Episode 451 (23rd May 1978)

Episode 451
ITV broadcast date	23rd May 1978 (Tuesday)
Writer	Anne Valery
Designer	Andrew Sanderson
Director	Paddy Russell
Executive producer	David Cunliffe
Producer	Michael Glynn
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Previous episode	18th May 1978
Next episode	25th May 1978

Plot

Antony thinks the schoolchildren should take an interest in local history and wants to use the discovery of the skull to encourage them. He tells Donald he's settling in but is apprehensive about the upcoming musical as he has no musical knowledge himself. Donald suggests he should speak to Sam. Jessie tells Annie she likes Matt. She tries to confess to Dolly that she was never christened. Sam isn't pleased about being asked to help Antony with the school musical and bluntly turns it down. Antony discovers that Seth can't read. He offers to teach him. Seth agrees provided it's kept secret. Jessie and Annie speak to Donald about Dolly getting christened. He suggests that she will have to be baptised at Robblesfield. Annie isn't sure Sam will like it. Matt tells Dolly about his childhood. He tells her he spent time in a children's home after his mother and father died when he was nine. She starts crying asking what Matt must think of her for giving her baby away. Matt comforts her. Sam walks in on Antony teaching Seth to read. Donald has done some research in the parish records on the human skull and accompanying locket found and has discovered that Hannah Elizabeth was the daughter of Elizabeth and Samuel Gough, and Hannah was born 2nd May 1784. He shows Antony a gravestone in the cemetery dated '1801' that pays memorial to both Elizabeth and Samuel Gough who died of smallpox. Donald tells Antony, Henry and Amos that he scoured the records for information on Hannah Elizabeth up to 1880 and there is no information on her, so assumes she left the village then returned at some point. Amos plans to ask families if they had a 'Hannah' in their family.

Cast

Regular cast

• Annie - Sheila Mercier
• Joe - Frazer Hines
• Matt - Frederick Pyne
• Sam - Toke Townley
• Wilks - Arthur Pentelow
• Amos - Ronald Magill
• Dolly - Katharine Barker
• Rev. Donald Hinton - Hugh Manning
• Seth - Stan Richards

Guest cast

• Jessie Renfrew - Kathleen Helme
• Antony Moeketsi - Oscar James
• Fred - Julian Garlick

Locations

• The Woolpack - Public bar
• St. Mary's Church - Exterior
• Cemetery
• Beckindale Vicarage - Lounge
• School House - Hallway, Classroom, Boiler room, Playground
• Emmerdale Farm - Farmhouse kitchen/living room, Shed
• Unknown road

Notes

• This episode was broadcast in the London region on Wednesday 24th May 1978 at 5.15pm.
• TV Times synopsis: Sam Pearson is suspicious of Antony Moeketsi, the new teacher. But Seth, the school caretaker, has a problem - and Moeketsi can help him solve it.