Telford's Change

Peter Barkworth's face is familiar enough to be considered famous, at least in terms of 70s and 80s British television. And that was just it for me - just another familiar face - until I recently saw him in 2 episodes of The Secret Army, and again as PM Stanley Baldwin in Churchill: The Wilderness Years. This man was a brilliant actor whose talent really shines in this mini series. Of course, it also helps to have a very well written script (kudos to Brian Clark). Telford's Change teaches us not to take our partner for granted even when the situation appears comfortable.

A middle aged banker at the pinnacle of his career gets tired of the stress and strain of constant work and travel and decides to demote himself to a small bank in Dover. It doesn't sound interesting on the printed page but is in fact fascinating in the hands of actor Peter Barkworth and writer/director Brian Clark. 10 memorable episodes, with Hannah Gordon and Keith Barron leading an outstanding supporting cast. The scene in the eighth episode, which I won't go into for reasons of spoilage, between Telford and his boss, played by actor Simon Lack, is as revelatory and stunning as any scene in any play I've seen EVER. It's a scandal that this brilliant series has never been released on DVD. Hopefully that situation will be rectified soon. I haven't been able to get a copy of the follow up production of the Barkworth/Clark team, Late Starter. That's another scandal.

A high powered banker opts out of the rat race and takes a job as a bank manager in a small town. He impresses the local community by giving them a level of input to their financial issues that they've not had previously.

His artistic wife wonders what this is all about but supports his decision. But she also embarks on an affair with one of her thespian friends. However our hero wins her back in a non-violent way. Their teenage son is also confused by the whole thing.

As a chartered accountant I recognise the script weaknesses in that much of the brilliant financial advice is pretty obvious. On the other hand I remember some of the dramatic scenes twenty years later so it made an impression.

I came across this while browsing IMDB and noticed that no-one had commented. I thought it deserved at least one write-up.

I was in my late 20s when I first watched this series on TV (I am now in my late 60s) yet Barkworth's performance in the final 15 minute scene of the finale episode has never left me. Never have I seen an emotional performance like this one. There is hardly any script but Barkworth is able to convey so much desperation, fight and tension through his eyes and his whole body language. I can only compare this performance with Jack Lemmon who had the same uncanny ability. Of course re-watching it today (2018) I recognise how outdated some of the male-female relationships are but none of this detracts from what is essentially a love story for our modern times.

I used to live in Hampstead, north London, from 1978-1982 and whilst walking past a row of lovely houses along the Heath I saw Peter Barkworth tending to his front lawn. This was only a few years since TELFORD'S CHANGE aired in the UK (January-February 1979) and it was a thrill receive a friendly smile from this unassuming actor. I wanted to praise his work but I did not want to be intrusive so I am left with this memory.

It is absolutely wonderful to see TV drama of this calibre and I miss all these fine actors.

Almost every series I can thin of is being re-run over and over again, but this series disappeared after just one showing, although (or because?) it belongs in the category of one of the best made relationship-dramas, made the British way, with Hannah Gordon as the woman loosening up while the son is growing independent, and a husband who has kept the "stif-upper-lip". Barkworth next to Hannah Gordon definitely makes this series worth re-running (BBC PLEASE! LISTEN), although the environment - particularly the local bank - is somewhat out of date (or maybe just typical british?). Barkworth and Gordon are both at their best, which says a great deal. His speach near the end to/about the wife's lover is so sarcastic and well played, that I still remember it 24 years later!