Hadleigh

I dont recall this being shown when first transmitted, and its no cult classic, but if you are a fan of whats left of early 70's drama its worth watching. This was a sequel to an earlier show called Gazette, but I dont remember that either. The initial problem with this series is that the pilot is rather lacklustre and I didnt really think I would stick with it. I am guessing that if you saw the Gazette series, it would naturally follow on from that. However, I continued to watch and found it to be more entertaining, and I will stick with it til the end, which will taking a lot of watching as they made a lot of series. Ignore the false painted backgrounds, and sit and be entertained by some clever stories and clever writing. Recommended.

The series of "Hadleigh" was very popular in its day, lasting 4 seasons and 52 episodes. Gerald Harper appeared in all of them and took centre stage as a wealthy owner of the local Yorkshire newspaper and also being the local aristocratic. For all of his wealth and position, James Hadleigh feels a sense of dissatisfaction about his life. His sense of loneliness is highlighted by failing to sustain or to cultivate relationships with women. He is great at business but this can only satisfy him for some long. Gerald Harper scored another television triumph after the success of "Adam Adamant Lives" and the series which led to the above one, "Gazette." He gives a consistently good performance throughout. A few of the regular cast from "Gazette" appear in the first series of "Hadleigh" but they are soon written out. There were a few leading ladies in the series of "Hadleigh." Hillary Dwyer irritates me no end but Jane Merrow is excellent in her appearance during the second series. I don't understand why the theme music was changed after a while. The second one that was used, is absolutely terrible. The series is what I would describe, as having a leisurely pace and the emphasis being on character and drama. The writing is great on the whole.

Having watched all fifty two episodes within nine days, for me HADLEIGH is one of the best television shows ever made.

The series begins with James Hadleigh selling his family newspaper The Westdale Gazette, to a powerful press magnate. Then he gets engaged to a young newspaper reporter called Susan Jackson. She is the first of four women who play a dominant role in Hadleigh's life.

I enjoyed watching the first season of this series, so it motivated me to watch the rest of it.

Although it is now very dated, the episodes are well written and well acted.

Gerald Harper is excellent as James Hadleigh. He has got all the right attributes that go with his character. He is suave, charming and a ladies man.

Ambrosine Phillpots who plays his aunt Lady Helen, gives an amusing performance as a loveable, but charming old snob. Yet somehow you can't help liking her.

The rest of the cast are also good, there characters don't spend there time doing nothing, unlike other regular characters in other television dramas.

Gillian Wray, Jane Merrow, Hilary Dwyer and Myra Frances are the four women in his life.

Jenny Twigge plays his goddaughter, while Alastair Hunter plays his butler Maxwell, who is later replaced by Sutton played by Peter Dennis.

The best episode is Open Verdict. It was written by actor Leslie Sands, but it is dominated by Anne Stallybrass' excellent performance as a working mother who loses her young daughter to a killer disease.

Worth watching all four seasons.