British Comedy:The Top Secret Life of Edgar Briggs

Years: 1974
Broadcaster: ITV (LWT)
Genre: Sitcom
Written by: Richard Laing, Bernard McKenna
Stars: David Jason, Michael Stainton
Episodes: 13
Episode Average: 2.231

BEST EPISODES:
The Leak (1974), The Contact (1974)

SERIES ONE

(1974)
13 episodes
Series Score: 29
Episode Average: 2.23
Perfect 10's: 0

S1E1

THE ASSASSIN

Originally broadcast: 15 September 1974
Directed by: Bryan Izzard
Written by: Richard Laing, Bernard McKenna

Briggs is informed that there will be an attempt on the Commander's life, a chauffeur provides information about exactly where it will happen, and the target's not happy when he's asked to place himself in the firing line.

"And I presume since six o'clock this morning, he has been guarded night and day."

HOLY GODIVA 1 - ONION JACK 1
TOTAL: 2

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S1E2

THE DEFECTOR

Originally broadcast: 22 September 1974
Directed by: Bryan Izzard
Written by: Richard Laing, Bernard McKenna

The Commander learns that Greville may be about to defect to Moscow, Cathy's ecstatic when an old face rejoins the team after three years, and Briggs reports that two Russian agents are about to fly out by helicopter.

"This is the file containing all the information on the job. Now, I want you to destroy it, memorise it, and then read it."

HOLY GODIVA 1 - ONION JACK 1
TOTAL: 2

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S1E3

THE LEAK

Originally broadcast: 29 September 1974
Directed by: Bryan Izzard
Written by: Richard Laing, Bernard McKenna

The Americans ask for help when there's a leak at their London Embassy, the CIA reveal that they have narrowed it down to four possible suspects, and Briggs orders a search after working out that it can only be one man.

"I can't tell you, my lips are sealed."

HOLY GODIVA 2 - ONION JACK 2
TOTAL: 4

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S1E4

THE ESCAPE ROUTE

Originally broadcast: 6 October 1974
Directed by: Bryan Izzard
Written by: Richard Laing, Bernard McKenna

The British look to learn something when an East German agent escapes,
Buxton learns how he plans to get out after spending time in prison, and Briggs is bundled into the back of a van after a case of mistaken identity.

"You can't do that, Buxton. You'll be spotted digging a tunnel over the wall."

HOLY GODIVA 1 - ONION JACK 1
TOTAL: 2

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S1E5

THE ABDUCTION

Originally broadcast: 25 October 1974
Directed by: Bryan Izzard
Written by: Richard Laing, Bernard McKenna

Buxton and Spencer fear the worst when the Commander is kidnapped,
Briggs struggles to deal with two jobs when he's temporarily promoted, and Jennifer makes coffee and sandwiches for a surveillance operation.

"Right, well, goodbye darling. Goodbye Spencer"

HOLY GODIVA 1 - ONION JACK 1
TOTAL: 2

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

S1E6

THE EXCHANGE

Originally broadcast: 1 November 1974
Directed by: Bryan Izzard
Written by: Richard Laing, Bernard McKenna

The British government agree to swap spies at the inner German border, Briggs is upset when the deal forces him to abandon his decorating, and East and West manage to battle through confusion to finalise the details.

"Don't panic, I think he's got a gun."

HOLY GODIVA 1 - ONION JACK 1
TOTAL: 2

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

S1E7

THE COURIER

Originally broadcast: 8 November 1974
Directed by: Bryan Izzard
Written by: Richard Laing, Bernard McKenna

Spencer learns that an orchestra is passing information to the other side, Cathy suggests that the music they play might be some sort of code, and Briggs decides to go after the pianist after listening to a piano concerto.

"Darling, I want you to play this music because unfortunately Cathy only plays little pianos, and more unfortunately, Buxton only plays the piano on a trumpet."

HOLY GODIVA 1 - ONION JACK 1
TOTAL: 2

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S1E8

THE TRAITOR

Originally broadcast: 15 November 1974
Directed by: Bryan Izzard
Written by: Richard Laing, Bernard McKenna

The arrest of agents in Czechoslovakia leads to concerns about a traitor,
the team are told to put the documents department under surveillance, and Spencer asks if Briggs is deliberately jeopardising the investigation.

"Darling, it seems we've got a traitor in the department... Oh, yes... I hope it isn't me."

HOLY GODIVA 1 - ONION JACK 1
TOTAL: 2

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S1E9

THE K.G.B.

Originally broadcast: 22 November 1974
Directed by: Bryan Izzard
Written by: Richard Laing, Bernard McKenna

The KGB aren't happy when a nuclear physicist seeks asylum in the west, Briggs waste a lot of time as he looks for ways to improve efficiency, and the Commander wants answers when the doctor falls into enemy hands.

"Oh, darling, look, I'm in a bit of a hurry. I'll kiss you goodbye when I get back. All right?"

HOLY GODIVA 1 - ONION JACK 1
TOTAL: 2

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

S1E10

THE DRAWING

Originally broadcast: 29 November 1974
Directed by: Bryan Izzard
Written by: Richard Laing, Bernard McKenna

A telex tells of a security leak at the Ministry of Defence drawing office,
Briggs finds a suspect during an examination of the personnel files, and a 24 hour surveillance operation manages to deliver absolutely no proof.

"Now, this 24 hour surveillance took the best part of a day."

HOLY GODIVA 1 - ONION JACK 1
TOTAL: 2

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S1E11

THE PRESIDENT

Originally broadcast: 6 December 1974
Directed by: Bryan Izzard
Written by: Richard Laing, Bernard McKenna

The President of Bahria travels to Britain to speak to the Prime Minister, Briggs gets confused when he goes over the route from the airport, and
a thorough search of the guest's hotel room results in a dreadful mess.

"Mr. President, would you mind coming as well... Otherwise, there won't be anyone to assassinate."

HOLY GODIVA 1 - ONION JACK 1
TOTAL: 2

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S1E12

THE APPOINTMENT

Originally broadcast: 13 December 1974
Directed by: Bryan Izzard
Written by: Richard Laing, Bernard McKenna

The Commander introduces a new recruit who has arrived from Havana, Briggs is tasked with carrying out a high level check for the foreign office, and the newcomer is offered a few lessons in counterintelligence work.

"No, no, you go ahead, Spencer, I'd better stay out here and tell Mrs. Collins why I shan't be here when she gets back."

HOLY GODIVA 1 - ONION JACK 1
TOTAL: 2

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S1E13

THE CONTACT

Originally broadcast: 20 December 1974
Directed by: Bruce Gowers
Written by: Richard Laing, Bernard McKenna

A Foreign Office worker thinks that a foreign agent has approached him,
a need to identify him forces the team to try and take a photograph, and Buxton identifies the contact as a man who works for the KGB in London.

"I know that, Commander, but if you want to see his face, all you've got to do it to turn it around. That's funny, this side didn't come out."

HOLY GODIVA 1 - ONION JACK 2
TOTAL: 3

EDGAR
BRIGGS

Played by David Jason
13 episodes (1974)
in... The Traitor (S1E8)

BUXTON

Played by Michael Stainton
13 episodes (1974)
in... The Abduction (S1E5)

THE
COMMANDER

Played by Noel Coleman
12 episodes (1974)
in... The Defector (S1E2)

SPENCER

Played by Mark Eden
12 episodes (1974)
in... The Exchange (S1E6)

JENNIFER
BRIGGS

Played by Barbara Angell
10 episodes (1974)
in... The Leak (S1E3)

CATHY
STRONG

Played by Elizabeth Counsell
10 episodes (1974)
in... The Abduction (S1E5)