My Late Lamented Friend and Partner
My Late Lamented Friend and Partner serves as the inaugural episode of the 1969 British television series Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased). The show features performances by Mike Pratt, Kenneth Cope, and Annette Andre. This pilot first aired on 21 September 1969 on ITV and was directed by Cyril Frankel.
Cast
- Mike Pratt portraying Jeff Randall
- Kenneth Cope in the role of Marty Hopkirk
- Annette Andre as Jeannie Hopkirk
- Anne Sharp playing Fay Sorrensen
- Frank Windsor as John Sorrensen
- Dave Carter featured as Electrician
- Makki Marseilles cast as Manservant
- Tom Chatto appearing as Doctor
- Ronald Lacey in the role of Beatnik
- Harry Locke as Sid, the Night Porter at Jeff's apartment building
- Dolores Mantez portraying Happy Lee
- James Donnelly as Detective
- Anthony Sagar in the role of Hotel Proprietor
- Harold Innocent cast as Hit Man
Production
The exterior shots for Jeff Randall’s apartment were captured at Hanover House, located on St. John's High Street in NW London. Marty's flat exteriors were filmed on Lauderdale Road in Maida Vale, West London. The office facade shown is actually the entrance to Adams Furniture and Fabric store situated in Harrow. Scenes set in a cemetery were recorded on the ABC Elstree studios’ backlot at Borehamwood. Additional filming locations encompassed Eaton Place and Eaton Mews within Belgravia, Queens Gate Terrace off Fulham Road, along with extensive sequences throughout Central London including Cannon Street near St Paul's Cathedral, Wood Street, St. Alphage Gardens, Roman House, St. Alphage High Walk, Moor Lane junction, all featuring views of the Barbican Estate construction.
The stunt work was coordinated by Frank Maher, renowned for his contributions to series such as Department S, Danger Man, and The Prisoner. Stand-ins and stunt doubles included Harry Fielder doubling for Mike Pratt and Douglas Lockyer for Kenneth Cope. Other stunt performers involved were Rocky Taylor, Les Crawford, Alf Joint, Bill Sawyer, and Mike Reid.
Production wrapped up by early October 1968. As noted in the ITC synopsis guide, this episode was intended to be broadcast first within the series.
A brief 53-second silent behind-the-scenes clip featuring stand-ins was later released as an extra on the fourth region 2 DVD edition.
External links
- Episode overview at Randallandhopkirk.org.uk
- Filming locations at Randallandhopkirk.org.uk