The Lotus Eaters is a BBC television drama first broadcast in 1972 and 1973.

The series, created by Michael J. Bird, deals with the lives of British expatriates living on the island of Crete, and their reasons for being there.

Plot The central characters are a married couple, Erik (Ian Hendry) and Ann Shepherd (Wanda Ventham), who run a tavern called Shepherd's Bar.

Ann is revealed in the first episode to be a sleeper agent of British Intelligence, Erik having been a broken-down drunk whom she was made to marry as part of her cover story. Other episodes deal with the other expatriates who frequented the bar. The most intriguing character in both series is the Greek police captain, Michael Krasakis (Stefan Gryff). In the second series the British Intelligence aspect is developed, until a clash with Soviet and Chinese agents results in both Ann and Erik having to leave Crete. In the final scene, about to board a plane leaving Heraklion airport, they have a partial reconciliation, since each is the only person the other can trust.

Cast

Main Ian Hendry as Erik Shepherd Wanda Ventham as Ann Shepherd Maurice Denham as Nestor Turton Stefan Gryff as Captain Michael Krasakis Anthony Stamboulieh as Nikos

Recurring cast (season 1 only) James Kerry as Donald Culley (eps. 1, 3, 8–9) Thorley Walters as Major Edward Woolley (eps. 1–4) Sylvia Coleridge as Miriam Woolley (eps. 1–4) Julia Goodman as Kirsten McLuhan (eps. 1–2, 4–5, 7, 9) Martin Howells as Mark Potter (eps. 1–2, 4–5, 7, 9) Karan David as Katerina (eps. 1–6, 8–9) Carol Cleveland as Leigh Mervish (eps. 1–4, 7) Karl Held as Philip "Pip" Mervish (eps. 1–4, 7)

Recurring cast (season 2 only) Timothy Carlton as Gerard Mace John Horsley as Sir Hugh Russell (eps. 2–4) Paul Maxwell as Sam Webber (eps. 2–6) Susan Engel as Imogen Lundqvist (eps. 2–6) Frank Duncan as Cotton Godfrey James as Nicholson Ronald Howard as Dr John Dartington (eps. 2–6) Calliope Petrohilos as Ariadne Mazonaki (eps. 2–6)

Production Location scenes in The Lotus Eaters were filmed in the Cretan resort of Aghios Nikolaos and derived its title from the lotus-eaters of Greek mythology, where those who ate the fruit of the lotus tree lost the desire to return home.

Ann Shepherd was originally meant to be played by Hendry's then-wife Janet Munro, but their marriage ended and she withdrew.

The series was the first of the Mediterranean-based dramas written by Michael J. Bird for the BBC. The others included Who Pays the Ferryman?, also set in Crete; The Aphrodite Inheritance, set in Cyprus; and The Dark Side of the Sun, set in Rhodes.

The series' theme is "Ta Trena Pou Fyghan" (Τα Τραίνα Που Φύγαν" = "The Trains That Departed), from the album Hellespont, composed by Stavros Xarchakos.Columbia – 2j 054-70011 / SX.6135 / DNZ.10865

Episode details Series 1

1–1Cold Wind from the North To eat the fruit of the lotus is to lose the desire to return home. But everyone who does has a reason. Writer / Creator Michael J. Bird Associate Producer Michael Glynn Director Cyril Coke Studio lighting Nigel Wright Studio sound Gordon Mackie Designer Colin Shaw Producer Anthony Read Erik Shepherd Ian Hendry Nikos Anthony Stamboulieh Katerina Karan David Franz Zimmermann John G. Heller Ann Shepherd Wanda Ventham Donald Culley James Kerry Ruth Stewart Cyd Hayman Leigh Mervish Carol Cleveland Philip Mervish Karl Held Kirsten McLuhan Julia Goodman Mark Potter Martin Howells Major Woolley Thorley Walters Mrs Woolley Sylvia Coleridge Nestor Turton Maurice Denham Vassilakis Michael Zorba First boy Ziggy Byfield Second boy Charles Marriott Girl Alison Griffin Policeman Antonio Di Maggio Controller Frank Duncan Instructor Milos Kirek 1–2The Present Mrs Clive "I dont want to hurt her, but shes got to be made to realise that our marriage is dead."It sounds simple, but Lorna Clive has other ideas. Writer / Creator Michael J. Bird Producer Michael Glynn Director Douglas Camfield Costumes Judy Allen Make-up Jacquie Jefferies Designer Michael Young Producer Anthony Read Erik Shepherd Ian Hendry Ann Shepherd Wanda Ventham Katerina Karan David Major Woolley Thorley Walters Mrs Woolley Sylvia Coleridge David Clive Michael McStay Jennifer Neal Susan Tebbs Nikos Anthony Stamboulieh Captain Krasakis Stefan Gryff Mark Potter Martin Howells Kirsten McLuhan Julia Goodman Nestor Turton Maurice Denham Lorna Clive Ann Firbank Philip Mervish Karl Held Leigh Mervish Carol Cleveland 1–3And Hera Had a Sister Storm clouds gather over Aghios Nikolaos as Erik Shepherd and his customers await a stranger."We are all so vulnerable," says Captain Krasakis. "Conscience is every mans cross, as shame is his crown of thorns." Writer / Creator Michael J. Bird Producer Michael Glynn Director Douglas Camfield Designer Michael Young Producer Anthony Read Erik Shepherd Ian Hendry Ann Shepherd Wanda Ventham KaterinaCarol Sadler Karan David Nikos Anthony Stamboulieh Postman Andrew Andreas Clerk of the Court Neville Barber Policeman Clive Roger Major Woolley Thorley Walters Mrs Woolley Sylvia Coleridge Philip Mervish Karl Held Leigh Mervish Carol Cleveland Fisherman John Eastham Nestor Turton Maurice Denham Donald Culley James Kerry Controller Frank Duncan Captain Krasakis Stefan Gryff Sheila Fleming Pamela Roland Machin Derek Ware 1–4A Touch of Home Major and Mrs Edward Woolley live a perfectly ordered existence on Crete. But when the calm routine is broken, their life explodes into a violent reaction. Writer / Creator Michael J. Bird Producer Michael Glynn Director Cyril Coke Designer Michael Young Producer Anthony Read Erik Shepherd Ian Hendry Major Woolley Thorley Walters Ann Shepherd Wanda Ventham Nikos Anthony Stamboulieh Mrs Woolley Sylvia Coleridge Kirsten McLuhan Julia Goodman Mark Potter Martin Howells Katerina Karan David Leigh Mervish Carol Cleveland Philip Mervish Karl Held Clerk Andreas Markos Captain Krasakis Stefan Gryff 1–5Aphrodite Like the goddess Aphrodite, Julie Johnson drifts into Aghios Nikolaos from the sea. And like Aphrodite she disrupts the lives of all she meets, particularly Ann and Erik Shepherd. Creator Michael J. Bird Writer Jack Ronder Associate Producer Michael Glynn Director David Cunliffe Designer Austin Ruddy Producer Anthony Read Erik Shepherd Ian Hendry Mark Potter Martin Howells Kirsten McLuhan Julia Goodman Ann Shepherd Wanda Ventham Julie Suzan Farmer Nikos Anthony Stamboulieh Katerina Karan David Nestor Turton Maurice Denham Police Sergeant Tony Boyd Captain Krasakis Stefan Gryff Val Ingrid Hafner Nat Gary Waldhorn Policeman Antonio Di Maggio 1–6A Tiger in Bristol Street When the past catches up with Nestor Turton the results are both catastrophic and hilarious. For Nestor, it seems, has been dead for several years ... Creator Michael J. Bird Writer David Fisher Associate Producer Michael Glynn Director Cyril Coke Designer Colin Shaw Producer Anthony Read Erik Shepherd Ian Hendry Jervis Duncan Peter Woodthorpe Monica Turton Alethea Charlton Nestor Turton Maurice Denham American Husband Peter Carlisle Nikos Anthony Stamboulieh Katerina Karan David Captain Krasakis Stefan Gryff Controller Frank Duncan Donald Culley James Kerry 1–7The Fascinating Couple No Cretan will set foot on the deserted island of Spinalonga. But Philip and Leigh Mervish find the powerful atmosphere of this former leper colony perfect for a psychological experiment. Creator Michael J. Bird Writer David Weir Associate Producer Michael Glynn Director David Cunliffe Producer Anthony Read Erik Shepherd Ian Hendry Mark Potter Martin Howells Kirsten McLuhan Julia Goodman Ann Shepherd Wanda Ventham Philip Mervish Karl Held Leigh Mervish Carol Cleveland Nikos Anthony Stamboulieh Nestor Turton Maurice Denham 1–8You Might Get Hurt, Jocasta Two people return to Aghios Nikolaos. And the marriage of Erik and Ann Shepherd is strained to breaking point. Creator Michael J. Bird Writer David Weir Associate Producer Michael Glynn Director Douglas Camfield Producer Anthony Read Jocasta Anouska Hempel Alan Fletcher Griffith Jones Alexia Thalia Kouri Erik Shepherd Ian Hendry Katerina Karan David Ann Shepherd Wanda Ventham Donald Culley James Kerry 1–9The Climbing Wave As the town celebrates the festival of St Nicholas, the story of Erik and Ann Shepherd reaches a shattering climax. Creator / Writer Michael J. Bird Designer Colin Shaw Associate Producer Michael Glynn Director David Cunliffe Producer Anthony Read Erik Shepherd Ian Hendry Katerina Karan David Nikos Anthony Stamboulieh Ann Shepherd Wanda Ventham Donald Culley James Kerry Mark Potter Martin Howells Nestor Turton Maurice Denham Kirsten McLuhan Julia Goodman Controller Frank Duncan Captain Krasakis Stefan Gryff Series 2

2–1There and Back by Candlelight The first title in the new series which continues the story of Erik and Ann Shepherd.Will they return to Aghios Nikolaos and face up to the web of intrigue and mystery in which they find themselves so deeply involved? Creator / Writer Michael J. Bird Designer Michael Young Associate Producer Michael Glynn Director Cyril Coke Nestor Turton Maurice Denham Erik Shepherd Ian Hendry Ann Shepherd Wanda Ventham Nikos Anthony Stamboulieh Captain Krasakis Stefan Gryff Nicholson Godfrey James Cotton Frank Duncan Major Constantinos John Savident Richards Ian Fairbairn Gerald Mace Timothy Carlton Doctor Frederick Peisley 2–2A Kind of Treason The Shepherds are back in Aghios Nikolaos. Ann remembers fragments from the past ... a past about which Erik learns the truth. Creator / Writer Michael J. Bird Designer Austin Ruddy Associate Producer Michael Glynn Director Viktors Ritelis Ann Shepherd Wanda Ventham Erik Shepherd Ian Hendry Gerald Mace Timothy Carlton Nestor Turton Maurice Denham Nicholson Godfrey James Major Constantinos John Savident Richards Ian Fairbairn Captain Krasakis Stefan Gryff Nikos Anthony Stamboulieh Cotton Frank Duncan Chief Supt Fowler Antony Carrick Ariadne Mazonaki Calliope Petrohilos Sam Webber Paul Maxwell Imogen Lundqvist Susan Engel Dr Dartington Ronald Howard Sir Hugh Russell John Horsley 2–3A Very Long Spoon "You see, the terrible thing about all this business is that you can no longer trust anyone," says Captain Krasakis. Erik Shepherd realises how true this is when Ann regains her memory. Creator / Writer Michael J. Bird Designer Graham Oakley Associate Producer Michael Glynn Director Cyril Coke Ann Shepherd Wanda Ventham Erik Shepherd Ian Hendry Cotton Frank Duncan Captain Krasakis Stefan Gryff Imogen Lundqvist Susan Engel Dr Dartington Ronald Howard Nestor Turton Maurice Denham Ariadne Mazonaki Calliope Petrohilos Gerald Mace Timothy Carlton Bar customer Andreas Markos Sam Webber Paul Maxwell Sir Hugh Russell John Horsley Nicholson Godfrey James 2–4Beside a Crooked Stile The tensions and pressures increase on the Shepherds, particularly when they lose a very close friend. Creator / Writer Michael J. Bird Designer Michael Young Associate Producer Michael Glynn Director Viktors Ritelis Ariadne Mazonaki Calliope Petrohilos Ann Shepherd Wanda Ventham Erik Shepherd Ian Hendry Nikos Anthony Stamboulieh Cotton Frank Duncan Sir Hugh Russell John Horsley Nicholson Godfrey James Gerald Mace Timothy Carlton Nestor Turton Maurice Denham Marukakis Salvin Stewart Sam Webber Paul Maxwell Captain Krasakis Stefan Gryff Imogen Lundqvist Susan Engel Dr Dartington Ronald Howard 2–5The Well Diggers "When two people whisper together in a corner they're usually digging a well for a third one to fall into," Erik Shepherd tells Sam Webber. Creator / Writer Michael J. Bird Designer Michael Young Associate Producer Michael Glynn Director Cyril Coke Ann Shepherd Wanda Ventham Erik Shepherd Ian Hendry Sam Webber Paul Maxwell Cotton Frank Duncan Nicholson Godfrey James Gerald Mace Timothy Carlton Ariadne Mazonaki Calliope Petrohilos Captain Krasakis Stefan Gryff Dr Dartington Ronald Howard Imogen Lundqvist Susan Engel