The Long Chase

I was six years old when this was aired. I was captivated by it and it was my "look forward to" moment of the week. Unfortunately, being six I didnt have any control over my parents life schedule and they failed to get me home on time to see the last episode. I've been waiting 48 years to see it! The great news is that this was never video taped! YES! It means the BBC couldn't have wiped it in order to re-use what was then expensive video tape. Due to some of the night time / dark moments of the series it was all filmed on 16mm film. So somewhere - it's sitting there waiting for a new audience. Come on BBC - you have enough platforms now to put this out again, whether on line or on TV.

Like all the other contributors I watched this series in the 1970s. It was primarily aimed to entertain children and contained all the educational elements at which the BBC excelled at the time. Suspense, a real travelogue of scenery and activity from the Devon coast via the Lake District to Edinburgh and its Tattoo. It also showed three virtual forms of life saving using real examples including the search helicopters.

The acting by the adults maintained the story line but was definitely a trifle all knowing whereas the two young leads mixed adventure with theorising on exactly what was actually going on.

At the time I was surprised that the relationship between the young leads did not become more romantic but perhaps that would have been a lesson too far?

My impression at the end was that there was scope for a sequel involving the same characters but, alas, nothing materialised.

I was too young to remember much about this series. I only remember a couple being chased and a white car (a Vauxhall Viva, I think). I do believe this series had an influence on me though and is the reason why I love films involving 'being chased', being 'on the run', like Terminator and Jason Bourne.

My father (Edward Brooks) played one of the 'baddies' in this one - the gunman, Kessler. Very few lines - it was a 'strong, silent type' part. Kessler spent much of his time looking sinister and peering down gun-sights. Probably one of the best things he was ever in.

A real children's classic of a programme, with enough 'bite' to keep the adults amused, too. The whole thing was filmed on location up and down the UK, from Clovelly to Edinburgh, in all kinds of winds and weathers! The 'landing of the baddies' - shot at night off the South Coast - was filmed in a pelting rainstorm which hardly showed up on camera! A point of interest, cameraman Mick Burke, who worked on this, was a notable climber. Sadly, he lost his life on one of the Everest expeditions some time later. He and my father spent many hours discussing photography together between takes.

I watched this when I was 8 and I still think of it all this time later

Why on earth have the bbc not made this available?

I can remember only one scene where I think the two kids were hiding in a cave and the villain started throwing big rocks in order to block the entrance and seal them in . Please tell me I wasn't imagining this scene and who was the baddie throwing the rocks ?

Surely of all our Channels one of them can reshow all the classic kids dramas from the 70's ?

So much tripe on tv let's get the chance to relive our childhood and see these shows once more . Thank you for reading !