oakley | |
Associate Producer | Michael Glynn | |
Director | Cyril Coke | |
Ann Shepherd | Wanda Ventham | |
Erik Shepherd | Ian Hendry | |
Cotton | Frank Duncan | |
Captain Krasakis | Stefan Gryff | |
Imogen Lundqvist | Susan Engel | |
Dr Dartington | Ronald Howard | |
Nestor Turton | Maurice Denham | |
Ariadne Mazonaki | Calliope Petrohilos | |
Gerald Mace | Timothy Carlton | |
Bar customer | Andreas Markos | |
Sam Webber | Paul Maxwell | |
Sir Hugh Russell | John Horsley | |
Nicholson | Godfrey James |
2–4 Beside a Crooked Stile | (29 Jul 1973) | [14] |
Creator / Writer | Michael J. Bird | |
Designer | Michael Young | |
Associate Producer | Michael Glynn | |
Director | Viktors Ritelis | |
Ariadne Mazonaki | Calliope Petrohilos | |
Ann Shepherd | Wanda Ventham | |
Erik Shepherd | Ian Hendry | |
Nikos | Anthony Stamboulieh | |
Cotton | Frank Duncan | |
Sir Hugh Russell | John Horsley | |
Nicholson | Godfrey James | |
Gerald Mace | Timothy Carlton | |
Nestor Turton | Maurice Denham | |
Marukakis | Salvin Stewart | |
Sam Webber | Paul Maxwell | |
Captain Krasakis | Stefan Gryff | |
Imogen Lundqvist | Susan Engel | |
Dr Dartington | Ronald Howard |
2–5 The Well Diggers | (5 Aug 1973) | [15] |
Creator / Writer | Michael J. Bird | |
Designer | Michael Young | |
Associate Producer | Michael Glynn | |
Director | Cyril Coke | |
Ann Shepherd | Wanda Ventham | |
Erik Shepherd | Ian Hendry | |
Sam Webber | Paul Maxwell | |
Cotton | Frank Duncan | |
Nicholson | Godfrey James | |
Gerald Mace | Timothy Carlton | |
Ariadne Mazonaki | Calliope Petrohilos | |
Captain Krasakis | Stefan Gryff | |
Dr Dartington | Ronald Howard | |
Imogen Lundqvist | Susan Engel |
2–6 And If You Have Time, Lord | (12 Aug 1973) | [16] |
Creator / Writer | Michael J. Bird | |
Designer | Michael Young | |
Associate Producer | Michael Glynn | |
Director | Viktors Ritelis | |
Gerald Mace | Timothy Carlton | |
Nicholson | Godfrey James | |
Cotton | Frank Duncan | |
Erik Shepherd | Ian Hendry | |
Captain Krasakis | Stefan Gryff | |
Ariadne Mazonaki | Calliope Petrohilos | |
Imogen Lundqvist | Susan Engel | |
Ann Shepherd | Wanda Ventham | |
Dr Dartington | Ronald Howard | |
Sam Webber | Paul Maxwell | |
Nikos | Anthony Stamboulieh |
In Greek mythology, the lotus-eaters were a race of people living on an island dominated by the lotus tree, a plant whose botanical identity is uncertain. The lotus fruits and flowers were the primary food of the island and were a narcotic, causing the inhabitants to sleep in peaceful apathy. After they ate the lotus, they would forget their home and loved ones and long only to stay with their fellow lotus-eaters. Those who ate the plant never cared to report or return.
An extended play (EP) is a musical recording that contains more tracks than a single but fewer than an album or LP record. Contemporary EPs generally contain four to six tracks and have a playing time of 15 to 22 minutes. There is no strict definition of an "EP", but it is usually less cohesive than an album and more "non-committal".
The World Snooker Championship is the longest-running and most prestigious tournament in professional snooker. It is also the richest, with total prize money of £2,395,000 in 2023, including £500,000 for the winner. First held in 1927, it is now one of the three tournaments that make up snooker's Triple Crown Series. The reigning world champion is Luca Brecel.
Chris Farlowe is an English rock, blues and soul singer. He is best known for his hit single "Out of Time" written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, which rose to No. 1 in the UK Singles Chart in 1966, and his association with bands Atomic Rooster, the Thunderbirds and Colosseum. Outside his music career, Farlowe collects war memorabilia.
Wanda Ventham is an English actress with many roles on British television since beginning her career in the 1950s.
Michael Stephen Dempsey is an English musician and composer, who has played bass as a member of several post-punk and new wave bands, including the Cure and the Associates.
Ian Mackendrick Hendry was a British actor. He worked on several British TV series of the 1960s and 1970s, including the lead in the first series of The Avengers and The Lotus Eaters, and played roles in the films The Hill (1965), Repulsion (1965), Get Carter (1971), and Theatre of Blood (1973).
The Lotus Eaters are an English new wave band formed in 1981 in Liverpool. Their debut single, "The First Picture of You", became a hit in the UK and in continental Europe, notably France, Italy, Belgium and Spain.
The Aphrodite Inheritance is a BBC television series broadcast in 1979.
Michael J. Bird was an English writer.
Andrea Libman is a Canadian actress who has appeared in Little Women, Andre, and a guest role on The X-Files. She is also known for providing voice acting in various animated shows, such as voicing the characters of Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy in the Discovery Family series My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic and its spinoffs.
Erik Chitty was an English stage, film and television actor.
Timothy Carlton Congdon Cumberbatch is an English actor.
Ooh... You Are Awful is a 1972 British comedy film directed by Cliff Owen and starring Dick Emery, Derren Nesbitt, Ronald Fraser and Cheryl Kennedy. It is a feature-length adaptation of The Dick Emery Show It was Emery's sole starring film.
John Arthur Antrobus is an English playwright and screenwriter. He has written extensively for stage, screen, TV and radio, including the epic World War II play, Crete and Sergeant Pepper at the Royal Court. He authored the children's book series Ronnie, which includes Help! I am a Prisoner in a Toothpaste Factory.
Phoenix Film & Television Productions Ltd. is a Production and Post-Production company based in London at Three Mills Film Studios, founded in July 1998. The company produces films for the Corporate and Broadcast video markets.
Chronicle is a British television programme that was shown monthly and then fortnightly on BBC Two from 18 June 1966 until its last broadcast on 29 May 1991. Chronicle focused on popular archaeology and related subjects, and was considered an influential programme and a landmark in early television presentation of archaeology. The programme was commissioned by David Attenborough in 1966, and was produced by the Archaeological and Historical Unit headed by Paul Johnstone and later edited by Bruce Norman. Among the presenters of the programme were Magnus Magnusson, Colin Renfrew, David Drew, and John Julius Norwich.
Shabazz Palaces is an American hip hop group from Seattle led by Ishmael Butler a.k.a. Palaceer Lazaro. Much of the Butler's work as Shabazz Palaces has been made in collaboration with multi-instrumentalist Tendai "Baba" Maraire, son of mbira master Dumisani Maraire. Active since 2009, Shabazz Palaces has released five studio albums on Sub Pop after self-releasing two EPs. Their most recent album, The Don of Diamond Dreams, was released on April 17, 2020.
Starr and Company was a BBC television drama series aired in 1958. It was a soap opera, aired twice a week, Monday and Thursday. 77 episodes were made, of which only a single episode is known to survive.
Patricia Hooker was an Australian writer who worked extensively in England. She wrote for TV, radio and the stage.