The Lotus Eaters (TV series) explained
The Lotus Eaters is a BBC television drama first broadcast in 1972 and 1973.
The series, written by Michael J. Bird, deals with the lives of British expatriates living on the island of Crete, and their reasons for being there.
Plot
The central characters are a married couple, Erik (Ian Hendry) and Ann Shepherd (Wanda Ventham), who run a tavern called "Shepherd's Bar".
Ann is revealed in the first episode to be a sleeper agent of British Intelligence, Erik having been a broken-down drunk whom she was made to marry as part of her cover story. Other episodes deal with the other expatriates who frequented the bar. The most intriguing character in both series is the Greek police captain, Michael Krasakis (Stefan Gryff). In the second series the British Intelligence aspect is developed, until a clash with Soviet and Chinese agents results in both Ann and Erik having to leave Crete. In the final scene, about to board a plane leaving Heraklion airport, they have a partial reconciliation, since each is the only person the other can trust.
Cast
Main
Recurring cast (Season 1 only)
- James Kerry as Donald Culley (eps. 1, 3, 8–9)
- Thorley Walters as Major Edward Woolley (eps. 1–4)
- Sylvia Coleridge as Miriam Woolley (eps. 1–4)
- Julia Goodman as Kirsten McLuhan (eps. 1–2, 4–5, 7, 9)
- Martin Howells as Mark Potter (eps. 1–2, 4–5, 7, 9)
- Karan David as Katerina (eps. 1–6, 8–9)
- Carol Cleveland as Leigh Mervish (eps. 1–4, 7)
- Karl Held as Philip "Pip" Mervish (eps. 1–4, 7)
Recurring cast (Season 2 only)
Production
Location scenes in The Lotus Eaters were filmed in the Cretan resort of Aghios Nikolaos and derived its title from the lotus-eaters of Greek mythology, where those who ate the fruit of the lotus tree lost the desire to return home.
The series was also the first of the Mediterranean-based dramas written by Michael J Bird for the BBC. The others included Who Pays the Ferryman?, also set in Crete; The Aphrodite Inheritance, set in Cyprus; and The Dark Side of the Sun, set in Rhodes.
The series' theme is "Ta Trena Pou Fyghan" (Τα Τραίνα Που Φύγαν" = "The Trains That Departed), from the album Hellespont, composed by Stavros Xarchakos.[1]
Episode details
- Series 1:
class=unsortable style="border:hidden;line-height:1.67;margin-left:-1em;text-align:center;padding-left:0.5em;min-width:1.0em;" | | class=unsortable style="border-style:none;padding-left:0.5em;text-align:left;min-width:16.5em;font-weight:700;font-style:italic;" | 1–1Cold Wind from the North | class=unsortable style="border-style:none;text-align:right;font-weight:normal;font-family:Courier;font-size:95%;letter-spacing:-1pt;min-width:8.5em;padding-right:0.2em;" | | class=unsortable style="border-style:none;min-width:3.5em;padding-left:0;" | | class=unsortable style="border:hidden;min-width:3.5em;font-size:95%;" | |
| To eat the fruit of the lotus is to lose the desire to return home. But everyone who does has a reason. |
Writer / Creator | Michael J. Bird |
Associate Producer | Michael Glynn |
Director | Cyril Coke |
Studio lighting | Nigel Wright |
Studio sound | Gordon Mackie |
Designer | Colin Shaw |
Producer | Anthony Read |
Erik Shepherd | Ian Hendry |
Nikos | Anthony Stamboulieh |
Katerina | Karan David |
Franz Zimmermann | John G. Heller |
Ann Shepherd | Wanda Ventham |
Donald Culley | James Kerry |
Ruth Stewart | Cyd Hayman |
Leigh Mervish | Carol Cleveland |
Philip Mervish | Karl Held |
Kirsten McLuhan | Julia Goodman |
Mark Potter | Martin Howells |
Major Woolley | Thorley Walters |
Mrs Woolley | Sylvia Coleridge |
Nestor Turton | Maurice Denham |
Vassilakis | Michael Zorba |
First boy | Ziggy Byfield |
Second boy | Charles Marriott |
Girl | Alison Griffin |
Policeman | Antonio Di Maggio |
Controller | Frank Duncan |
Instructor | Milos Kirek | |
class=unsortable style="border:hidden;line-height:1.67;margin-left:-1em;text-align:center;padding-left:0.5em;min-width:1.0em;" | | class=unsortable style="border-style:none;padding-left:0.5em;text-align:left;min-width:16.5em;font-weight:700;font-style:italic;" | 1–2The Present Mrs Clive | class=unsortable style="border-style:none;text-align:right;font-weight:normal;font-family:Courier;font-size:95%;letter-spacing:-1pt;min-width:8.5em;padding-right:0.2em;" | | class=unsortable style="border-style:none;min-width:3.5em;padding-left:0;" | | class=unsortable style="border:hidden;min-width:3.5em;font-size:95%;" | |
| "I dont want to hurt her, but shes got to be made to realise that our marriage is dead." It sounds simple, but Lorna Clive has other ideas. |
Writer / Creator | Michael J. Bird |
Producer | Michael Glynn |
Director | Douglas Camfield |
Costumes | Judy Allen |
Make-up | Jacquie Jefferies |
Designer | Michael Young |
Producer | Anthony Read |
Erik Shepherd | Ian Hendry |
Ann Shepherd | Wanda Ventham |
Katerina | Karan David |
Major Woolley | Thorley Walters |
Mrs Woolley | Sylvia Coleridge |
David Clive | Michael McStay |
Jennifer Neal | Susan Tebbs |
Nikos | Anthony Stamboulieh |
Captain Krasakis | Stefan Gryff |
Mark Potter | Martin Howells |
Kirsten McLuhan | Julia Goodman |
Nestor Turton | Maurice Denham |
Lorna Clive | Ann Firbank |
Philip Mervish | Karl Held |
Leigh Mervish | Carol Cleveland | |
class=unsortable style="border:hidden;line-height:1.67;margin-left:-1em;text-align:center;padding-left:0.5em;min-width:1.0em;" | | class=unsortable style="border-style:none;padding-left:0.5em;text-align:left;min-width:16.5em;font-weight:700;font-style:italic;" | 1–3And Hera Had a Sister | class=unsortable style="border-style:none;text-align:right;font-weight:normal;font-family:Courier;font-size:95%;letter-spacing:-1pt;min-width:8.5em;padding-right:0.2em;" | | class=unsortable style="border-style:none;min-width:3.5em;padding-left:0;" | | class=unsortable style="border:hidden;min-width:3.5em;font-size:95%;" | |
| Storm clouds gather over Aghios Nikolaos as Erik Shepherd and his customers await a stranger. "We are all so vulnerable," says Captain Krasakis. "Conscience is every mans cross, as shame is his crown of thorns." |
Writer / Creator | Michael J. Bird |
Producer | Michael Glynn |
Director | Douglas Camfield |
Designer | Michael Young |
Producer | Anthony Read |
Erik Shepherd | Ian Hendry |
Ann Shepherd | Wanda Ventham |
Katerina Carol Sadler | Karan David |
Nikos | Anthony Stamboulieh |
Postman | Andrew Andreas |
Clerk of the Court | Neville Barber |
Policeman | Clive Roger |
Major Woolley | Thorley Walters |
Mrs Woolley | Sylvia Coleridge |
Philip Mervish | Karl Held |
Leigh Mervish | Carol Cleveland |
Fisherman | John Eastham |
Nestor Turton | Maurice Denham |
Donald Culley | James Kerry |
Controller | Frank Duncan |
Captain Krasakis | Stefan Gryff |
Sheila Fleming | Pamela Roland |
Machin | Derek Ware | |
class=unsortable style="border:hidden;line-height:1.67;margin-left:-1em;text-align:center;padding-left:0.5em;min-width:1.0em;" | | class=unsortable style="border-style:none;padding-left:0.5em;text-align:left;min-width:16.5em;font-weight:700;font-style:italic;" | 1–4A Touch of Home | class=unsortable style="border-style:none;text-align:right;font-weight:normal;font-family:Courier;font-size:95%;letter-spacing:-1pt;min-width:8.5em;padding-right:0.2em;" | | class=unsortable style="border-style:none;min-width:3.5em;padding-left:0;" | | class=unsortable style="border:hidden;min-width:3.5em;font-size:95%;" | |
| Major and Mrs Edward Woolley live a perfectly ordered existence on Crete. But when the calm routine is broken, their life explodes into a violent reaction. |
Writer / Creator | Michael J. Bird |
Producer | Michael Glynn |
Director | Cyril Coke |
Designer | Michael Young |
Producer | Anthony Read |
Erik Shepherd | Ian Hendry |
Major Woolley | Thorley Walters |
Ann Shepherd | Wanda Ventham |
Nikos | Anthony Stamboulieh |
Mrs Woolley | Sylvia Coleridge |
Kirsten McLuhan | Julia Goodman |
Mark Potter | Martin Howells |
Katerina | Karan David |
Leigh Mervish | Carol Cleveland |
Philip Mervish | Karl Held |
Clerk | Andreas Markos |
Captain Krasakis | Stefan Gryff | |
class=unsortable style="border:hidden;line-height:1.67;margin-left:-1em;text-align:center;padding-left:0.5em;min-width:1.0em;" | | class=unsortable style="border-style:none;padding-left:0.5em;text-align:left;min-width:16.5em;font-weight:700;font-style:italic;" | 1–5Aphrodite | class=unsortable style="border-style:none;text-align:right;font-weight:normal;font-family:Courier;font-size:95%;letter-spacing:-1pt;min-width:8.5em;padding-right:0.2em;" | | class=unsortable style="border-style:none;min-width:3.5em;padding-left:0;" | | class=unsortable style="border:hidden;min-width:3.5em;font-size:95%;" | |
| Like the goddess Aphrodite, Julie Johnson drifts into Aghios Nikolaos from the sea. And like Aphrodite she disrupts the lives of all she meets, particularly Ann and Erik Shepherd. |
Creator | Michael J. Bird |
Writer | Jack Ronder |
Associate Producer | Michael Glynn |
Director | David Cunliffe |
Designer | Austin Ruddy |
Producer | Anthony Read |
Erik Shepherd | Ian Hendry |
Mark Potter | Martin Howells |
Kirsten McLuhan | Julia Goodman |
Ann Shepherd | Wanda Ventham |
Julie | Suzan Farmer |
Nikos | Anthony Stamboulieh |
Katerina | Karan David |
Nestor Turton | Maurice Denham |
Police Sergeant | Tony Boyd |
Captain Krasakis | Stefan Gryff |
Val | Ingrid Hafner |
Nat | Gary Waldhorn |
Policeman | Antonio Di Maggio | |
class=unsortable style="border:hidden;line-height:1.67;margin-left:-1em;text-align:center;padding-left:0.5em;min-width:1.0em;" | | class=unsortable style="border-style:none;padding-left:0.5em;text-align:left;min-width:16.5em;font-weight:700;font-style:italic;" | 1–6A Tiger in Bristol Street | class=unsortable style="border-style:none;text-align:right;font-weight:normal;font-family:Courier;font-size:95%;letter-spacing:-1pt;min-width:8.5em;padding-right:0.2em;" | | class=unsortable style="border-style:none;min-width:3.5em;padding-left:0;" | | class=unsortable style="border:hidden;min-width:3.5em;font-size:95%;" | |
| When the past catches up with Nestor Turton the results are both catastrophic and hilarious. For Nestor, it seems, has been dead for several years ... |
Creator | Michael J. Bird |
Writer | David Fisher |
Associate Producer | Michael Glynn |
Director | Cyril Coke |
Designer | Colin Shaw |
Producer | Anthony Read |
Erik Shepherd | Ian Hendry |
Jervis Duncan | Peter Woodthorpe |
Monica Turton | Alethea Charlton |
Nestor Turton | Maurice Denham |
American Husband | Peter Carlisle |
Nikos | Anthony Stamboulieh |
Katerina | Karan David |
Captain Krasakis | Stefan Gryff |
Controller | Frank Duncan |
Donald Culley | James Kerry | |
class=unsortable style="border:hidden;line-height:1.67;margin-left:-1em;text-align:center;padding-left:0.5em;min-width:1.0em;" | | class=unsortable style="border-style:none;padding-left:0.5em;text-align:left;min-width:16.5em;font-weight:700;font-style:italic;" | 1–7The Fascinating Couple | class=unsortable style="border-style:none;text-align:right;font-weight:normal;font-family:Courier;font-size:95%;letter-spacing:-1pt;min-width:8.5em;padding-right:0.2em;" | | class=unsortable style="border-style:none;min-width:3.5em;padding-left:0;" | | class=unsortable style="border:hidden;min-width:3.5em;font-size:95%;" | |
| No Cretan will set foot on the deserted island of Spinalonga. But Philip and Leigh Mervish find the powerful atmosphere of this former leper colony perfect for a psychological experiment. |
Creator | Michael J. Bird |
Writer | David Weir |
Associate Producer | Michael Glynn |
Director | |
Producer | Anthony Read |
Erik Shepherd | Ian Hendry |
Mark Potter | Martin Howells |
Kirsten McLuhan | Julia Goodman |
Ann Shepherd | Wanda Ventham |
Philip Mervish | Karl Held |
Leigh Mervish | Carol Cleveland |
Nikos | Anthony Stamboulieh |
Nestor Turton | Maurice Denham | |
class=unsortable style="border:hidden;line-height:1.67;margin-left:-1em;text-align:center;padding-left:0.5em;min-width:1.0em;" | | class=unsortable style="border-style:none;padding-left:0.5em;text-align:left;min-width:16.5em;font-weight:700;font-style:italic;" | 1–8You Might Get Hurt, Jocasta | class=unsortable style="border-style:none;text-align:right;font-weight:normal;font-family:Courier;font-size:95%;letter-spacing:-1pt;min-width:8.5em;padding-right:0.2em;" | | class=unsortable style="border-style:none;min-width:3.5em;padding-left:0;" | | class=unsortable style="border:hidden;min-width:3.5em;font-size:95%;" | |
| Two people return to Aghios Nikolaos. And the marriage of Erik and Ann Shepherd is strained to breaking point. |
Creator | Michael J. Bird |
Writer | David Weir |
Associate Producer | Michael Glynn |
Director | |
Producer | Anthony Read |
Jocasta | Anouska Hempel |
Alan Fletcher | Griffith Jones |
Alexia | Thalia Kouri |
Erik Shepherd | Ian Hendry |
Katerina | Karan David |
Ann Shepherd | Wanda Ventham |
Donald Culley | James Kerry | |
class=unsortable style="border:hidden;line-height:1.67;margin-left:-1em;text-align:center;padding-left:0.5em;min-width:1.0em;" | | class=unsortable style="border-style:none;padding-left:0.5em;text-align:left;min-width:16.5em;font-weight:700;font-style:italic;" | 1–9The Climbing Wave | class=unsortable style="border-style:none;text-align:right;font-weight:normal;font-family:Courier;font-size:95%;letter-spacing:-1pt;min-width:8.5em;padding-right:0.2em;" | | class=unsortable style="border-style:none;min-width:3.5em;padding-left:0;" | | class=unsortable style="border:hidden;min-width:3.5em;font-size:95%;" | |
| As the town celebrates the festival of St Nicholas, the story of Erik and Ann Shepherd reaches a shattering climax. |
Creator / Writer | Michael J. Bird |
Designer | Colin Shaw |
Associate Producer | Michael Glynn |
Director | |
Producer | Anthony Read |
Erik Shepherd | Ian Hendry |
Katerina | Karan David |
Nikos | Anthony Stamboulieh |
Ann Shepherd | Wanda Ventham |
Donald Culley | James Kerry |
Mark Potter | Martin Howells |
Nestor Turton | Maurice Denham |
Kirsten McLuhan | Julia Goodman |
Controller | Frank Duncan |
Captain Krasakis | Stefan Gryff | |
- Series 2:
class=unsortable style="border:hidden;line-height:1.67;margin-left:-1em;text-align:center;padding-left:0.5em;min-width:1.0em;" | | class=unsortable style="border-style:none;padding-left:0.5em;text-align:left;min-width:17.5em;font-weight:700;font-style:italic;" | 2–1There and Back by Candlelight | class=unsortable style="border-style:none;text-align:right;font-weight:normal;font-family:Courier;font-size:95%;letter-spacing:-1pt;min-width:7.5em;padding-right:0.2em;" | | class=unsortable style="border-style:none;min-width:3.5em;padding-left:0;" | | class=unsortable style="border:hidden;min-width:3.5em;font-size:95%;" | |
| The first title in the new series which continues the story of Erik and Ann Shepherd. Will they return to Aghios Nikolaos and face up to the web of intrigue and mystery in which they find themselves so deeply involved? |
Creator / Writer | Michael J. Bird |
Designer | Michael Young |
Associate Producer | Michael Glynn |
Director | Cyril Coke |
Nestor Turton | Maurice Denham |
Erik Shepherd | Ian Hendry |
Ann Shepherd | Wanda Ventham |
Nikos | Anthony Stamboulieh |
Captain Krasakis | Stefan Gryff |
Nicholson | Godfrey James |
Cotton | Frank Duncan |
Major Constantinos | John Savident |
Richards | Ian Fairbairn |
Gerald Mace | Timothy Carlton |
Doctor | Frederick Peisley | |
class=unsortable style="border:hidden;line-height:1.67;margin-left:-1em;text-align:center;padding-left:0.5em;min-width:1.0em;" | | class=unsortable style="border-style:none;padding-left:0.5em;text-align:left;min-width:16.5em;font-weight:700;font-style:italic;" | 2–2A Kind of Treason | class=unsortable style="border-style:none;text-align:right;font-weight:normal;font-family:Courier;font-size:95%;letter-spacing:-1pt;min-width:8.5em;padding-right:0.2em;" | | class=unsortable style="border-style:none;min-width:3.5em;padding-left:0;" | | class=unsortable style="border:hidden;min-width:3.5em;font-size:95%;" | |
| The Shepherds are back in Aghios Nikolaos. Ann remembers fragments from the past ... a past about which Erik learns the truth. |
Creator / Writer | Michael J. Bird |
Designer | Austin Ruddy |
Associate Producer | Michael Glynn |
Director | Viktors Ritelis |
Ann Shepherd | Wanda Ventham |
Erik Shepherd | Ian Hendry |
Gerald Mace | Timothy Carlton |
Nestor Turton | Maurice Denham |
Nicholson | Godfrey James |
Major Constantinos | John Savident |
Richards | Ian Fairbairn |
Captain Krasakis | Stefan Gryff |
Nikos | Anthony Stamboulieh |
Cotton | Frank Duncan |
Chief Supt Fowler | Antony Carrick |
Ariadne Mazonaki | Calliope Petrohilos |
Sam Webber | Paul Maxwell |
Imogen Lundqvist | Susan Engel |
Dr Dartington | Ronald Howard |
Sir Hugh Russell | John Horsley | |
class=unsortable style="border:hidden;line-height:1.67;margin-left:-1em;text-align:center;padding-left:0.5em;min-width:1.0em;" | | class=unsortable style="border-style:none;padding-left:0.5em;text-align:left;min-width:16.5em;font-weight:700;font-style:italic;" | 2–3A Very Long Spoon | class=unsortable style="border-style:none;text-align:right;font-weight:normal;font-family:Courier;font-size:95%;letter-spacing:-1pt;min-width:8.5em;padding-right:0.2em;" | | class=unsortable style="border-style:none;min-width:3.5em;padding-left:0;" | | class=unsortable style="border:hidden;min-width:3.5em;font-size:95%;" | |
| "You see, the terrible thing about all this business is that you can no longer trust anyone," says Captain Krasakis. Erik Shepherd realises how true this is when Ann regains her memory. |
Creator / Writer | Michael J. Bird |
Designer | Graham Oakley |
Associate Producer | Michael Glynn |
Director | Cyril Coke |
Ann Shepherd | Wanda Ventham |
Erik Shepherd | Ian Hendry |
Cotton | Frank Duncan |
Captain Krasakis | Stefan Gryff |
Imogen Lundqvist | Susan Engel |
Dr Dartington | Ronald Howard |
Nestor Turton | Maurice Denham |
Ariadne Mazonaki | Calliope Petrohilos |
Gerald Mace | Timothy Carlton |
Bar customer | Andreas Markos |
Sam Webber | Paul Maxwell |
Sir Hugh Russell | John Horsley |
Nicholson | Godfrey James | |
class=unsortable style="border:hidden;line-height:1.67;margin-left:-1em;text-align:center;padding-left:0.5em;min-width:1.0em;" | | class=unsortable style="border-style:none;padding-left:0.5em;text-align:left;min-width:16.5em;font-weight:700;font-style:italic;" | 2–4Beside a Crooked Stile | class=unsortable style="border-style:none;text-align:right;font-weight:normal;font-family:Courier;font-size:95%;letter-spacing:-1pt;min-width:8.5em;padding-right:0.2em;" | | class=unsortable style="border-style:none;min-width:3.5em;padding-left:0;" | | class=unsortable style="border:hidden;min-width:3.5em;font-size:95%;" | |
| The tensions and pressures increase on the Shepherds, particularly when they lose a very close friend. |
Creator / Writer | Michael J. Bird |
Designer | Michael Young |
Associate Producer | Michael Glynn |
Director | Viktors Ritelis |
Ariadne Mazonaki | Calliope Petrohilos |
Ann Shepherd | Wanda Ventham |
Erik Shepherd | Ian Hendry |
Nikos | Anthony Stamboulieh |
Cotton | Frank Duncan |
Sir Hugh Russell | John Horsley |
Nicholson | Godfrey James |
Gerald Mace | Timothy Carlton |
Nestor Turton | Maurice Denham |
Marukakis | Salvin Stewart |
Sam Webber | Paul Maxwell |
Captain Krasakis | Stefan Gryff |
Imogen Lundqvist | Susan Engel |
Dr Dartington | Ronald Howard | |
class=unsortable style="border:hidden;line-height:1.67;margin-left:-1em;text-align:center;padding-left:0.5em;min-width:1.0em;" | | class=unsortable style="border-style:none;padding-left:0.5em;text-align:left;min-width:16.5em;font-weight:700;font-style:italic;" | 2–5The Well Diggers | class=unsortable style="border-style:none;text-align:right;font-weight:normal;font-family:Courier;font-size:95%;letter-spacing:-1pt;min-width:8.5em;padding-right:0.2em;" | | class=unsortable style="border-style:none;min-width:3.5em;padding-left:0;" | | class=unsortable style="border:hidden;min-width:3.5em;font-size:95%;" | |
| "When two people whisper together in a corner they're usually digging a well for a third one to fall into," Erik Shepherd tells Sam Webber. |
Creator / Writer | Michael J. Bird |
Designer | Michael Young |
Associate Producer | Michael Glynn |
Director | Cyril Coke |
Ann Shepherd | Wanda Ventham |
Erik Shepherd | Ian Hendry |
Sam Webber | Paul Maxwell |
Cotton | Frank Duncan |
Nicholson | Godfrey James |
Gerald Mace | Timothy Carlton |
Ariadne Mazonaki | Calliope Petrohilos |
Captain Krasakis | Stefan Gryff |
Dr Dartington | Ronald Howard |
Imogen Lundqvist | Susan Engel | |
class=unsortable style="border:hidden;line-height:1.67;margin-left:-1em;text-align:center;padding-left:0.5em;min-width:1.0em;" | | class=unsortable style="border-style:none;padding-left:0.5em;text-align:left;min-width:16.5em;font-weight:700;font-style:italic;" | 2–6And If You Have Time, Lord | class=unsortable style="border-style:none;text-align:right;font-weight:normal;font-family:Courier;font-size:95%;letter-spacing:-1pt;min-width:8.5em;padding-right:0.2em;" | | class=unsortable style="border-style:none;min-width:3.5em;padding-left:0;" | | class=unsortable style="border:hidden;min-width:3.5em;font-size:95%;" | |
| With true identities revealed, the Shepherds' marriage faces its biggest test ... |
Creator / Writer | Michael J. Bird |
Designer | Michael Young |
Associate Producer | Michael Glynn |
Director | Viktors Ritelis |
Gerald Mace | Timothy Carlton |
Nicholson | Godfrey James |
Cotton | Frank Duncan |
Erik Shepherd | Ian Hendry |
Captain Krasakis | Stefan Gryff |
Ariadne Mazonaki | Calliope Petrohilos |
Imogen Lundqvist | Susan Engel |
Ann Shepherd | Wanda Ventham |
Dr Dartington | Ronald Howard |
Sam Webber | Paul Maxwell |
Nikos | Anthony Stamboulieh | |
External links
Notes and References
- https://www.discogs.com/Σταύρος-Ξαρχάκος-Ελλήσποντος/release/3784004 Columbia – 2j 054-70011 / SX.6135 / DNZ.10865