Travelling Man is a Granada TV series broadcast in the United Kingdom between 7 November 1984 and 15 October 1985. Created and written by Roger Marshall,Roger Marshall at Avengers TV one of the original writers of The Avengers, the series starred Leigh Lawson as Lomax and Lindsay Duncan as his girlfriend. Broadcast in the 9pm slot on ITV, the series drew audiences of up to 13.2 million. Each episode had its own story, within an overarching plot of Lomax searching for his missing son and hunting down those who framed him.

Series one On his release from prison, Lomax finds his wife has emigrated and is suing him for divorce. His son Steve has gone missing. Returning to his beloved narrowboat, Harmony, Lomax embarks on a long search for his son - and for the man who framed him. He is pursued by the police, who have him under surveillance, various underworld figures, and a journalist named Robinson - all of whom believe that he has a hidden stash of drugs money and will lead them to it.

Series two Robinson asks Max to look after his godchild, Billy. Max spends a weekend away from Harmony looking after a hotel, where the only guests are a mysterious couple. He is helping out in a pub, when a gang of motorcyclists are upset. Steve, his son, challenges him to prove his innocence and robs a betting shop. Unknowingly he upsets the local gang boss Jack Ormand. Max meets up with an ex-cellmate, 'Granny' Jackson. Max finally gets closer to finding the man who set him up. An ex-girlfriend gives him the name 'Len Martin', but he remains one step ahead.

A further run of thirteen episodes was commissioned but Leigh Lawson chose to leave, following an earlier disagreement with Granada which had refused to release him from his contract to take the lead role in Roman Polanski's film Pirates. Consequently, the cliffhanger ending of the final episode of series 2, which was intended to lead into series 3, had to be resolved with a brief voiceover on the closing credits by Terry Taplin.

Leigh Lawson as of 2010 has gone on record and said the main reasons for him not continuing into a third series were artistic. He was not happy with the fact it was being filmed on video, which it has to be said, does degrade sound and visual quality significantly in certain scenes. He also stated he was against one of the central story arcs being brought to a conclusion too early - namely the search for Lomax's son, Steve.

Background Marshall drew on his previous writing, in particular Frank Marker, the private detective he co-created for the 1960s/1970s drama Public Eye. Lomax shares some of Marker’s traits and moral dilemmas, their good intentions compromised by their time in prison. Both men will be pre-judged about their actions and plans, based solely on their 'shady' pasts. Marshall wrote each episode himself, adding a sense of continuity to the self-contained episodes. The Macclesfield Canal and the Chirk Aqueduct on the Llangollen Canal were amongst the many locations used in the dramatisation of the waterway film sequences.

Cast Leigh Lawson as Alan Lomax, Max. Terry Taplin as Robinson, a Fleet Street reporter Lindsay Duncan as Andrea Derek Newark as Det. Chief Supt. Sullivan Freddie Jones Meg Wynn Owen as Gwen Owen Sue Robinson as Karen Michael Feast - Naylor Lynne Miller - Chrissie John Bird as Jack Ormand Bobbie Brown as Maureen Alan CummingActor talks about his first TV role Tony Doyle as Len Martin

Series overview

Episodes

+Series 1 (1984)EpisodeBroadcastSynopsis 1: First Leg 7 November 1984 Max is released from prison and returns to London to find that his wife has emigrated and that his son, Steve, is missing. He leaves London and embarks on his narrowboat Harmony. He takes up with a young woman, Andrea, and sorts out a demanding drug dealer for a former nurse who has become addicted. He gives her the drug dealer's money so she can book herself into a clinic. 2: The Collector 14 November 1984 Max continues his search, accompanied by Andrea. Max has to visit his sick mother in London. While he is away, Naylor interrogates Andrea about 'The Money' and sets fire to the boat. On his return Max seeks out Naylor at home and warns him off. Naylor gives chase on his motorbike, but ends up crashing through the barriers of an elevated motorway. 3 The Watcher 21 November 1984 Max's quest leads him to a village in Wales, where he immediately comes under suspicion when a local girl goes missing. 4: Grasser 28 November 1984 A hit man accidentally sends a bullet through a window on Harmony, and Max thinks someone is out to get him. 5: Moving On 5 December 1984 Max continues his search for Steve, and a girl thinks she recognises him. 6: Sudden Death 12 December 1984 Max attends his mother’s funeral in London, not knowing that Steve was also there. He meets Neil Pember, a former Drugs Squad colleague.