Whoever Heard of a Ghost Dying

Synopsis

It appears that Jeff has been followed and filmed for weeks by a crime syndicate and captured on film talking to "himself"/Marty. Using a fictitious lure of £50,000 reward the syndicate, in disguise, ask Jeff to begin surveillance on a gang of criminals, knowing that he will send Marty… and that the gang of criminals are themselves.

Led by a David Hellingworth, he uses the ability of an elderly psychic gang member, Cecil Purley, to detect Marty's presence, and uses Marty to deliberately mislead Jeff and the police over the times of their robberies. Putting them on false scents, the gang manage to steal more than £100,000 in diamonds, £250,000 in mink and a jade collection, all the time giving the police, via Jeff and Marty the incorrect times leading the Inspector to suspect Randall himself.

The group have also contacted Jeannie in order to exorcise Marty using Cecil Purley after their crime spree is over. Going under the guise of freeing Marty's spirit, they lure Jeannie to hand them Marty's watch and cufflinks, which they plan to use to remove his spirit from the Earth. All the while through this episode Marty's health deteriorates and the psychic susses him out and he nearly disappears completely during the exorcism. However, making a last minute plea to Jeff to save him, Marty makes Jeff realise they'll go to Marty's grave to complete the exorcism. Jeff arrives in time to save Marty, only to face Hellingworth's gun… yet is rescued by Inspector Large, who has followed Jeff thinking he's part of the plot. The gang are arrested, with the police suspecting Purley is insane as he wildly points at the ghost Marty. Jeff is cleared of all charges but still faces financial difficulties.

Cast

Production

Although the 8th episode in the series, Whoever Heard of a Ghost Dying? was the 10th episode to be shot, filmed mainly in October 1968. The episode was directed by Ray Austin.In the episode, Charles Lloyd Pack's character, Cecil Purley, is a clairvoyant who is hired to exorcise Marty.

Hellingworth's mansion in the episode, where the gang plan their next robberies, under the watchful eye of Marty Hopkirk was set at Aldenham Grange in Letchmore Heath, Hertfordshire, though only a photograph was used to identify it, the interior scenes were shot in the studio. The offices of Hackley, Mathers & Jones Diamon merchants was set at Remax House in 31-2 Alfred Place, Bloomsbury. The cemetery featured at the end during the exorcism, which also appeared in the episode "Somebody Just Walked Over My Grave" and numerous other ITC series, was shot at New Southgate Cemetery in Brunswick Park Road in New Southgate, London.