ITV1 · Ended

Hot Metal

Comedy · 1986

Last aired: S2 E6, Unleash the Kracken · 1988-04-17

The Daily Crucible is facing its final edition; its straight-forward, totally-honest approach to reporting the news has won it much attention, but made it deadly dull and with ever-diminishing sales figures. Enter Twiggy Rathbone, tycoon owner of Rathouse International who's ready to turn the high-brow paper into a popular, sleazy, high-selling tabloid. He installs editor Russell Spam to do his bidding and 'promotes' the incumbent, Harry Stringer, to the role of 'managing editor' - a largely vanity role but holding what will become an increasingly difficult public face of respectability...

Cast

Robert Hardy Terence 'Twiggy' Rathbone

Robert Hardy Russell Spam

Geoffrey Palmer Harry Stringer

RK Richard Kane Greg Kettle

Geoffrey Hutchings Max Rutherford

John Gordon-Sinclair Bill Tytla

Richard Wilson Richard 'Dicky' Lipton

DB David Barrass Jack Thrush

CM Caroline Milmoe Maggie Troon

Season 2

Season 1 Season 2

E1 Religion of the People 1988-03-06 · 30 min With new Executive Managing Editor Dicky Lipton in place, Russell announces his latest exclusive: a 500-word column each week from God. After all, who else is more qualified to comment on the state of civilisation and society?

E2 The Joker to the Thief 1988-03-13 · 30 min Maggie uncovers a potentially massive story entirely by chance. Meanwhile, Lipton's insistence on releasing a woman encaged by the paper as part of a 'health and beauty' stunt leads to her swift death, and Twiggy sues his own publication for libel.

E3 The Hydra's Head 1988-03-20 · 30 min Dicky sends Greg to South America to get him out of the way, but he soon stumbles onto an equine saga; Russell sends Maggie off to hunt down the suspected murderer judge - alone.

E4 The Twilight Zone 1988-03-27 · 30 min When Lipton decides it's time to stop featuring topless women on Page 3, girls from across Fleet Street form a union and go on strike. In the New Forest, Twiggy opens a new theme park, and Kettle is busy collecting samples from the EastEnders cast

E5 Crown of Thorns 1988-04-10 · 30 min Much against his own protestations, Lipton is sent to Japan: when he hears that the paper has bought and is planning to give away the bones of Elvis, he rushes back home. Still hunting for Justice Hitchcock, Maggie finds that the clues are slwoly beginning to fall into place.

E6 Unleash the Kracken 1988-04-17 · 30 min A Royal Commission into the press is set to publish a particularly damning conclusion, and Rathbone is eager to stifle the report. Maggie's uncovered the truth behind the deaths at Justice Hitchcock's home, and it's even more shocking than anyone could have imagined.

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