Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) Logo 'Whoever Heard of a Ghost Dying?'
by Tony Williamson
Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) Cast

Jeff’s success in his cases has not gone unnoticed by the criminal world, in particular by a man called Hellingworth, who suspects something paranormal. After he enlists the aid of Cecil Purley, a clairvoyant who is able to confirm Marty’s presence, Hellingworth and his co-conspirator, Carol Latimer, formulate a plan to use Jeff and Marty as fall guys in a number of large-scale robberies. Hellingworth tricks Jeff into believing that he works for an insurance company, guessing that Jeff will send Marty along to keep an eye on the house that Hellingworth says is the meeting place of a gang that has been causing the insurance company trouble. The plan works: as Marty overhears the false information being discussed by the gang, he is seen by Purley; Marty then reports to Jeff, who in turn informs Scotland Yard; then, once Marty has gone, the gang change their plans. The police keep watch over the building but nothing happens, infuriating Inspector Large and Jeff, and leaving Marty confused. The police depart, leaving the coast clear for the real robbery to take place. After a few more robberies, the gang realise that they will have to get rid of Marty to stop him revealing the truth, and so decide to have him exorcised. Purley’'s method of exorcism is slow, causing Marty to feel ill; Jeff is initially suspicious of Marty's sickness, but eventually agrees tries to pass his symptoms along to a doctor. But the doctor is no help, as the symptoms indicate that his ‘friend’ is four months pregnant. Meanwhile, Carol Latimer approaches Jean, saying that her husband needs her assistance as he is earthbound and needs to be released; she persuades Jean to bring some of Marty's personal possessions to Marty’s grave. Marty is pulled to the cemetery, and, clinging to his last shreds of mortality, calls to Jeff for help, then vows eternal revenge on Purley. Meanwhile, Jeff is about to be arrested for the robberies by Inspector Large; in desperation to save Marty, he punches the inspector in the stomach and heads for the cemetery. As Marty's fight looks hopeless, Jeff arrives on the scene and confronts Purley. When Jean discovers he and Carol are fakes, she overpowers the woman and halts the exorcism just in time. Inspector Large arrives and arrests the criminals.

Jeff Randall (Mike Pratt), Marty Hopkirk (Kenneth Cope), Jean Hopkirk (Annette Andre), Ivor Dean (Inspector Large), John Fraser (Hellingworth), Alexandra Bastedo (Carol), Charles Lloyd Pack (Cecil Purley), John Richmond (Lord Manning)

Directed by Ray Austin

TX:
UK: 9th November, 1969 @ 7.25pm

Notes:
*Featuring Jeff Randall, the late Marty Hopkirk, and Jean Hopkirk