The Lotus Eaters (TV series) explained

Genre:Drama
Creator:Michael J. Bird
Num Series:2
Num Episodes:15
Location:Aghios Nikolaos, Crete
Network:BBC2

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)

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 Northclass=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 / CreatorMichael J. Bird
Associate Producer Michael Glynn
DirectorCyril Coke
Studio lighting Nigel Wright
Studio soundGordon Mackie
DesignerColin Shaw
ProducerAnthony Read
Erik ShepherdIan Hendry
NikosAnthony Stamboulieh
KaterinaKaran David
Franz ZimmermannJohn G. Heller
Ann ShepherdWanda Ventham
Donald CulleyJames Kerry
Ruth StewartCyd Hayman
Leigh MervishCarol Cleveland
Philip MervishKarl Held
Kirsten McLuhanJulia Goodman
Mark PotterMartin Howells
Major WoolleyThorley Walters
Mrs WoolleySylvia Coleridge
Nestor TurtonMaurice Denham
VassilakisMichael Zorba
First boyZiggy Byfield
Second boyCharles Marriott
GirlAlison Griffin
PolicemanAntonio Di Maggio
ControllerFrank Duncan
InstructorMilos 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 Cliveclass=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 / CreatorMichael J. Bird
ProducerMichael Glynn
DirectorDouglas Camfield
CostumesJudy Allen
Make-upJacquie Jefferies
DesignerMichael Young
ProducerAnthony Read
Erik ShepherdIan Hendry
Ann ShepherdWanda Ventham
KaterinaKaran David
Major WoolleyThorley Walters
Mrs WoolleySylvia Coleridge
David CliveMichael McStay
Jennifer NealSusan Tebbs
NikosAnthony Stamboulieh
Captain KrasakisStefan Gryff
Mark PotterMartin Howells
Kirsten McLuhanJulia Goodman
Nestor TurtonMaurice Denham
Lorna CliveAnn Firbank
Philip MervishKarl Held
Leigh MervishCarol 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 Sisterclass=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 / CreatorMichael J. Bird
ProducerMichael Glynn
DirectorDouglas Camfield
DesignerMichael Young
ProducerAnthony Read
Erik ShepherdIan Hendry
Ann ShepherdWanda Ventham
Katerina
Carol Sadler
Karan David
NikosAnthony Stamboulieh
PostmanAndrew Andreas
Clerk of the CourtNeville Barber
PolicemanClive Roger
Major WoolleyThorley Walters
Mrs WoolleySylvia Coleridge
Philip MervishKarl Held
Leigh MervishCarol Cleveland
FishermanJohn Eastham
Nestor TurtonMaurice Denham
Donald CulleyJames Kerry
ControllerFrank Duncan
Captain KrasakisStefan Gryff
Sheila FlemingPamela Roland
MachinDerek 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 Homeclass=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 / CreatorMichael J. Bird
ProducerMichael Glynn
DirectorCyril Coke
DesignerMichael Young
ProducerAnthony Read
Erik ShepherdIan Hendry
Major WoolleyThorley Walters
Ann ShepherdWanda Ventham
NikosAnthony Stamboulieh
Mrs WoolleySylvia Coleridge
Kirsten McLuhanJulia Goodman
Mark PotterMartin Howells
KaterinaKaran David
Leigh MervishCarol Cleveland
Philip MervishKarl Held
ClerkAndreas Markos
Captain KrasakisStefan 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;" 1–5Aphroditeclass=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.
CreatorMichael J. Bird
WriterJack Ronder
Associate ProducerMichael Glynn
DirectorDavid Cunliffe
DesignerAustin Ruddy
ProducerAnthony Read
Erik ShepherdIan Hendry
Mark PotterMartin Howells
Kirsten McLuhanJulia Goodman
Ann ShepherdWanda Ventham
JulieSuzan Farmer
NikosAnthony Stamboulieh
KaterinaKaran David
Nestor TurtonMaurice Denham
Police SergeantTony Boyd
Captain KrasakisStefan Gryff
ValIngrid Hafner
NatGary Waldhorn
PolicemanAntonio 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 Streetclass=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 ...
CreatorMichael J. Bird
WriterDavid Fisher
Associate ProducerMichael Glynn
DirectorCyril Coke
DesignerColin Shaw
ProducerAnthony Read
Erik ShepherdIan Hendry
Jervis DuncanPeter Woodthorpe
Monica TurtonAlethea Charlton
Nestor TurtonMaurice Denham
American HusbandPeter Carlisle
NikosAnthony Stamboulieh
KaterinaKaran David
Captain KrasakisStefan Gryff
ControllerFrank Duncan
Donald CulleyJames 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 Coupleclass=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.
CreatorMichael J. Bird
WriterDavid Weir
Associate ProducerMichael Glynn
Director
ProducerAnthony Read
Erik ShepherdIan Hendry
Mark PotterMartin Howells
Kirsten McLuhanJulia Goodman
Ann ShepherdWanda Ventham
Philip MervishKarl Held
Leigh MervishCarol Cleveland
NikosAnthony Stamboulieh
Nestor TurtonMaurice 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, Jocastaclass=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.
CreatorMichael J. Bird
WriterDavid Weir
Associate ProducerMichael Glynn
Director
ProducerAnthony Read
JocastaAnouska Hempel
Alan FletcherGriffith Jones
AlexiaThalia Kouri
Erik ShepherdIan Hendry
KaterinaKaran David
Ann ShepherdWanda Ventham
Donald CulleyJames 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 Waveclass=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 / WriterMichael J. Bird
DesignerColin Shaw
Associate ProducerMichael Glynn
Director
ProducerAnthony Read
Erik ShepherdIan Hendry
KaterinaKaran David
NikosAnthony Stamboulieh
Ann ShepherdWanda Ventham
Donald CulleyJames Kerry
Mark PotterMartin Howells
Nestor TurtonMaurice Denham
Kirsten McLuhanJulia Goodman
ControllerFrank Duncan
Captain KrasakisStefan 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 Candlelightclass=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 / WriterMichael J. Bird
DesignerMichael Young
Associate ProducerMichael Glynn
DirectorCyril Coke
Nestor TurtonMaurice Denham
Erik ShepherdIan Hendry
Ann ShepherdWanda Ventham
NikosAnthony Stamboulieh
Captain KrasakisStefan Gryff
NicholsonGodfrey James
CottonFrank Duncan
Major ConstantinosJohn Savident
RichardsIan Fairbairn
Gerald MaceTimothy Carlton
DoctorFrederick 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 Treasonclass=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 / WriterMichael J. Bird
DesignerAustin Ruddy
Associate ProducerMichael Glynn
DirectorViktors Ritelis
Ann ShepherdWanda Ventham
Erik ShepherdIan Hendry
Gerald MaceTimothy Carlton
Nestor TurtonMaurice Denham
NicholsonGodfrey James
Major ConstantinosJohn Savident
RichardsIan Fairbairn
Captain KrasakisStefan Gryff
NikosAnthony Stamboulieh
CottonFrank Duncan
Chief Supt FowlerAntony Carrick
Ariadne MazonakiCalliope Petrohilos
Sam WebberPaul Maxwell
Imogen LundqvistSusan Engel
Dr DartingtonRonald Howard
Sir Hugh RussellJohn 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 Spoonclass=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 / WriterMichael J. Bird
DesignerGraham Oakley
Associate ProducerMichael Glynn
DirectorCyril Coke
Ann ShepherdWanda Ventham
Erik ShepherdIan Hendry
CottonFrank Duncan
Captain KrasakisStefan Gryff
Imogen LundqvistSusan Engel
Dr DartingtonRonald Howard
Nestor TurtonMaurice Denham
Ariadne MazonakiCalliope Petrohilos
Gerald MaceTimothy Carlton
Bar customerAndreas Markos
Sam WebberPaul Maxwell
Sir Hugh RussellJohn Horsley
NicholsonGodfrey 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 Stileclass=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 / WriterMichael J. Bird
DesignerMichael Young
Associate ProducerMichael Glynn
DirectorViktors Ritelis
Ariadne MazonakiCalliope Petrohilos
Ann ShepherdWanda Ventham
Erik ShepherdIan Hendry
NikosAnthony Stamboulieh
CottonFrank Duncan
Sir Hugh RussellJohn Horsley
NicholsonGodfrey James
Gerald MaceTimothy Carlton
Nestor TurtonMaurice Denham
MarukakisSalvin Stewart
Sam WebberPaul Maxwell
Captain KrasakisStefan Gryff
Imogen LundqvistSusan Engel
Dr DartingtonRonald 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 Diggersclass=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 / WriterMichael J. Bird
DesignerMichael Young
Associate ProducerMichael Glynn
DirectorCyril Coke
Ann ShepherdWanda Ventham
Erik ShepherdIan Hendry
Sam WebberPaul Maxwell
CottonFrank Duncan
NicholsonGodfrey James
Gerald MaceTimothy Carlton
Ariadne MazonakiCalliope Petrohilos
Captain KrasakisStefan Gryff
Dr DartingtonRonald Howard
Imogen LundqvistSusan 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, Lordclass=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 / WriterMichael J. Bird
DesignerMichael Young
Associate ProducerMichael Glynn
DirectorViktors Ritelis
Gerald MaceTimothy Carlton
NicholsonGodfrey James
CottonFrank Duncan
Erik ShepherdIan Hendry
Captain KrasakisStefan Gryff
Ariadne MazonakiCalliope Petrohilos
Imogen LundqvistSusan Engel
Ann ShepherdWanda Ventham
Dr DartingtonRonald Howard
Sam WebberPaul Maxwell
NikosAnthony Stamboulieh

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://www.discogs.com/Σταύρος-Ξαρχάκος-Ελλήσποντος/release/3784004 Columbia – 2j 054-70011 / SX.6135 / DNZ.10865