Triangle

(1981–83)

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| TV Programme | Colour
| Stars: Michael Craig, Larry Lamb, Paul Jerrico

Soap opera about the crew and passengers aboard a North Sea ferry on the triangular route between Felixstowe, Gothenburg and Amsterdam

The definitively awful soap opera, so bad that it was mesmeric. The geometric shape of the title was the route taken (exotic Felixstowe to Gothenburg to Amsterdam) by a North Sea ferry. Kate O’Mara starred as chief purser Katherine Laker. As with Bill Sellar’s previous series, The Brothers, also featuring Kate O’Mara, Triangle mixed bedroom and boardroom. (O’Mara’s purpose as series’ sex symbol was made bare in episode one when she appeared semi-naked). Added to the formula were accidents at sea and customs violations.

At the time, the series was hailed as a breakthrough in drama production, because new lightweight cameras allowed all the filming to be done on location, the ferry Tor Scandinavia. A studio was even built in the ship’s hold for editing. Unfortunately, none of the production team understood that the North Sea is among the world’s roughest and coldest; as a result, the actors always had the green pallor of seasickness, and exterior shots were usually shrouded in mist with the actors and actresses buffeted by the wind. Also, the difference in light balance in the cabins between the interior and porthole exterior was so great that the curtains had to be kept permanently closed. The result was gloomy claustrophobia.

Kate O’Mara jumped the disaster ship after the first season. Triangle itself sank just two seasons later.

Featured series cast

(28)
Michael Craig
Captain John Anderson
(1 episode)
Larry Lamb
Matt Taylor
(1 episode)
Paul Jerrico
Charles Woodhouse
(1 episode)
George Baker
David West
(1 episode)
Sandra Dickinson
Penny Warrender
(1 episode)
Penelope Horner
Sarah Hallam
(1 episode)
Sandra Payne
Christine Harris
(1 episode)
Diana Coupland
Marion Terson
(1 episode)
Kate O’Mara
Katherine Laker
(1 episode)
A new picture of the talented and lovely British actress Joan Greenwood under contract to the J. Arthur Rank Organisation.
Judith Harper
(1 episode)
Jonathan Owen
Peter Nuttall
(1 episode)
Douglas Sheldon
Arthur Parker
(1 episode)
Phillip Hatton
Tony Grant
(1 episode)
Elizabeth Larner
Jo Bailey
(1 episode)
Cindy O’Callaghan
Linda Kennedy
(1 episode)
Tony Anholt
Nick Stevens
(1 episode)
Dawn Addams
Mrs Landers
(1 episode)
Scott Fredericks
Tom Kelly
(1 episode)
Helena Breck
Sandy McCormick
(1 episode)
Ted Edwards (Nigel Stock) in a scene from It Always Rains on Sunday (1947)
Wally James
(1 episode)
Peter Arne
Kevin Warrender
(1 episode)
Thera Van Horneyer
Claire de Haan
(1 episode)
Dennis Burgess
George Terson
(1 episode)
Derek Fowlds
‘Mozz’ Barker
(1 episode)
Earl Adair
Gary Rae
(1 episode)
Charles Bolton
Stephen Garrett
(1 episode)
Jamie Roberts
Bill Ryan
(1 episode)
Marion Owen Smith
Lisa Watkins
(1 episode)
+ Show full cast (18 more)

Film clips

(1)
Main title from Triangle (1981-83)

Triangle (1981-83) opening credits

Date published

Main title from Triangle (1981-83).

Pictures

(1)
Screenshot from Triangle

Production

78 x 25 minute episodes, colour. BBC 1981 - 1983. Bill Sellars (Producer and Creator).