Spy-thriller series stars Robert Powell

Press, 28 June 1989, Page 15

Spy-thriller series stars Robert Powell

Hannay could be described as an Edwardian Bergerac or a Crocodile Dundee, 1912 style. The swashbuckling colonial hero of John Buchan’s novel, “The Thirty Nine Steps,” takes polite Edwardian society by storm with his integrity, simplicity and sheer herosim in the six part spythriller series, “Hannay,” starting tonight at 8.30 on One.

Starring Robert Powell, “Hannay” is set firmly in the mould of the classic British hero. In a string of remarkable adventures Hannay’s ingenuity is stretched to the limit as the story moves from the highlands of Scotland to country estates and gentlemen’s clubs.

After nearly 30 years in South Africa, Richard Hannay has achieved recognition as an officer in military intelligence, a mining engineer and a successful prospector. He returns to Britain to seek a bride, a home, and a quiet life. However, Europe is a cauldron of political intrigue, and rapidly causing trouble among the old Empires is Imperial Germany, represented in London by Hannay’s sworn enemy, the cunning and ruthless Count Von Schwaging (Gavin Richards).

As well as sparring with the count, Hannay manages to outwit some of Britain’s smartest criminals, and find time to win the heart of a beautiful woman.

She is his liberated lady love, Lady Anne

Haselmere (Dominique Barnes), who balances the dark side of “Hannay” with touches of humour and glamour. After playing Hannay in the 1978 version of Alfred Hitchcock’s film classic, "The Thirty Nine Steps,” Robert Powell says he grew to enjoy the character and was keen to take the part again in the television series. “I saw in this series the mind of a man who doesn’t belong and doesn’t want to,” says Powell. “Richard Hannay lacks cynicism and is such an outsider to the stifling society he’s faced with that he isn’t aware of the awfulness of his fate.

“He is not a contemporary character,” adds Powell. “It would be virtually impossible to find a character like Hannay in 1989. The tax man would dampen his pure spirit.”

Powell’s chiselled features and smouldering eyes were seen in his portrayal of Jesus in the 1977 television epic “Jesus of Nazareth.”