Despite a number of flaws, I really like this episode. The plot works fairly well, though is arguably a little convoluted and perhaps gives too much away. Performances from most of the characters are excellent - particularly that of Keith Washington, playing chief villain Rahad. The only performance not up to par is that of Vicki Michelle (later to star in Allo Allo). OK, so she has a real bimbo part in this, but she plays it like one, too - think she would have tried harder.

Back to the plot: it's quite a complex affair (and therefore an edited-down copy may miss some small but important events) and arguably things work too well for CI5. It would have been nice if they had found themselves in a fix at some stage.

Also, if Hollis was careful enough to check out Bodie to begin with, surely he should have been suspicious when he learnt he was from CI5?

I love the scene where Doyle meets the hooker "Anna" for the first time - some great, corny dialogue there – especially when he says "I want you to do a favour for a very good friend of mine..." and in walks old Cowley!

I like the terse dialogue between Bodie and Rahad during the card game, though some of it is slightly racist, admittedly. "You were surprised that we [Arabs in general] play poker, Mr Bodie. You must be astonished that we are good at it too!"

If there was any scene that tried to portray Lewis as a potential 007, it is this one. He sits there in a tux and the American character says "Too rich for my blood" - a line pinched from the Casino sequence in On Her Majesty's Secret Service!

Unusually for a Clemens script, there's little heavy action to speak of.

Big plot device: why should Rahad go to Hollis after he discovers CI5 are watching him? At that point he was unaware that Hollis had "bought" Bodie.

There's the occasional quick burst of humour. Doyle to Bodie: "Oh, use the slaves' entrance will you! And mind your chains on my rug!" and then this little exchange:

Bodie: "Whose idea was this, anyway?"
Doyle: "Yours!"
Bodie: "No it wasn't - it was yours!"
Doyle: "Yours!"
Bodie: "Yours!"
Doyle: "Oh! Must have been Cowley's, then."
Bodie: "Oh! Might work, then!"

Admittedly there are quite a few faults with this episode - surprising, really, given that Brian himself penned it. Nevertheless it remains thoroughly enjoyable, I think.

"I want to see my lawyer!" / "One more word out of you and what you'll want is a dentist!"

The house outside which Bodie and Doyle exchange punches is in Avenue Road, St John's Wood, NW8. (Thanks to Bryn Dyer)

In the scene where Doyle tampers with Rahad's car, the villain and Anna are having dinner in a restaurant in Upper Street, Islington. (Thanks to Louise Nadal).

The scene of the shootout between Doyle and Cowley against Rahad and Bodie was shot in the abandoned shell of the Royal Agricultural Hall, Islington. Facing demolishment in 1986, it was eventually fully restored and is now the Business Design Centre. Neverthless the curved rood, some ironwork and the pillars remain. (Thanks to Danny Davis)

For Keith Washington (Rahad) a burgeoning TV acting career in the 1970s with parts in the Sweeney (episode 'Queen's Pawn'), Lew Grade's epic Jesus of Nazareth and the final two episodes of Strangers, seems to have stalled in the 1980s. However he moved behind the cameras with directing successes such as London's Burning, the Customs & Excise drama The Knock and the hugely popular mystery series Jonathan Creek.

John Junkin was primarily a comedy writer and performer - particularly for BBC radio. But as that probably didn't pay very well, he had an occasional foray into acting and popped up in the most unexpected places and roles. Recently seen in EastEnders. Passed away in 2006.

Marilyn Galsworthy (the fake Anna) was previously eaten by a shark (!) in The Spy Who Loved Me. Also starred in Danger: UXB, a popular 1979 TV series examining the role of bomb-disposal officers in World War II. Haven't seen her since!