The Nearly Man

All Episodes 1974 - 1975

  • Ended
  • 1975-11-04T00:00:00Z
  • 52m
  • 6h 4m (7 episodes)
  • English
Tony Britton won a BAFTA nomination for his central performance in this finely observed drama about a veteran Labour back-bencher who risks the remains of his career when he re-engages in the grass-roots politics of his northern working-class constituency. Starting life as a single ITV Playhouse drama which won the Broadcasting Press Guild's award for Best Single Play in 1975, The Nearly Man follows the events of seven months in a critical year for Christopher Collinson a public-school MP with the perfect credentials for a candidate in the forthcoming general election. The series charts his uneasy relationship with party activists, the intrigues and aggression of politics and the impact of Collinson's renewed ambition upon his marriage.

9 episodes

Special 2 The Nearly Man - Play

  • 1974-08-04T00:00:00Z52m

When a general election is imminent, Chris Tomlinson faces a critical weekend. A brain box from party HQ with a photogenic family, he once had the perfect credentials for a candidate - now he is forced to consider whether his face will still fit in his working class constituency. This ITV Playhouse which the 1975 series was based on, won the Broadcasting Press Guild's award for Best Single Play.

Series Premiere

1975-11-04T00:00:00Z

1x01 Episode 1

Series Premiere

1x01 Episode 1

  • 1975-11-04T00:00:00Z52m

1975-11-11T00:00:00Z

1x02 Episode 2

1x02 Episode 2

  • 1975-11-11T00:00:00Z52m

Collinson seeks out the political limelight, but Alice finds his renewed political ambitions difficult to come to terms with. Meanwhile, in the constituency there is a growing feeling that a clash is inevitable.

1975-11-18T00:00:00Z

1x03 Episode 3

1x03 Episode 3

  • 1975-11-18T00:00:00Z52m

As Collinson concentrates on the intensifying common market campaign, he is almost taken unawares by events in his constituency. Then at a routine political meeting, he meets a young university teacher. Her name is Millie Dutton...

1975-11-25T00:00:00Z

1x04 Episode 4

1x04 Episode 4

  • 1975-11-25T00:00:00Z52m

While Collinson awaits the outcome of a cabinet reshuffle that will decide his political future, Alice living apart from him, is expecting a visit from her friend, novelist Brian Griffin,

1975-12-02T00:00:00Z

1x05 Episode 5

1x05 Episode 5

  • 1975-12-02T00:00:00Z52m

It's more that two months since Chris and Alice Collinson have seen each other; a long standing engagement now brings them into contact. It's not the only confrontation in store for Collinson, as the antagonism between himself and Ron Hibbert takes a new and unexpected turn.

1975-12-09T00:00:00Z

1x06 Episode 6

1x06 Episode 6

  • 1975-12-09T00:00:00Z52m

Bernard King, local party chairman, attempts to heal the growing rift between Collinson and his opposition. Criticism of his conduct as an MP reaches a peak, and the confrontation between himself and Ron Hibbert comes to a climax.

1975-12-16T00:00:00Z

1x07 Episode 7

1x07 Episode 7

  • 1975-12-16T00:00:00Z52m

"My error...has been my scepticism. I've not believed in politics as a way of life." An admission that led Christopher Collinson into a battle in his constituency - a battle that he thought he had won. But has he? Menwhile, on the eve of the party conference, there is an uneasy alliance between Collinson and his wife....

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