South Riding (1974) (Episode 7)

Part 7 of 13 of the period drama. Tensions and recriminations begin to run high at the school among the staff, while Sarah Burton looks at the possibility of laying off a couple of the staff. Agnes Sigglesthwaite, the oldest and longest serving there, lacks discipline in her class but surprises Sarah with her life story and past history. But Midge Carne has plans with the girls for a little game of her own that threaten Agnes' career. South Riding holds the annual fete, where Robert Carne hopes to win the show jumping cup for another year, while Sarah meets the enigmatic Anthony Snaith for the very first time. Starring Dorothy Tutin, Nigel Davenport, John Cater, Clive Swift, Hermione Baddeley, Judi Bowker, Lesley Dunlop, Ray Mort, Amanda Kirby, Joan Hickson, Ingrid Hafner, Barbara Ogilvie, Margaret Whitelam, Milton Johns, Michael Bilton, Hilary Crane, Norman Jones, Christine Hayton and Brian Hawksley, plus see if you can spot Allo Allo's Gorden Kaye in this. This also features a welcome appearance by THE definitive TV Miss Marple, Joan Hickson as the school's longest serving teacher. However, I did warn you about Judi Bowker's character in this and she doesn't get any better here. At least though someone gives her reaction she deserves. It's been a long time coming...