Too Many Crooks

Episode Overview

After 15 years of not speaking to one another, Birmingham gangster Billy Meadows arrives in London to make contact with his London based gangster brother Vinny Meadows. When the pair finally meet again, it just happens to be in a pub that Arthur has asked Ray to be a minder in. Billy Meadows needs someone finding – a talented young French chef called Henri who Arthur has employed as part of Arthur’s new business venture ‘Daley Catering’. While providing the hospitality for a police leaving function without a proper chef, Arthur is abducted by Billy Meadows for information as to Henri’s whereabouts.

Cast

Glynn Edwards as Dave, Nicholas Day as DS Morley, Stephen Tompkinson as DC Park, Trevor Byfield as Billy Meadows, David Sibley as Vinny Meadows, Suzannah Corbett as Sadie Meadows, David Marrick as Henri, Susan Watkins as Mandy, Godfrey James as Arnie, Dennis Blanch as Colin, Andy Rashleigh as Police Sergeant, Andrew Dunford as Dennis, David Harewood as Vinny’s Minder

Facts

In this episode we hear Morley referred to by his first name Michael. Suzannah Corbett who plays Sadie Meadows is the daughter of Harry H. Corbett of Steptoe & Son fame – she does not have a single word to say in this episode, playing Billy’s daughter Sadie. Dennis Blanch who plays Billy Meadows’s heavy Colin is more recognisable to British viewers for his long running role as DC Willis in the TV series ‘Strangers’ (and later ‘Bulman’) where he starred alongside actor Don Henderson.

Double Take

Godfrey James who plays pub landlord Arnie in this episode previously appeared as Omar in #1.10 The Dessert Song. Trevor Byfield (as Ziggy Byfield) previously appeared in #2.11 The Old School Tie. David Sibley, who plays London based Vinny Meadows previously appeared as a juror in #3.11 Poetic Justice, Innit?.

Bloopers: None found.

Title: A reference to the proverb ‘Too many cooks spoil the broth’. George Cole also starred in a 1959 film ‘Too Many Crooks’, the same name as this episode.