"The Intruder"

[Ealingfilmfan]

Hi all.....:



Anyone remember a TV series, (Possibly only shown on the Granada region), called "The Intruder"......



It ran for about ten episodes about 6pm on a Sunday night around 1969/70, set in Cumbria around Seascale, the young man who was around 16 wore a denim top and jeans and was called Arnold Haithwaite, and the stranger in the village wore a long mac and eyepiece and also "claimed" to be Arnold also......



The name of the stranger escapes me, but he is a fairly well known actor and appeared in Coronation street, (I think he ran the corner shop for a while)...



A very weird, offbeat but gripping series...........





Untitled Document

[Ealingfilmfan]

It was possibly this, it COULD have been early '72.....



"The Intruder" (1972)



I have trawled Google and can't bring up any pictures of "Arnold".......Or the series...I don't remember Jean Alexander being in it (Hilda Ogden), but it was such a long time ago I probably have forgotton.........

[Focus 2]

I have vague memories of it, was it classed as a Children's Programme?

[Mr Cosmo]

Anyone remember a TV series, (Possibly only shown on the Granada region), called "The Intruder"......



It ran for about ten episodes about 6pm on a Sunday night around 1969/70, set in Cumbria around Seascale, the young man who was around 16 wore a denim top and jeans and was called Arnold Haithwaite, and the stranger in the village wore a long mac and eyepiece and also "claimed" to be Arnold also......



The name of the stranger escapes me, but he is a fairly well known actor and appeared in Coronation street, (I think he ran the corner shop for a while)...



A very weird, offbeat but gripping series...........

"The Intruder" (1972) was broadcast nationally at around 5:30 on a Sunday and the reason it ran for 8 episodes only is it had an ending which I won't reveal here - but it was a surprise.

The guy with the eyepatch was Milton Johns who appears to have been in everything. I remember thinking he was quite eerie in the show. He came back home and started ingratiating himself with the old father / grandfather who was dying. At one point I remember he converted the old man's house to a private hotel and he kept insisting he was the real Arnold.

Although it was a childrens' drama, the last episode involved the young Arnold being trapped with his girlfriend as the sea came in drowning them. He was just sitting back and saying "if the sea's going to get yer it'll get yer" while she was made of sterner stuff - stood up and took off her dress and used it to cover the sharp edges of a rock which she used to smash their way out. I remember being surprised at seeing so much of her at that time on a Sunday afternoon when we were still recovering from THE GOLDEN SHOT.

I think it was made by Yorkshire TV and it suffered from all the "grim up north" characters that used to appear in so many of their shows.

[Ealingfilmfan]

name='Sam Boone'][The guy with the eyepatch was Milton Johns who appears to have been in everything. I remember thinking he was quite eerie in the show. He came back home and started ingratiating himself with the old father / grandfather who was dying. At one point I remember he converted the old man's house to a private hotel and he kept insisting he was the real Arnold.

That's the guy, thanks.. ....Whenever I see him on TV I always think of him as Arnold Haithwaite, we used to call him "patch".......

[BristolUK]

Did the opening titles feature a man walking around the inside of one of those huge dishes?



Sinister sounding music...just a single piano note (or two) every few seconds?

[Sonny]

The Intruder was produced by Granada Television in the early 70's and was adapted by Mervyn Haisman and Peter Plummer from the book of the same name by John Rowe Townsend.



It comprised eight x 25 minute episodes and was only repeated once.



The Intruder was set mainly in the Cumbrian seaside village of Ravenglass, with other locations used including Aberffraw (Anglesey) and Manchester.



I have a DVD copy of the last episode - I consider myself (without wishing to blow my own trumpet) as the authority on this subject and my memorabilia collection will further testify this rather big-headed statement!



Sonny.

[batman]

name='Sonny']The Intruder: I have a DVD copy of the last episode - I consider myself (without wishing to blow my own trumpet) as the authority on this subject and my memorabilia collection will further testify this rather big-headed statement!

Sonny.

Good for you . I remember this series fondly too. Another of those great 70s dramas for children which were better than most of the stuff for adults today.



Bats.

[Sonny]

Thanks for that, Batman - you wouldn't believe how long it has taken me to locate fellow fans. If you. or anyone else, would like more info' about The Intruder - to my mind one of the all-time greats of (supposedly) children's television - then please post and I will accede to requests. Sonny, by the way, was the name of one of the lead characters, played by the enigmatic Milton Johns. James Bate played Arnold Haithwaite.

[Sonny]

I have a vast collection of memorabilia re-The Intruder, including copies of episodes 1, 2 and 8. Contact me if you wish to know more. Sonny.

[Candyfloss]

I don't remember many details about this series but I do recall how atmospheric the whole thing was and the twist at the end regarding the identity of Milton John's character.



I'd love to see it again so I'll be in touch too, Sonny.

[cah55]

Hello all -- I too remember this series from my childhood. It was compelling Sunday teatime viewing for the whole family not just us kids.



I think it must have been broadcast nationally because I used to live in Essex back then and we received just like you guys.



So Sonny just what memorabilia do you have???



I'd be fascinated to read the book -- wonder if it's available anywhere. Anybody heard of a library with it maybe?



When you compare most of the TV dramas we get nowadays it makes you realise they just do action now -- tense build up doesn't seem to exist anymore.



Thanks for rekindling great memories.

[Ian K McLachla]

I remember The Intruder. It also starred Simon Turner who at that time was appearing in a lot of young people's TV including - The Silver Sword, Tom Brown's Schooldays, The Long Chase, Kim and Co.

I would have thought that after releasing The Owl Service, Network might release this serial too. I hope so.

[Sonny]

name='cah55']Hello all -- I too remember this series from my childhood. It was compelling Sunday teatime viewing for the whole family not just us kids.



I think it must have been broadcast nationally because I used to live in Essex back then and we received just like you guys.



So Sonny just what memorabilia do you have???



I'd be fascinated to read the book -- wonder if it's available anywhere. Anybody heard of a library with it maybe?



When you compare most of the TV dramas we get nowadays it makes you realise they just do action now -- tense build up doesn't seem to exist anymore.



Thanks for rekindling great memories.

Hi there - I have just about every kind of memorabilia imaginable, including three episodes on DVDs and loads of photographs and information. Contact me if you need to know more

XX@YY.ZZ



Sonny.

[kemlyn]

The woman in it i believe was Shelia Ruskin i think

[Juliette6626]

name='Sonny']Hi there - I have just about every kind of memorabilia imaginable, including three episodes on DVDs and loads of photographs and information. Contact me if you need to know more

XX@YY.ZZ



Sonny.

Hi there,



I've been trying to track down more information about the Intruder for ages, I have just a few memories of the series when it was shown, would have been about 6 at the time.



I've looked on the web - and e-bay to see if there are any copies of the programmes available. Have you any ideas where else I might look?



Thanks in advance



Juliette

[Sonny]

The Intruder is not available on eBay. There is only me with all the necessary info'.

[Longlegs]

First class TV viewing, I was old enough to watch this series with interest. I found the character Sonny both mysterious and rather frightening.

[Sonny]

name='Longlegs' timestamp='1283952028' post='472187']

First class TV viewing, I was old enough to watch this series with interest. I found the character Sonny both mysterious and rather frightening.

Hi Longlegs - are you a spider or something with a name like that!



Anyway, that last post of mine was my first in ages. So pleased that you took the time to reply.



I have to tell you that 'The Intruder' was a story that helped shape my life - I have DVDs and video tapes of episodes 1, 2 and 8 plus tons of official photos and other related material.



As far as I am aware, I am the only person on Earth with all this stuff.



You're right, Sonny was mysterious and frightening and played with such conviction by Milton Johns.



I recommend you read the book by John Rowe Townsend which, in my view, is even more 'mysterious and frightening'. The book is still in print.



If you do manage to read it, please let me know your views. In my view, it is a story of adolescent turbulence with the setting as a magnificent backdrop which adds to the story.



I am now a published author on the strength of this book and TV series - you can find my book 'Ravenglass: A Lake District Village in Poems and Pictures' on Amazon or direct from me.



Thanks again for your reply - it's good that someone out there might feel the same way as I do about 'The Intruder'.

[cah55]

name='Sonny' timestamp='1283973937' post='472309']

Hi Longlegs - are you a spider or something with a name like that!



Anyway, that last post of mine was my first in ages. So pleased that you took the time to reply.



I have to tell you that 'The Intruder' was a story that helped shape my life - I have DVDs and video tapes of episodes 1, 2 and 8 plus tons of official photos and other related material.



As far as I am aware, I am the only person on Earth with all this stuff.



You're right, Sonny was mysterious and frightening and played with such conviction by Milton Johns.



I recommend you read the book by John Rowe Townsend which, in my view, is even more 'mysterious and frightening'. The book is still in print.



If you do manage to read it, please let me know your views. In my view, it is a story of adolescent turbulence with the setting as a magnificent backdrop which adds to the story.



I am now a published author on the strength of this book and TV series - you can find my book 'Ravenglass: A Lake District Village in Poems and Pictures' on Amazon or direct from me.



Thanks again for your reply - it's good that someone out there might feel the same way as I do about 'The Intruder'.

What a weird coincidence -- I too haven't looked/posted here in ages.



I never realised the book was still available but I'll certainly try to get hold of a copy.

Your own book sounds interesting -- you mentioned Amazon or direct from you does

that mean you have a website or something?



Over the years when old TV programs have come up in conversation I'm always amazed

that so many people remember Intruder. It definitely had that special "something".



In our house it was a "must watch" for the whole family.



Wouldn't it be great if one of the satellite channels did a re-run.

Anyone any ideas how we could lobby them?