Ladies In Charge - Ep 1 (Zoe's Fever) (1986)

Ep 1: Zoe's Fever. A professor returns home unexpectedly and finds his wife in the arms of another man - then she disappears. Soon after the Ladies Agency is contacted to procure a nursemaid to look after the man's three children. Babs is sent to do the job, but finds the whole situation a little odd. And who is the face looking in at the window?...

Starring Julia Hills, Carol Royle and Julia Swift, who replaces Amanda Root as Vicky for the series. Among the support cast is Julian Glover, Julia Chambers, Deborah Findlay, Michael Muller, Marian McLoughlin, Graham Chinn, Graham Pountney, Jessica Forte, Jessica Marshall-Gardiner, Natasha Matalon and Heather Tobias. This was the first episode of the 1986 ITV series, which followed on from the original Storyboard pilot the previous year. Part mystery/ part drama, this period series is hard to catagorize, and it's uneven tone may of contributed to it only lasting for one series. Still, it's an interesting curio, and one rarely seen since it's broadcast on June 5th 1986. It's sad that they couldn't retain Amanda Root for the series, and although Julia Swift isn't bad in the role, unfortunately she looks too similar to Carol Royle, who plays Diana.